Tag Archives: ncfc

Hoping for inspiration from wall paintings

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Looking at the wall paintings, prior to writing. Anna Metcalfe is obscured behind Lucy.
Looking at the wall paintings, prior to writing. Anna Metcalfe is obscured behind Lucy.

Quite relieved because I’ve just sorted out the problem of YouTube going silent. Followed advice on the net and it came back. Anyway… the weather is autumnal, Dot is at Thorpe High School and I am waiting till it stops raining so that I can go up and pay some cheques in.

Last time I posted we were about to go for compline and cake at Judy’s. That went very well: good to have such a nice group of friends. Only Claire didn’t make it. The rest of the week consisted mainly of catching up with a huge list of to-do items, none of which are of much interest. We did have our hair cut on Wednesday (postponed from Tuesday), but that was only moderately exciting.

On Friday we had a delicious meal at Cafe Rouge with Angela and Rodney. It was the city’s firework night; so it was a bit of a struggle getting up there. Several roads were barricaded off (even for pedestrians), and there was a persistent drizzle. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, but it emptied shortly afterwards, presumably with people going to the fireworks or to the theatre, where there was apparently an appearance by a Strictly Come Dancing star, to use the word loosely.

Angela and Rodney were late because they were in a long queue to get in the car park at Chapelfield, but they arrived halfway through our initial glass of champagne. Excellent food and very good service by a smiley Polish waitress. Had a good chat about Auntie Ethel’s remaining money and what to do with it. Angela is very conscientious and efficient. Afterwards they came back for coffee.

On Saturday I braved heavy rain to go out to Mundesley for w PHS writing workshop run by Anna Metcalfe from UEA (organised by Lucy). Fortunately the rain stopped by the time we had to go up to the church to look at the wall paintings on which our writing would be based. Eventually the sun came out, and Anne ran a good session. I was impressed. There were eight of us in all, including Diana George and Naomi.

Meanwhile Dot was watching Norwich beat Swansea 1-0; so that was all good. Neither of us was very hungry; so we had a teacake before walking up to St Andrew’s Hall in the evening for The Dream of Gerontius by Elgar, performed by the Norwich Philharmonic, with Paul Henderson one of the basses. Made you realise what a genius Handel was, but the performance was excellent. I liked the contralto soloist in the role of an angel, but Dot didn’t. Afterwards we went to the Hendersons for a drink and nibbles. Got to bed a bit late.

After the Remembrance service on Sunday I discovered that Howard was intending to step down as churchwarden. Apparently I had been suggested as a possible successor, but Dot has forbidden it. It is in fact no temptation at all – and anyway, they may not ask me. The problem is, no-one wants to do it. Ho hum.

We went to see Jessie in the afternoon and had mince pies. She is very good at mince pies. I had three.

Painful shoulder, painful tickets

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Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil: Janet, Dot and Sue
Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil: Janet, Dot and Sue at Mons

Pleasant weather has arrived, but with it my shoulder has become extremely painful for no apparent reason. This followed an x-ray by my dentist, but I can’t see how there can be a connection. More likely it’s a delayed effect of levering myself out of the swimming pool and twisting because my right arm was painful from a previous fall, but that was over a week ago.

Yesterday morning it got so bad that I went to A & E. This proved to be a mistake: I should have gone to my GP. Ah, well, lots of wasted time, but I got an x-ray. Needless to say, it was clear. Dot came up to fetch me because she didn’t know why I was there (my texts were getting blocked). Result:  it continues to hurt a lot, and I still don’t know what’s wrong. I went to see James at Heydon this morning to discuss with him and Rob what our plans were for the next Chronicle project: I managed to drive all right, but I would be lying if I said it was pain-free.

The second most painful thing this week was getting tickets to the Wembley play-off final. After much discussion Dot decided she did want to go, so she ended up queuing with Naomi on Wednesday evening while I went to a very good Science and Faith lecture by Prof David Wilkinson at the Cathedral, encountering Margaret Comerford, who may be moving south (she has a partner in London).

The queuing was successful; so now we are in possession of five tickets, and Jonathan is driving us – not sure exactly where. I believe someone has booked a Nepali meal beforehand. Goodness knows why. Organisation has never been so chaotic.

David’s 43rd birthday on Monday; so we spoke to him on FaceTime after returning home from a DCC meeting which was very enjoyable (a) because it was at Howard’s, with wine and nibbles (b) new members Eleanor and Judy were present and (c) well, it just was. As much a social encounter as a meeting, which has to be good. Howard has a gift for that.

Earlier in the day I had met Mary (from our congregation) in a cafe on Surrey Street. She is trying to engage people she meets in conversation about Christianity and wanted me to help; but the guy in question didn’t turn up, and so I had a pleasant conversation with Mary instead, giving her advice on her to write a letter to the Editor of the EDP. She came round later in the week, and I edited her letter on the spot.

Tuesday saw a meeting of the PHS Trustees at Mundesley. The drive out was very slow, as was the meeting. In the evening Dot and I went to the Hendersons for a light meal and some conversation or, in Maryta’s case, a debate. No change there. Paul is becoming DSSO in the style of Dot, which is nice.

On Wednesday Martin Smith came round with a load of cheques, cash and invoices relating to the Speaker Programme and the Enneagram. Today I have successfully dealt with them, paying in the cheques at the bank and buying a loaf and some broccoli on the way back. Dot has been out all day but should be home soon, just in time to queue up again to collect the actual tickets, and not the ticket that entitles you to collect the actual tickets, which she queued up for before. Jonathan has been on the phone, asking me about tube stations. Is it worth it?

Going for ride after a fall

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Dot looking lovely in the garden
Dot looking lovely in the garden

Winter is reluctant to let us go; still a chilly wind today, though it was very pleasant (as it often is) at the top of the Rosary when  I called in on the way back from fetching my pills from the chemist.

This was my second visit to the Rosary in less than  a week: on Thursday I walked up there and fell over while greeting a woman who was looking for her aunt’s grave. Did some damage to my hand and wrist, as well as spraining my ankle. Bruising has spread in strange ways: bits that were bruised to start with now aren’t, while bits that weren’t (inner wrist and outside of thumb) are now badly discoloured. Still quite painful if I get it in the wrong position, but on the plus side (for me) I can still play the guitar and (for the woman I was greeting) I found the grave she was looking for. She was very concerned about me and gave me her bottle of water.

Dot is up at the UEA today giving her presentation as party of a UEA/Schools philosophy conference. She has been very nervous about it. Later I shall be going to St Luke’s for the parish agm and dinner.

After falling over last Thursday I went with Dot to the Paston annual meeting, at which the sandwiches were very good; so as there were only 13 of us, we took some home. All the usual suspects except Lucy, who has shingles. Fred has shingles too, and we’re going on holiday with him in about ten days. Lots of it about. Well, two lots so far. The annual meeting was fine, though the room got rather cold later on. Nice view of the sea.

Big surprise on Friday, when Linda didn’t change the time of our hair appointment. In the evening we went with the Robinsons to the Red Lion at Eaton to celebrate Philip’s birthday. He thinks it’s the best food in Norwich, but it’s not really in Norwich, and I’m not sure about the quality either. Nevertheless it was very good. I confined myself to fish on the assumption (probably correct) that I wouldn’t be able to cut much with my injured hand. Spreading butter was not easy either. Afterwards they came back here for coffee, and I think I went to sleep. Must have been the stress. No-one seemed to mind.

On Saturday, as Norwich City FC threw away their chance of automatic promotion by getting a man sent off and drawing 1-1 with Rotherham, Dot spent most of the day at Acle – rehearsing in the afternoon and performing in the church in the evening with Sillars Orchestra. Obviously I attended the latter, which was very good indeed, especially the second half. I sat with Graham, who we’re going on holiday with, and Neville, who thought the second half should have been first. I definitely didn’t. Refreshments at half time too!

Another busy day on Sunday when, after I preached in the morning and notching up a hat-trick of Sunday sermons, Phil came round in the afternoon to rehearse and eat, before all three of us went the Seagull Theatre and performed three songs. I think Dot was flaked out, but she performed heroically, and it was well received. I also read a poem, and Kaaren filled me in on what was required for the Suffolk Poetry Festival (five minutes).

Yesterday, despite the chilly wind, Dot and I went for a 35-minute walk round the riverside path and, after lunch and a rest, called in at Morrisons for £100 worth of food, plus a new kettle. Then we watched quite a lot of TV.

I did not shoot the Sheriff

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Dot with her friend William
Dot with her friend William

We are now the proud if temporary possessors of a brand new Corsa, lent to us while the MX5 is repaired. I was taken to pick it up from Enterprise in Heigham Street on Friday afternoon. The traffic both ways was so bad that it took nearly an hour altogether, and my driver on the outward journey was not slow to point to the Grapes Hill roundabout as the problem.

The car has been on the drive since then, apart from two short trips – one to church yesterday, and one to the doctor’s today. I would also have driven it to the supermarket, but decided to wait till tomorrow because of the forecast heavy rain that annoyingly failed to materialise. Instead I watched the film Bitter Lake for the second time while Dot watched it for the first time. Still good, and available on iPlayer! It explains everything.

The visit to the doctor was routine, and had the added bonus of revealing a reduction in my blood pressure to 136/88. I had a discussion about the advisability of remaining on two Lanzoprasole tablets: the main reason for the visit. I feel better when on two a day; so naturally I have to try to get it back to one. Last Thursday, in a thinly related health event, I went to the hospital to see a urology nurse, which turned out to be a complete waste of time. She didn’t know why I was there, and nor did I (other than receiving a letter telling me to attend). On the plus side, I seem to be OK. On the minus side, she didn’t like me criticising her inaccurate diagram, and I didn’t like going in half an hour late.

When I got back from the doctor’s today I did some cutting and pulling in the garden to get something in our brown bin, which made me quite tired, but I’m sure it was good for me. Last week was a record as far as walking was concerned. When I say record, I mean the best week in the past month. Even counting Buxton.

Last Friday Dot and I went to a house somewhere in the middle of a field. I think it was Framingham Pigot, but it could have been Bixley or some other, nameless part of South Norfolk. The event was a brunch to celebrate the success of a charity run by one of Dot’s friends, Helen (a former head teacher), which involved collecting sugar for homeless shelters. Don’t ask. Anyway it was a nice event. Helen is lovely, her husband Chris was a nice bloke, and I spent much of the time talking to Sue and Roger Eagle, though not Louise, as Louise pointed out. She is the secretary of the charity, and a nurse, I believe. Probably not urology. The food was excellent.

We had to rush back to get the MX5 in place to be collected by the body repairers. It was duly carted off, and will not be seen again until next week. Dot has arranged for them to do another dent unrelated to the recent car park mishap, which will end up costing us over £300. So that’s all good.

In the evening we went to the centenary dinner of St Augustine’s Hall, which was honoured by the presence of the Sheriff of Norwich, William Armstrong OBE, the former Norwich Coroner who used to go out with Dot when they were both at City College. So obviously she chatted him up. His wife Monica was very nice. Obviously I didn’t chat her up. Or shoot the Sheriff, though I’m saying nothing about his deputy. Nice meal provided by Carrie’s crowd, and I helped with the washing up. The plaque looked good – a rare example of a suggestion of mine coming to fruition.

On Valentine’s Day Dot went to see Norwich City beat Wolves 2-0, which made her happy and relieved that she was not an unmitigated jinx. In the evening I cooked her an M&S meal that I had bought earlier. It came with fizzy stuff and was quite tasty.

On Sunday after church we were prepared to go and see Jessie, but it turned out she was spending the afternoon with Roger; so we stayed in. I walked up to the Rosary while Dot did some sewing. I know that’s hard to believe. Also hard to believe is the fact that I sent off for and have now fixed a new letterbox. It wasn’t easy, of course. The fittings were not quite right (although they looked right on the diagram), and I had to cut off some plastic bits and screw in where nothing had been screwed before. I amaze myself. The cut in my hand was not very deep.

Historic pump brought in from the cold

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Happily, Linda did turn up and we had our hair cut. Pretty exciting. The next day we drove down to Burston to have a very nice lunch with artists Annette and Mike: excellent bread cooked by Mike, among other tasty things. It was a bit of a rush, as we then had to drive into Diss to see their shop – Designermakers21 – before racing back to Brooke, where Dot had to attend a feedback session at the school, earlier than expected at 3pm.

The shop was impressive though a little chilly, and Dot bought a cushion and candle shade. It was even colder outside. We dropped Mike off at his home and then Dot drove up to Brooke, arriving about eight minutes late, but only a minute or two after they’d actually started. However, she was in such a hurry that she left the car with me right outside the school gates, forgetting that I had had wine for lunch. Magically, I managed to park it without committing an offence.

On Friday Dot was out much of the day, but returned in time to greet the Hendersons at about 6.30pm. We had a drink, then supper at Prezzo’s, which we finished just in time, as Maryta walked out in protest at the language from an adjoining stag do. They came back to ours for coffee.

Yesterday I walked Dot to Carrow Road, where she was disappointed to see Norwich City lose to Brentford (1-2) and afraid of being labelled a bad-luck charm. She has certainly not been fortunate in the matches she’s seen this season. She now has to decide whether to continue to have a season ticket next year.

The day was not spoiled, however, as we then travelled to the Banningham Crown for an excellent meal with Roger and Jessie. The pub has been much extended, with new car parking and paths, and the staff are as pleasant and welcoming as ever. The pump where Dot’s mum used to sit and eat crisps in the 1920s while her father was in the pub is now incorporated in extra eating space, where we happened to sit. I had Guinness and steak  pie, followed by a superb pavlova, which had a predictable effect when I went to bed, and made for an uncomfortable night. Lovely evening, though.

Today is slightly milder, but not a huge amount. I took the morning service, with Howard preaching, and we had four children present: Beatrice and Benjamin, with their mother Ruth; and Amy and George, with their mother Vicky and her mother Helen, down from Yorkshire. All good. We had thought of going for a walk this afternoon, but in the end it didn’t happen.

Little known facts

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We got our first Christmas card today - from this happy couple, photographed in August at the lovely Linn of Quoich.We got our first Christmas card today - from Sue and Roger Eagle, photographed in August at the lovely Linn of Quoich.

Happily Dot arrived back from Liverpool safely after stopping for fish and chips at a pub (the Generous Briton) in Brant Broughton, Lincolnshire. I spent the rest of the week writing an outline for a new Pastons drama for Chronicle (the Pastons in Norwich), among other things. Did very little walking, with or without my app.

Slight recurrence of pain in left side, which I now think may be down to excess acid in my stomach, because I had reduced my lanzoprasole. I have upped it again, and it was better yesterday.

Quite a busy weekend. Discovered at the last minute yesterday that Steve Snelling (a former colleague) was speaking at the Castle at noon on the first world war Christmas  truce of 1914; so rushed up there while Dot was getting some tablets from the chemist. An interesting one-hour talk which revealed some facts little known by me. For example, it happened over quite a long front where the trenches were rudimentary; it was almost entirely instigated by the Germans – for the most part Saxons who were broadly speaking against the war; and senior officers were appalled and threatened dire consequences if it happened again.

Jonathan had offered an extra ticket for Carrow Road; so after lunch Dot and I headed in that direction. It was chilly, but not too bad. The football was pretty dire, though. After scoring in the 9th minute, Norwich City conceded within ten minutes and then again (both from corners). They never really looked like scoring again themselves: set-up and tactics unconvincing; choice of players and substitutions mystifying.

In the evening we went to the Robinsons’ for a meal. Other guests: Bernadette and Barry Hutchings. Was a bit worried about my digestive system, and so took it carefully, but no problem. Very pleasant evening with good conversation.

Yesterday I led the Advent Holy Communion, with Eleanor preaching and presiding. Nice service, though only 15 present. In the evening we went for a meal at the Kerrisons’, giving the Greens a lift. A pleasant time after I had found somewhere to park (about half a mile away, and I’m not exaggerating). Fortunately I’d dropped the others off first. Didn’t find the conversation quite as easy as the previous night; maybe we didn’t have as much in common other than church. Perhaps it’s just random.

On Friday, incidentally, Dot and I made our fist visit to the cinema for some time. We arrived early for the 5.30pm showing of The Imitation Game and went to the Queen of Iceni (Wetherspoons) for a glass of wine, which was surprisingly good and amazingly cheap. I suspect it must have been happy hour or something. The film was excellent – not totally true to the history,  but then it didn’t claim to be. Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley were both excellent. Today we’re going to see Mr Turner, which everyone has raved about.

Not stringing her along

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Jack Earl at 100. One of the others is his eldest daughter, Loveday.

Dropped Dot at Elm Hill on Thursday morning, where she met a violin man (sounds like the beginning of a folk song) who told her her violin was worth quite a lot of money and he would certainly bring it up to scratch for her. Meanwhile, he has lent her one that is unusable, so this morning at church she switched back to her electric violin, which worked well. Later in the day our piano tuner, Joe Logan, vouched for the guy, so that’s OK. He was not stringing her along.

Between violin and piano I called in at Dragon Hall to tidy up some loose ends concerning the Dragon Hall day next month. Sarah Power is very upbeat and bouncy, so I was feeling quite encouraged by the time I left. Dot and I went to Park Farm for lunch, which was even more relaxing: long time since we’d done that. In the evening Dot went to Little Plumstead, where she’s a governor, and my Find-a-Friend iPhone tracking device played up to such an extent that I got quite worried. It had her in the middle of a field for a long time. She assured me she wasn’t, and as she was still apparently in the middle of the same field after she’d been home for a while, I totally believe her.

On Friday, while Dot was at a Nafpht conference losing her glasses and the weather was getting more springlike, I created  an account on Twitter for Margaret Paston and then spent a couple of hours wondering around taking pictures of Paston sites for my talk in a couple of weeks’ time. In the evening we went to the Hostry for the launch of a new edition of a Robert Llewellyn book on Julian. Liz French was there, as were Nicholas and Heather and of course Tim Mace. Nice refreshments; interesting event.

But it couldn’t compete with Saturday’s event, which was a party celebrating Jack Earl’s 100th birthday. We arrived at Sea Marge Hotel, Overstrand, in bright sunshine quite early and helped with the balloons, as well as getting tea and coffee. Jack looked unsurprisingly frail, but was relatively fit and clear-headed. He gave a short speech in reply to his son John and survived the photographs. We spoke  to Nicola and Andy among others (Edna Jones, who lives at the Great Hospital, plus the owners of the home where Jack lives, plus various Earl relations).

Jonathan left early to go to the football match – a critical encounter with Reading. We left just before 3pm, and Dot managed to reach Carrow Road in time for the second half. Just as well. It was 0-0 at half-time, but her arrival sparked two quick goals and City eventually edged out 2-1 ahead. Are they safe? Who knows?

After church this morning Dot and I drove out to Mangreen to see if we could find her glasses, but without any success. Had a brief chat with William and Naomi, then came home for lunch. I sat in the garden and read some material that had backed up; so it must have been quite warm. Got chilly later, though.

Canaries and Italians come back to life

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Went so see Norwich play Spurs on Wednesday, as the month neared its end. Much milder, but quite windy and certainly not in any way a warm evening. It was a good match, with Norwich the better team in the first half, but Spurs coming back with a superb Gareth Bale goal and threatening to win at the end. I felt encouraged by the spirit and skill shown by the players after their previous two disastrous outings  a 5-0 defeat at Anfield and the appalling 1-0 home loss in the Cup to non-league Luton. Today they play QPR away, and I fear the worst, even though they have been strengthened by buying two new forwards.

Dot has just gone to the supermarket and will be hastening back to watch the match on Sky TV, for which she has an iPhone app.

Yesterday I travelled to Cromer in the MX5, while Dot attended a NAfPHT conference at Mangreen and did some networking. I visited Lucy in hospital at Benjamin Court, and she was in good spirits despite her broken collarbone and bruised foot. We talked a lot about Paston but also about other things, including our families and why things happened. I was there for over 90 minutes and arrived home after Dot. Tomorrow I shall be standing in for Lucy to show a writer from Edinburgh some of the Paston sites.

Nice big obit in the Telegraph this morning for Peter Beales. The funeral has been fixed for February 15, and on Thursday I bought a new overcoat and two pairs of trousers from M & S, encouraged by Dot. Yes, these items are connected. Afterwards we called in at Presto, which is Caffe Italia reincarnated, because Roberto and Kathy have come back from their retirement and repurchased the premises. Had a quick drink and shared a scone, plus much repartee with the owners. Good to have them back.

Vegetables get together

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Princess with no pea, but a small racing car

Started the week by picking up my oversized trophy for winning the second division Dons chess tournament last year. I had forgotten about it until Greg said it was waiting for me, and this seemed an opportune week to get it from the club, so that I could impress my grandchildren. It worked quite well, which is what is nice about grandchildren – especially ours, of course.

I seem to remember a short intervention by the piano tuner on Tuesday, but the next major event was driving down to Caddington on Wednesday to see David and the grandchildren. We stayed overnight after having a go on Oliver’s new Scalextric, then brought Oliver and Amy back to Norwich on Thursday. We called at Waitrose and then Auntie Ethel’s, then had lunch before going to the Puppet Theatre. Not exactly what I had expected (a puppet show), but some superb storytelling by the Storybox Theatre’s Rod Burnett. Ok, there were a few puppets involved, but not the traditional kind. It was called The Pea, the Bean and the Enormous Turnip, and the children loved it. I was impressed too. Afterwards Oliver (with a little help from Amy) created his own show with some impressive scene changes and lighting, not to mention script. At last – a used wine box with a useful function.

Yesterday we took the children up to John Lewis’s for clothes shopping. Amy bought a lovely fairy princess dress (part of her birthday present) and some shoes, among other things. Oliver said he wanted an electric guitar for Christmas. Hmmm. Afterwards we ate in the cafeteria, and Dot spilled quite a lot of milk, but did not break anything. In the evening at Prezzo’s, after David arrived, the waitress broke a glass quite spectacularly, but didn’t spill anything. Hope they never get together. In between these two events, the children – with help from Dot – created spectacular dens in the garden.

Today David and the children left early to travel north and meet Vicky at the Leicester East services on the M1, from where the children would travel on to a Hallowe’en party at Nottingham, with David returning to Caddington. Dot and I had our hair cut by Linda and listened to Norwich City getting a last-gasp draw with Blackburn at Carrow Road (3-3).