Tag Archives: robinson

Bluebells at Irstead

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Another gap there, I’m afraid. It’s taking me some time to get back to normal, whatever that is. Still, we have been reasonably busy.

On Monday last week, still feeling pretty jet-lagged, we went to Eleanor’s in Recreation Road (off the Avenues) for an at-home. Eleanor is chaplain at the hospital, a recent member of our congregation and is also ordained, so she took our Easter Communion when we were away. We met a few of her family, and some other members of St Augustine’s who popped in. Dot was able to advise a young woman on the path to take towards a career in teaching, so that was all good.

No let-up the next day, when a meeting of the Paston trustees took place at North Walsham. I managed to stay sufficiently awake to take the minutes, and was still fairly awake in the evening when we went with the Robinsons to the Red Lion in Eaton for a birthday celebration meal (Philip’s). I haven’t been very lucky (or clever) with my menu choices recently, and the smoked haddock was OK, but not exceptional. We all came back to 22, and there was a showing of holiday photographs on Apple TV.

Dot on the boardwalk at Barton Broad
Dot on the boardwalk at Barton Broad

The next day (Wednesday) was blank, so we decided eventually to go for a walk. I had seen a walk at Irstead in a book, but couldn’t find it, so did some web research, and we ended up surprisingly doing almost precisely the walk I’d lost (I found it again later). Irstead is pretty remote (a dead end village), but it has a lovely church, and there were plenty of bluebells nearby. We walked down narrow lanes to a newish boardwalk stretching out into Barton Broad; at the end it was pretty idyllic in the sunshine. The walk continued and was about 3½ miles altogether.

On  Thursday we had invited Jenny and Mary round for a meal as part of the new church initiative (don’t ask), but Mary was unable to come; so we had a lovely meal and evening with Jenny, who is sadly about to leave Norwich.

The “pressure” continued on Friday, when we went to an exhibition by Rupert and others at a house in Plumstead Road East. All rather strange – the house didn’t look welcoming, but it turned out to be a bit like the Tardis, with two lovely big rooms. Chatted to Rupert and in the end bought one of his paintings (not paid for yet), which he will bring round when he has the chance.

The same evening was the Paston annual meeting at the Ship Inn, Mundesley. Dot and I arrived very early as a result of unexpectedly traffic-free roads, but fortunately Rob and Penny were already there and had seized the room, which the waiters had been about to use for random diners. Some sort of misunderstanding, but they had sorted it out. In the end a very select gathering on a cold and foggy night (oh yes it was). I said a little bit about Chronicle and took the chair for the re-election of Rob, and Jo supplied some nice sandwiches. Lucy, not at all well, staggered over to give the treasurer’s report, and then staggered back with Dot’s help.

Dig-and-dial phone at Salthouse
Dig-and-dial phone at Salthouse

A weekend with the Coomes was scheduled, but Kristine rang at around 9am on the Saturday to say David had a very bad stomach problem. Dot moped around for a bit, and so we decided to go to Blakeney Hotel for afternoon tea, and that worked quite well. We got chairs and a nice view. The tide was high. We continued to Salthouse, where we were shocked to find the steep shingle bank had been flattened by the sea, and the car park buried. Added to Norwich losing 4-0 to Manchester Utd, this was a bit of a blow.

After church on Sunday we ventured out again to visit Jessie. I was feeling a bit ropey, but we had a nice time. My blood pressure, taken on Monday, was down slightly but still high and I tried to get the practice nurse interested in my problems, but she demonstrated an alarming lack of curiosity. I am now trying a bit of gluten-free to see if it helps. Meanwhile Dot was doing useful work in the garden, and not complaining.

At lunchtime I reported problems we’d been having with the pump on the central heating (it wouldn’t turn off at night), and amazingly I got an immediate response. Must have been a slow day. A guy came and not only fixed the pump but did our annual service too.

Alongside poetic greats

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Julia wonders if she has bought enough drink for the evening.

The gas man eventually cameth at 1.20pm last Wednesday (claiming he thought it was an afternoon appointment) and quickly sorted out the radiators: one had a sticking valve and the other had accidentally been turned off – the movement to do this was a quarter turn, surprisingly. He also allayed my fears about the system staying on because of a pump valve sticking while we were away. Apparently there are loads of failsafes on the system, and the boiler would eventually turn itself off. So that’s all good.

When he departed Dave and I finished our lunch and went to Stranger’s Hall museum, which proved surprisingly interesting: it has a warren of rooms representing different historical periods. Afterwards we continued through the rain to M&S, where we met Dot and Julia, and I resisted buying a jumper. After a pause for afternoon tea we returned home by way of a couple more shops, and ate in.

Thursday was Dot’s 67th birthday, and the weather was much nicer. We took a bus up to the Sainsbury Centre and after coffee in the cafe there (seated at the next table to Charles Clarke) we looked at the main exhibition and then at portraits by John Hedgecoe, which included one of my friend Lisa D’Onofrio, alongside other poetic greats such as Paul Larkin, Ted Hughes and John Betjeman.

Afterwards we walked along the river part of the way to Cringleford, but had to abandon halfway because of the mud. We diverted on to Bluebell Road, had refreshment in Waitrose cafe and helped Dave and Julia buy 12 bottles of Beaujolais nouveau, which I believe is a kind of wine. We then caught the bus home, changing at St Stephen’s. No sooner home than we were out again,up to the craft fair at the Forum, where it was cold, especially outside. Dot bought a ring, and we returned home in time to prepare for our evening meal at Prezzo’s, for which the Robinsons joined us. It proved to be their last evening as non-grandparents.

Yes, Charlie Theodore Smith, son of Sophie, was born at 2.20am, narrowly missing Dot’s birthday and weighing in at over 9lb, which is a bit excessive. On the same day Dot left at 8.30am for Thetford, where she was doing a day’s SIAS training, and the Evetts headed north at 9.45am for Scarborough. It was all go again. For them.

Dot returned just after 4pm, and by 5pm we were heading down the A11 for Caddington, where we were due to spend the night before lunching with much of the Coomes family near Bishop’s Stortford and proceeeding to David and Kristine’s for the rest of the weekend. This was partially scuppered by illness striking DC and Lydia, and we ended up spending Saturday with David, Oliver and Amy, which was very nice. Took Amy swimming in the morning, then on to Sainsbury’s, where we bought food under Amy’s guidance and then washed the car at Amy’s request. David and Oliver returned from Finchley, where Oliver’s school football team had won 6-2 in pouring rain.

Stayed in during the afternoon and played games after watching F1 qualifying, then David made a second excellent evening meal (toad in the hole; the first was salmon) and after the children had had a bath and gone to bed, we drove home, arriving about 10.30pm. It was still raining hard. Dot had been given her presents the previous day – a scarf, some soap, a necklace and a bracelet.

So that mean we were at church for Heather’s visit: she spoke on the disappointing vote which fell short of approving women bishops and got quite emotional, but it was a good sermon. I prefer to think of the vote as overwhelmingly in favour, but not overwhelmingly enough. But then I’m not a woman. Some of you may have spotted that. Ruth played violin with us, which was a refreshing change.

Gradually fading light

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On Thursday we voted for a police commissioner, and he got in. Not many people can say that. In more exciting news, two of the radiators in the house are cold, and the Evetts are due tomorrow. In addition, the heating failed to turn off last night when it was supposed to, so when the gas engineer eventually turns up (Wednesday is the latest offer) we will have a few questions to ask him. Hope he can answer them.

Meanwhile on Friday we went with the Robinsons to the world-famous Poringland cinema experience and saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which much to my surprise was both brilliant and inspiring, despite being set in India, which is probably the country I least want to visit.

On Saturday, while Dot got rather over-excited watching Norwich City beat Manchester United 1-0, I attended a birthday celebration for Bridget, who was 52. This took place on the Southern Comfort, which started at Horning, set off down the Bure and visited Ranworth Broad in gradually fading light. Atmospheric: really enjoyed it, especially as the forecast had been for constant rain.

Amy Myers in party mood

Spent quite a lot of time talking to Amy Myers (5), who has developed a lot and is fun. She had  a small admirer called Emily (2).

I drove Howard to Horning (and back). Anna, like Dot, had intended to come but had mistimed her return from Derbyshire. The cake was good, and I also had a chat with Bridget’s mother, Joy, who I’ve known for a while. She writes short stories. By today Anna had a stomach upset, so didn’t make church. Dot did make church and seems to be pretty healthy, which is just as well in the circumstances.

Phil came round and lent me a booklet by Paul on the life of Mollie Wurr, who I knew way back in Surrey Chapel days.

Brilliant holes in the hedges

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Norwich City are playing the final match of the season as I write, having won promotion on Monday amid incredible scenes at Poringland, where we were completing a bank holiday with the Robinsons. After an unlikely 0-3 loss by Cardiff to Middlesbrough, the Canaries needed to beat Portsmouth away to make sure of promotion, and they did just enough: 0-1 (Jackson). So today’s match is a formality, and there is more than a suspicion that the City players have not been putting everything into training. Still, it’s 0-0 as we approach half-time, and Dot is having her hair cut in the kitchen, courtesy of Linda, with the radio on. (Final score 2-2)

Dot at East Ruston gardens, with Happisburgh lighthouse framed by a hedge

Monday was a good day. We started with tea at the Robinsons, plus a tour of their extension-in-progress. Then Philip drove us to Ingham, near Stalham, for lunch at the Swan, which was very pleasant. I then navigated us to East Ruston, where we stumbled on the Old Vicarage Gardens which, coincidentally, we were looking for. I wasn’t optimistic about these, but after an entrance that seemed like a glorified garden centre, they turned out to be most unusual, more than making up for the biting wind, and with hedges that occasional blunted it. Some brilliant planning, with views through holes in the hedges picking our churches and the nearby Happisburgh lighthouse.

After a pause for tea we returned to Poringland, where we looked at about half the Robinsons’ pictures from their recent world tour before switching our attention to the vital match. The tension was so high that Philip had to leave the house, leaving three of us on the edges of our seats – well, two of us, with Anne mildly interested.

A busy week followed for Dot, with several school visits and an inspection at Elveden on Thursday. She has written most of her report already. On Wednesday I went to see Hilary Mellon about a journalism workshop she wants me to do for her Bridges group. I was a bit doubtful at first, but I think it sounds OK. Gave her a lift to a Bridges meeting at St Mary Magdalen afterwards, which gave me an opportunity to spy out the ground. In the evening I was over at Paston for a trustees’ meeting, at which we decided to continue with our plans for the church in the hope that a new clergyperson who will be PCC secretary will bring order out of chaos. We shall see. Nice homemade ginger biscuits, though. Dot meanwhile was visiting Carrie.

Yesterday, with the weather having settled itself at something very pleasant (no wind at last), my iPhone went on the blink, with the battery not recharging. I took it up to the Apple store, having made an appointment on David’s advice, and they thought initially it was a connection problem. But after I left it with them to charge, it became evident that the battery was faulty, or had reached the end of its life. So when I returned from doing a bit of extra shopping, I was supplied with a new battery, which comes in the form of a new phone, but at battery price (£55). Altogether a good result, especially as I had remembered to cancel the papers for our upcoming holiday, and the new phone recovered its apps and everything else.

This evening we head for Morston Hall, again with the Robinsons, which should be very good indeed. The weather is still excellent, though rain is predicted for tomorrow, when I am preaching at St Augustine’s.

What have I let myself in for?

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Brilliantly exposed shot catching the speed at which Maryta demonstrates how to bend, or possibly how not to.

So here we are in 2011, and here too is my 500th post. The year hasn’t shown any very promising signs yet, and some might say the same about the blog. I suppose it’s more a diary than a blog, but it’s a way of keeping track. Aiming to keep on the path less travelled, but tending to drift. The weather is a bit milder, but damp and grey, rather like a slight hangover.

Things have gone quiet with the departure of David, Oliver and Amy, two of whom have now transferred to Nottingham for a few days. Dot is revelling in her new MacBook Air (after we sorted out one or two issues), and I am just revelling, in a quiet way. The real extrovert revelling was on New Year’s Eve, led by Amy, who was surprisingly resistant to falling asleep and stayed up, with Oliver, until midnight. A born organiser, she made sure we played games and had fun, and didn’t doze off. Oliver was also lively right up to the wire. Where they get the energy from, I have no idea, unless they are extracting it from me in some way. I did manage to create a New Year Quiz, which David won despite disputing some of the answers.

Dot cooked a lovely Greek lamb and garlic meal, and I did sausages for the children, with pasta for Amy and potatoes for Oliver. We were joined by Anne and Philip, who survived the experience remarkably well and seemed to have a good time.

David and the children packed and departed by just after noon on New Year’s Day, which left us just about time to clear up before the arrival of Paul and Maryta for afternoon tea. During this Dot was offered a job as consultant, which may prove interesting.

Yesterday I preached at St Augustine’s on Epiphany – seeing the light. As usual I didn’t feel it came out quite right, but several people said they liked it. Howard led, and Vicky M brought her new baby, George, who is only a couple of weeks old and looked gorgeous, but with a slight air of “what have I let myself in for?” I guess most babies have that, with every justification. I suspect babies know more than they are telling.

Afterwards we went to see A Ethel, who has not been well over Christmas. She looked very frail. Dot made her a cup of tea and promised to return today, which she did, preparing her a little bit of lunch. Hard being alone in your late 80s when you’re not mobile. Dot is now preparing for a session she’s doing tomorrow on “The distinctiveness of a church school” for some staff in the Ringland area. At least, that’s where she’s doing it. I don’t know where the staff are from.

Something absolutely delicious

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Canoeist somersaulting
Canoeist tests submarine mode

Typically early visit from the piano tuner on Thursday roused me from my toast, tea and Sudoku. Wandered into sufficient consciousness to discuss Norwich City and other essentials while Dot prepared for DSSO visit to Yarmouth school. Later in the day she went to a governors’ meeting at Gillingham and dropped me on the Kirby Bedon road. I did a bit of exploring round the hinterland of Trowse and eventually found my way down to Whitlingham Broad and then home along the road, with a brief meadow excursion. I would guess about four miles in all, and very pleasant too. Got in some walking every day last week (until the weekend), and after a discussion with long-distance walker Michael, from down the road, went up to John Lewis and bought myself a pedometer that you can wear round your neck. New technology: you had to wear the old ones clipped to your belt, and I broke or lost several of them. I gave this one a brief test immediately, and it seemed pretty accurate. Unfortunately available only in kilometres, but the conversion maths will give my brain some exercise.

During the Thursday walk I took several photographs, and was lucky when I did the final bit along Riverside and found a canoeist doing practice stunts in the Wensum. Got some nice shots.

Drove to the Swan Hotel at Southwold on Saturday for Philip Robinson’s 70th birthday celebration meal. Got stuck in Norwich City championship celebration post-match traffic on the way out of Norwich, but still reached the hotel first, by about half an hour. Too chilly to go for a walk, so had a drink in the bar. Eventually, everyone turned up: Philip and Anne; Anne’s friend Francine; Sophie and husband Rich; Charlotte and fiance Chris; and Louise and boyfriend James. Had quite a long talk with all of them during the evening, which lasted till nearly midnight. Particularly good chat with Charlotte and Chris, who sat opposite us in the restaurant. The food was pretty well perfect. I had pigeon breast followed by beef – both done beautifully, and then poached pears with something absolutely delicious, the exact nature of which I’ve forgotten. It may have been supernatural. Gave Louise and James a lift back: they live on Thorpe Road, opposite the Town House.

Before all that I started work on the book I’m editing and got a couple of chapters done. I’ve fired them off to the author to see if she’s happy, but haven’t heard back yet. Perhaps she isn’t.  Despite our rather thick heads (we didn’t get to bed till about 1.30am) Dot and I enjoyed St Augustine’s yesterday, where I read the Banns for Ed and Jenny – for the second time of asking. Caught up on some TV in the afternoon and decided at the last moment not to go to the Ambient Wonder cafe evening, partly because our neighbours from the end of the road came round to tell us they were moving three doors down, and why. Nothing to do with us. I’m happy to say, but the same problem with the same people that everyone else seems to be having. Oddly, it’s bringing the rest of us together.

Today Dot dropped me off at the Premier Inn near the bypass on her way to Yarmouth. I walked back from there to test new pedometer again. Pretty accurate, but have adjusted step length downward slightly (85 > 80 cm) which works out about right, I think. More walks to follow! Quite warm today, but with some spots of rain.

Chess and tea

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Dot, Mick Stedman, Anne Robinson, Philip Robinson and Gill Stedman drinking tea at Poringland
Dot, Mick Stedman, Anne Robinson, Philip Robinson and Gill Stedman drinking tea at Poringland

Just back from Poringland, where we enjoyed lunch with the Stedmans and Robinsons, followed by afternoon tea on the lawn – well on a table on the lawn. So you can tell that the weather is pretty warm, though it was turning chilly towards the end. We’ve known each other since the mid-70s, when Mick Stedman was a vicar in the Bramerton Group, and the Robinsons’ home was in Alpington, the adjoining village. We lived in Holly Bank at Yelverton for 12 years. Dot is about to go on a girls’ night out: she never stops.

Here’s the game I played last night:

1 c4 e5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 Nc6 4 Nc3 Bc5 5 e3 0-0 6 a3 a6 7 Nge2 Re8 8 0-0 Ne7 9 d4 exd 10 exd Ba7 11 Bg5 Ng6 12 Nd5 c6 13 Nxf6+ gxf 14 Bf4?! d5 15 cxd cxd 16 Rc1 Bg4 17 f3 Qe7 18 fxg! Qxe2  19 Rc2! (Having foreseen the coming sacrifice) Bxd4+ 20 Qxd4 (Kh1 is also possible) Qxc2 21 Bh6! Re2 22 Bxd5 Ne5 23 Rxf6 (With all kinds of threats) Rd8 24 Rxf7!

Position after 24 Rxf7
Position after 24 Rxf7

Rg2+ 25 Bxg2 Qd1+ 26 Qxd1 Rxd1+ 27 Rf1 Rd8 28 Bd5+ Kh8 (If Rxd5, Rf8 is mate) 29 Rf8+ Rxf8 30 Bxf8 Nxg4 31 Bc5 Kg7 32 Bxb7 1-0. Of course, the most exciting possibilities never happen on the board.


31 May 2009

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Bit nervous because the computer is going in tomorrow morning to have its long-standing video RAM problem fixed. I shall be without it for two or three days. Aargh! I expect I shall manage.

The picture is of Sophie Robinson and groom Richard Smith emerging from Shotesham Church yesterday and getting surrounded by confetti. Their wedding day couldn’t have been more perfect. The sky was blue, and the weather pleasantly warm without being sweltering. Dot and I started it by having our hair cut, then hastened to Dunston Hall to meet the Walpoles, who were over from Canada for the occasion. We had a sandwich, then headed for Shotesham. I made the mistake of letting the Walpoles go first: they had a sat-nav which took us a long way round and eventually got us heading for the Suffolk border. After a brief consultation I led the way back and found Shotesham without much trouble. Still in good time, fortunately.

The service was very good, and I got a lot of interesting photographs afterwards before we all headed south (correctly this time) for Hoxne, home of the groom’s parents, where the reception was held. We went our own way and managed to emerge on to the A140 ahead of the bridal car, but by the time we had parked in a field at the village they had arrived. The usual long hiatus between service and meal was made actually enjoyable by the amazing garden, which had several levels, a pond, a stream, a hill and a Celtic cross, not to mention a couple of fairground organs in working order. We took advantage of the many hors d’ouevres and a couple of Pimms and chatted to the Walpoles and the Robinsons, who had eventually arrived.

Very pleasant meal, and an amazingly good speech by Philip, the bride’s father, who used one of my jokes. Chatted for quite a while afterwards with Peter and Karol; also with Jean and Alan, friends of Anne’s from Mitcham days. Eventually a band came on the scene and were very good value. Dot and I had two or three dances. Too loud to talk, though, and we left by about 9.30pm.
Sophie looked lovely and very happy throughout, and her two sisters were stunning bridesmaids. As we left the party was resurrecting with barbecue and a bar, and many more people arriving.

Earlier in the week – on Thursday – my aunt Josephine invited us to a family meal at Oaklands Hotel, which was a very good carvery. Present were Phil and Joy, Joe and Birgit, Paul and of course Josphine, Dot and me. Also present unexpectedly was one of Dot’s childhood friends, Carol, who accosted me in the carvery queue, and who I thankfully recognised. Another very pleasant time. Josephine looked well, and Paul apparently hasn’t an ache in his body at the age of 85, going on 60.

The weather has entered a very warm and calm spell, timed to coincide with the return of the Murrays to Canada, where the weather is apparently not so good. This afternoon we went to Adrian Ward’s Open Studios exhibition at Cringleford and had a pleasant chat. We bought some of his photographic cards. Now, after some time in the garden tying up…oh, one of those plants…and watching the birds, Dot is preparing for a day of philosophy in a Yarmouth school tomorrow. Anne’s school, in fact. There could be some wedding talk.

4 May 2008

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This is Dot sitting under the clematis in our back garden: a really beautiful sight when it’s out, which unfortunately is only for a week or two a year. The picture was taken yesterday: a pretty acceptable day as far as the weather went. Today was also warm and dry, so maybe summer is nearly here.

On Friday evening we went to the cinema to see The Oxford Murders, which is a challenging and compelling film – quite intellectual in a way, but very satisfying. Lots of maths in it, which I always enjoy. Realised today that 55 is not only a fibonacci number but also the sum of numbers 1-10 inclusive. That’s got to be significant, hasn’t it?!

On Saturday we went to Park Farm for lunch, then on to Aylsham to a private view for Lucy Edwards (and others) at St Jude’s gallery. We parked in the church grounds and had a look inside the large and lovely church. I was feeling pretty groggy in the gallery, but it may have been because I had a mouthful of crab and shrimp pate at Park Farm, and I am slightly allergic to crab on occasion. Before going to Philip and Anne’s for a Chinese meal in the evening I took some acidophilus, which is brilliant for putting your stomach right, plus some paracetamol, after which I felt a lot better, and we had a nice evening. Caught a glimpse of their eldest daughter Louise, who may be moving back to Norfolk.

Today the music group did really well at church. We did one of my songs that I hadn’t played in public before, and I was very pleased with it – but the music generally went well. Followed by church lunch, which was fun as always. Afterwards gave Phyllis a lift home, someone else a lift to the station and then filled the car up with petrol.

Suzanne has been accepted for ordination training, which is great news for her. Sadly it does mean she’ll be away in Cambridge for a while. Norwich City’s last match of the season today: apparently they were all over Sheffield Wednesday, and lost 4-1. It’s not just Spurs who can do that. At least they’ve avoided relegation.