Another longish walk today, as the air gradually gets colder and the weather people warn us of a weekend of snow and ice. Dot really wanted to walk on the beach, but was dissuaded by tales of bitter winds retailed by her aunt Jess who, at North Walsham, is more than halfway there. To the coast, I mean.

So instead we walked into the city, had lunch at the Forget-me-Not Cafe (pâté and toast) and then proceeded to the bank to pay in a cheque, then on to St John Maddermarket, where we happend to meet Kevin Maddams driving a van – a coincidence made sharper by the fact that I had a cheque for him from St Augustine’s (for a Developing Consciousness ad in his magazine, Outline).

After a spot of reminiscing Dot and I proceeded up the hill to Pottergate and on thence by an unusual but interesting route to The Avenues, where I put a cheque for St Luke’s through Nik Vitkovitch’s door. By this time Dot was showing signs of tiredness, so we made for Unthank Road, and a bus home. About four miles’ walking in all.

For those worrying about my eye (see last post) I can reveal that the sore has miraculously vanished, or dropped off, as we light sleepers tend to put it. Meanwhile Dot is in the midst of Philosophy work. Last Sunday she and Barbara drove to Dudley, stayed the night and then put on a session for a local primary school, from which the feedback was uniformly brilliant. They got back to Norwich at around 7pm on Monday, and by tracking them I had managed to cook them a meal which was almost on time.

Barbara stayed the night, and the next day they were off again, this time to Thurton (a bit nearer home) for one of a series of sessions there. Our weekend with the Coomes will extend to Monday because they are meeting in North London to do another session at a school in Leyton. I will probably leave for Norwich earlier in the day and then pick Dot up from Metfield in the evening, snow permitting.

I have been slightly less mobile, managing only a trip to Paston to look at Pater Stibbons’ new (supplementary) Paston website and learn how to work it. Lucy took notes which she was going to send me but hasn’t yet, perhaps mainly because she has been to Papworth today for a technical medical problem. Instead her daughter Naomi has been in touch, asking if we know anyone who could accommodate a friend at UEA. I passed it on to Nicholas to announce at church on Sunday.

At a smaller-than-usual Tuesday Group I assayed toad in the hole, which was very well received. I quite liked it myself. Meanwhile I have written to Maureen Basford, keeper of the Harlestone burial records, giving her more details of the Archer family. She seemed interested. I must get back into looking at my family history and sorting out what I’ve discovered, which I believe is quite a lot more than I remember.

I should also mention that I have now responded to all the Christmas messages I can find, be they small remarks on cards or parts of much longer and more detailed epistles (with pictures, in some cases). I am also participating with Joy McCall in a tanka series, which is not so full of liquid as you might imagine.