Tag Archives: lapland

20 December 2008

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This is my second cousin Jeanette with my uncle Paul (her grandfather’s little brother), when she visited Norwich recently. She is now at Yate, near Bristol. He is still in Norwich, as am I. Meanwhile my son, his wife, her parents and our grandchildren are about to return from Lapland, where I understand they have met Santa Claus, some huskies and some assorted reindeer. Oh, and some Finns, I should imagine, as they are staying at Yllasjarvi, which as everyone knows is in the north of Finland. To be slightly more accurate, the flight tracker informs me that they are about to take off from Kittila airport. They should be back in England at about 9.30pm.

The days still go by quickly, and not just because we are approaching the shortest day. Everything now seems to be wrapped up, but I suspect this will prove to be a delusion. Dot and I were in the city today (she considerably longer than me), finishing off certain purchases. Tonight we are off to the Higbees’ for the evening. Yesterday was our Italian evening at Menita and Regis’, which turned out to be very pleasant. It started at 9pm and consisted of quite a lot of sweet food and an Italian version of bingo, followed by a sort of auction game involving cards. We made a pound or two, I think. No skill was involved at all. About ten to a dozen of us – all good company. We left at about 11.30 and still managed to stay up till about 12.30am. I blame my wife.

Earlier in the day we had been out to visit Lucy, who seemed a lot better following her visit to hospital at Cambridge. She is on a lot of antibiotics, I understand, and the doctors are worried about her immune system. After that we visited Dot’s Aunt Sheila, who had psychically prepared a very nice lunch for us involving jacket potatoes, ham, salad and boiled eggs. We also went to the cemetery and bought a new ink cartridge. Wonderful what you can get from cemeteries nowadays. They used to be a dead loss.

On Wednesday we had the monthly hair-cutting ceremony, this time supplemented by Linda’s partner Michael finishing off our shower room with some astonishingly tricky tile work on the windowsill. He was not on the windowsill; the tiles were. Eventually.

Dot got an inquiry from Teddington about P4C courses, which is a bit worrying. This whole thing could escalate out of all proportion. I have just finished preparing tomorrow’s alternative carol service, and making a card for Eugenia’s 40th birthday tomorrow. We hardly ever seem to be eating at home nowadays.

16 December 2008

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Just back from a North Walsham day – starting at the printer’s, where we discussed printing of material for Dot’s P4C folder with the owner, who happened to be the organist at our wedding in 1968. Then on to Elderton Lodge for truly wonderful sandwiches in a picturesque setting, then to Dot’s cousin Rosie’s, where I took the picture above and where we met her five new dogs for the first time. I am not desperately keen on dogs, but these five would have to stand on each other’s shoulders to give me any trouble. Had further sustenance there in the form of tea and cake, and from there we went the short distance to Jessie’s for more of the same – except that this time it was mince pies, which I could eat for England, unfortunately. It all took the edge off a very slight recurrence of flu symptoms, which I am sure will quickly subside.

Very cold day today, but it was milder yesterday, when (working backwards) I won a game of chess for my club against the aptly named Johnny Danger: mine was the only win in a 2-2 draw. Some consolation for last week’s fiasco. Earlier Barbara had been up to help Dot choose P4C folders, and we all had lunch at Caffe Italia, where I ran into the Mercury elite having what was presumably their Christmas lunch. Warm greetings ensued: Julia, Terry Redhead, Ivan, Jane, Terry Reeve, Tim Warner and the chief reporter, a charming girl whose name I have forgotten. I expect it will come back to me.

Much present-wrapping and card-writing over the past few days, but it’s mostly done now, except for close family. The City Council binmen have again failed to materialise, but phone calls seem to get nowhere. On Friday we had a “completely certain” assurance and “guarantee” that they would come, but of course they didn’t, and still haven’t. This time I was told it would definitely be Wednesday (tomorrow). I said I didn’t believe the council spokesperson, and she seemed unsurprisingly unsurprised by this.

Last Thursday’s Ambient Wonder event was hard to assess. Not many people came into the church, but I guess numbers aren’t everything. I’m still not sure it’s the right thing for the right place. Quite a cold night, both inside and outside the church.

On Friday a double whammy, starting with Archant pensioners’ lunch at the Jarvis hotel, which was as usual pleasantly nostalgic. I failed to win a place at the former subs’ table because of the press, as the King James Version might put it, and landed up with the cleaners but between Frances Burrows and Frances Pearce, which was a definite plus. In the evening (second whammy), former colleague Ian Bullock came round for a chat which extended almost to midnight.

On Saturday, after a bit of book shopping in the afternoon, we went to the Robinsons’ for a Moroccan meal, which was very pleasant. Philip is worried about the Russians turning off the gas, which I suppose is possible. I am worried about meteorites.

On Sunday evening we went for a curry with Heather, Simon and Sam at the excellent Ali Tandoori in Magdalen Street, and had an excellent time. En route from pre-Indian drinks at the King’s Head we ran into Dot’s cousin Roger and his son Philip. After the meal we had a further drink at the Maid’s Head, where Dot has discovered a cosy snug. Heather was suffering a bit from a bone at the bottom of her spine which she damaged years ago but has suddenly played up again for no apparent reason.

Now we are waiting to see how many people turn up for our Tuesday group, at the same time wondering how David and Vicky and family will get on on their flight to Lapland tomorrow, where they apparently have an appointment with Father Christmas. He had better be on the ball, or Amy will have something to say to him about it.