Tag Archives: heather

Money, money, walking

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At last everything seems in order for our holiday in Florida. This morning I had to fill in an application for all five of us for a visa waiver. Needless to say, this went wrong in the middle and I had to get back in to complete it, but with help from David it all worked out. I also checked the seat reservations, and they are all OK – even the American Airlines ones.

Looking up the river towards Foundry Bridge, it seems more like late winter than early spring.
Looking up the river towards Foundry Bridge yesterday, it seems more like late winter than early spring.

I’ve spent quite a long time at my desk this week, working mainly on church-related stuff. I’ve written a sermon and chosen some hymns, but mainly I’ve been working on money matters. At the PCC on Monday it was revealed that we had been left quite a large sum of money and given quite a lot more; nevertheless everyone was keen to go ahead with a Paying Our Way day when the Bishop visits at the end of May, which seems to me like flying in the face of the evidence. I eventually mentioned this to Howard, who sees what I mean. Ho hum. I decided not to speak to Nicholas about it, because I don’t want to deflate him!

Part of the church money business did involve some exercise, because I had to go to the bank in Magdalen Street to sign a form and show some identity, then on to the Vicarage in Aylsham Road to get Nicholas to sign come cheques. I then delivered three of the cheques – in Sussex Street, St Giles and King Street – as well as calling in at Howard’s in case he was there to received the new account material. But he wasn’t.

All this amounted to nearly five miles of  walking, and I have done quite a lot elsewhere too, so I’m on target for a record week. Of course I haven’t done any today yet…

We resumed our cinema visiting on Tuesday, seeing Labor Day, which wasn’t well reviewed but which we both enjoyed. In the evening we had a visit from Ed, who stayed for a chat and a cup of tea, and last night another former St Augustine’s friend, Heather Cracknell, called in after I caught her trying to find somewhere to park and lent her a permit. She was going to Prezzo’s with some colleagues, but afterwards she called in and had a drink and quite a long chat, which was nice. Rhianna is about Oliver’s age and like him is preparing for high school. Hard to believe.

Meanwhile I visited the dentist again yesterday and was reassured that the work he’d done last week was OK. He also gave me some antibiotics to take on holiday, just in case (after I asked for them). So that’s reassuring. In the evening I recorded five songs in case Phil wants to do them for the Seagull next time, whenever that is. I’ve also written a few poems, so that can’t be bad.

A kind of farewell

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The Rev Heather in the cloisters with Suzi Heybourne

Plenty of socialising in the last few days, with pleasant weather to accompany it. Matt is now lodging with us – so that’s continual socialising, though he is out most of the time (London for the weekend). He’s absolutely no trouble, even when he forgets his keys. But in addition…

On Saturday, a glorious summer day, Heather C was ordained deacon in the Cathedral in a magnificent two-hour service (with mitres) which featured my favourite hymn (I the Lord of sea and sky) and possibly my top Bible reading (Isaiah 6). I went with Matt, but several other St Aug people were at the Cathedral, chatting in the Cloisters and then at the Maid’s Head afterwards for a congenial party. Other friends too – including Mark and Suzi Heybourne, with whom I had a long chat – and to my surprise Philip Butcher, former chaplain at Norwich School Chapel, who coincidentally is married to the Rev Heather who is Heather C’s new boss: ie vicar at Cringleford. Delighted to see him. He’s hardly changed. Great party, which continued till 3.30, after which I walked home in the blazing sun and flopped out. Dot was unfortunately not with us, as she was at a Teach First exhibition and focus group at Reading on behalf of Philosophy4Children – also very successful, so a good day all round.

Peter Jary and Clive Wright

Another party on Sunday afternoon, this time at Poringland Comunity Centre for Peter Wright’s 75th birthday, and his son Clive’s 40th. Had long talks with former friends and neighbours from the village, including people from David’s generation – Barty, Keith and Peter Jary, as well as Elaine and Clive, of course. Clive is now living in Tuckswood with Sharon, a former parent of Dot’s (as she would put it) at Tuckswood School. Peter has a new partner, Helen, and a new baby. Keith has a girl friend in Mauritius, and Barty is now studying plant science. Also spent time with Jarys, Barbara, Bernard and Mary and of course Denise and Peter.  Really enjoyable in a nostalgic way.

Yesterday, after a very hectic day which included Dot spring-cleaning the house, we entertained Menita and Regis for a kind of farewell meal: they are leaving for Paris at the end of the month. Went very well (starters outside in the garden), despite their arriving about half an hour after we thought they were due, which meant the food was less than hot. Delightful evening, with Menita very Italian and surprisingly passionate about politics while Regis tried to keep the lid on in a very French laid back way. We now have a standing invitation to their French home, Naples and so on.

Aunt Kathleen, who died aged 90

The reason it had been such a hectic day was that my aunt Kathleen died early in the morning. We had been to see her on Friday, when she found it very hard to communicate, and we felt she was on the brink. As it happened, we were probably the last people apart from the nursing home staff to speak to her. When Paul was called on the Saturday morning because she was “deteriorating”, she was already unconscious and never came to again, as far as we can tell. She was 90 and had been struggling; so death must have been a relief to her. During yesterday I contacted various people, including her stepdaughter in South Africa, and dealt with several calls from Paul. I also collected the death certificate from Bowthorpe health centre – a real trek in the severe traffic which has been engulfing the city recently, with people looking for new routes because of several road closures.

Today we have just had our hair cut, and I am due to register Kathleen’s death this afternoon, before dropping off the certificate to Paul. Other tasks yesterday included buying a Homebase voucher for Donna (I was reminded by a chance phone call from Howard, to whom I later delivered it), dropping off clothes for cleaning, and then paying in cheques, getting some more currency and buying a football to take to Canada as  present. I should be getting enough exercise.

 

26 July 2008

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My nephew Joe and his wife Birgit, who came round on Thursday night with Birgit’s brother (also Joe) and his wife Ilona. Very pleasant 40 minutes or so in the garden before they left for Phil and Joy’s. It continues very warm – pleasant in the day, unpleasant at night, and I’ve not been sleeping very well. However, I am generally feeling better.

Thursday afternoon proved a long session at Paston, deciding what goes in the book, but it turned out to be unstressful. Everything we wanted to get in looks as if it’s going in, and we managed to marry up poems and images quite nicely. Today Lucy came round and printed off some acetates. I had thought she was going to do something much more complicated with them, but in the end I could easily have done what she did. In fact, I did. She just happened to be here at the time – after buying the acetates first, of course.

Yesterday, after a really bad night, I was going round in a daze, though getting one or two things done. Phil and Joy came round to use the computer: Phil found a dead Lenton in the Telegraph with Norwich connections, but she is no-one I know. There are far too many Lentons around to keep track of now.

Today, after Lucy did her stuff, Heather Savigny came round with her friend Simon, and we all went to the Coach and Horses round the corner for lunch. Surprisingly good. They came back for coffee/tea afterwards, and I managed not to get in a discussion about climate change with Simon, who works in the carbon reduction industry. He has a good sense of humour, and we had an excellent time.

Tomorrow is our ruby wedding anniversary, and we’ve booked into the Victoria at Holkham for a couple of nights. That’s after renewing our vows at church in the morning. Apparently they run out after 40 years.

6 January 2008

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Not feeling too good: rather achey and stuffed up. Didn’t go to church this morning, although maybe I should have – the weather looked very good from inside, and I like Epiphany.

Yesterday I wasn’t feeling wonderful either, though I had to get my act together, as my cousin-once-removed Beverley eventually got here at lunch time, accompanied by her delightful daughter Palmira (14) and her sister’s ex-husband Neville, who lives in Bexleyheath and had provided transport. We had a meal (see picture) accompanied by my brother and sister-in-law (P & J) and there was much discussion about various relatives. I brought out my family tree and printed out a fresh version for Palmira, then got information from Bev on some of her relatives – though I was surprised how little she knew about the generation above her, especially her aunt Anne. This was perhaps because Bev’s father Howard – Leonard’s eldest – had pretty much constructed an entire family tree on his own, having been married “at least” four times. This did come as a bit of a surprise to me, as no other Lenton I’ve come across has been married more than twice. For the record, his wives’ names in order were Norma, Coral (Bev’s mother), Doris and Sandra. Bev is married to a Portuguese man, Tony, and has three children: Palmira and two much older boys, Leonard and Howard. I will eventually get round to inserting these on the family tree on Genes Reunited.

Anyway, everyone left at the end of the afternoon, with Neville, Bev and Palmira heading for Thurton to visit another cousin of hers – Anton Kruger, who I believe is an optician. As they left not too long after the football crowds started emerging, I suspect it may have taken a little longer than usual.

The previous night Dot and had a superb evening with Heather & Sam, getting a taxi home so that we didn’t have to worry about drinking too much. However, despite its being a terrific evening, a little worrying wouldn’t have gone amiss, as I had another very bad night, with my stomach refusing to accept gravity or stillness of any kind. Heather has inspired both Dot and myself to try to produce a book or two.

17 November 2007

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This is a not very high quality picture of grandparents and grandson taken not long ago with the Mac Photobooth facility.

The visit to Baldock went very well: beautiful sunny day, though cold, and we enjoyed catching up with Joan, who we hadn’t seen since 2005. Hurtled back to get to the DCC/LMT meeting at 7.30, only to find (after several phone calls) that we had to cancel it because so many people were not going. The following morning I sent out an e-mail to all members suggesting broadly that better organisation would be a good idea. Actually, this was quite restrained. As well as our coming home early, VM was intending to go despite all her problems with her Dad being seriously ill, and PK had made special arrangements because of a family commitment.

Yesterday I paid another visit to the chiropractor, but my back is very much better. Walked into the city and bought one or two things, then caught a bus home, because I could. For free. I’m hoping I will use the bus pass to increase my walking, not replace it, but sometimes it’s handy.

In the evening a very pleasant surprise: I had booked us into Under Milk Wood at Bergh Apton Village Hall, and the performance by the Oxfordshire Touring Company was absolutely superb, in the round and with really imaginative direction, including a blind actor and a deaf one. Stunning stuff. Tea and cake for £1 each in the interval, and I had a chat with KW, who used to live two doors away from us in Yelverton. Indeed, he still lives there. He was an overseer in the Eastern Daily Press composing room, and he mentioned various others who had since died: very sad. He and his wife are still going strong, presumably in their 80s.

Today Heather and Sam came round for lunch, and we had a really good time. Dot cooked a roast that was superb. Weather is still very, very cold.

13 February 2007

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The other snow photo, taken the other day at Caddington: Amy looks on admiringly as her brother bravely throws a snowball at their father.

Of course it’s all gone now, and we’re back to a normal winter – chilly and wet. The weekend was very busy for us. I spent all day at InPrint studios, discussing the future and getting creative with ideas for exhibitions. Fun in a cold atmosphere – that’s the temperature, not the relationships. We had several heaters in the studios but didn’t quite get rid of the chill. I went so far as to buy fish and chips, which helped a bit. Studio 2 is leaking a bit.

In the evening Dot and I went to Heather S for a meal, and the three of us had a great evening putting the world to rights. On Sunday, as well as the morning service, Dot and I had to put together an Ambient Wonder event in the evening, which I was very unsure about – possibly because we hadn’t picked the theme, and not many people were offering to add bits. But the feedback was good – to my astonishment. Over 20 people there, several for the first time.

On Monday I had another chess win, amazingly, against a good player. I was turning out as a guest for the B team and played Trevor Ansell, of Fakenham. I was black, and the end of the game was quite exciting.

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Be7 8 Qf3 Qc7 9 0-0-0 0-0 10 Bd3 Nc6 11 Nde2 b5 12 a3 Bb7 13 g4 b4 14 ab Nxb4 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16 g5 Bxc3 17 Nxc3 d5!
18 e5 Rfc8 19 Qe2 Qa5 20 Kb1 d4 21 Ne4 Qa2+ 22 Kc1 Qa1+ 23 Kd2 Qxb2 24 Rb1 Qa3 25 Ra1 Na2 26 Rhg1 Qa5+ 27 c3 Rxc3! 28 Nf6+ (Desperation. Nxc3 loses immediately, but Kd1 makes it a little more difficult for Black) …. Kf8 29 Nh7+ Ke7 30 Rgb1 Rc1+ 0-1 It’s mate next move.

Today it’s a little brighter, and we had three adults and three children for lunch. Very tasty.