Tag Archives: shoulder

Looking over my shoulder

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Chronicle in action at Dragon Hall. From left, Rob Knee, Caroline Gilfillan, Kay Riggs, Tim Lenton

Well, it happened. Reading the Pastons dawned sunny and reasonably warm last Friday, and everything fell into place. The speakers all turned up and did a good job; I operated the laptop for the pictures and struggled through after one or two initial blips. The two performances by Chronicle (the first to about 25-30, the second to half a dozen) went well and got good feedback. The exhibition and re-enactors performed well.

Dot brought Jessie, and Jude came too. From church Ray and Christine were joined by David Archer. At least two people came from London, including a man who used to be admired by Dot at primary school; unfortunately she wasn’t feeling well enough to chat him up: her catarrh lingered on, and still does to a much lesser extent. Anna’s sister Nicola also put in an appearance.

In the afternoon a number of USAF children came and joined in the re-enacting as well as one or two other things. The favourable weather meant that we could spill into the garden and was also good for Rob’s tour of the Norwich Paston sites. For more information, click here.

Afterwards Dot and I had a meal with Jessie back at 22, and we then took her home, continuing on to Paston to deliver various items to the Barn. Lucy was still not too good (she hadn’t been well enough to come), but she showed us details of a couple of houses in Bacton she was interested in.

Elizabeth had left her memory stick behind, so on Saturday I delivered it to her home in Little Melton before driving dow to see nephew Joe’s photos at a New Buckenham Photo Exhibition. Liked his stuff very much, and there were other good photos on show too. Dot would have enjoyed it, but she was still suffering a bit, so didn’t come. Bought some cards.

From New Buckenham I drove across country via Hapton and Hempnall to Ditchingham, where I picked up Joy from her retreat house. Arrived a bit early (I hadn’t been sure how long it would take), but Joy was pretty much ready. Drove her home, buying some milk on the way.

Meanwhile Andrew had taken a turn for the worst and was sectioned because they felt he wasn’t in a position to remain at the hospital voluntarily. Apparently he has been quite hostile to staff. I decided to go over to see him on the Monday, partly because I was worried about what was happening to his stuff. In the end I didn’t go because A Ethel was taken ill and had to go into hospital, where she remains. Dot and I saw her last night in the company of Angela and Rodney, who returned here afterwards for coffee.

I managed to get in touch with one of the carers (Paul), who assured me that Andrew’s stuff was being taken care of, and I’ve now decided to go over next Monday, in the company of Phil, who had been in Southampton last week while Joy was in Ditchingham. I spent most of yesterday dealing with church money and taking it to the bank, then sending out invoices for hall use. We also finally got a visit from a gas person, who serviced our system. It was OK, though of course we were urged to buy a new boiler, and of course we didn’t.

Today I shall be heading to the hospital shortly for an x-ray on my left shoulder. Or a look over my shoulder, you might say.

Bit of manipulation

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Andrew wrapped up against the cold at Ranworth

It isn’t getting any warmer. It snowed briefly this morning, but the main factor throughout the week has been the biting east wind, which as my friend Sandra would say is a lazy wind, because it can’t be bothered to go round you – it goes right through you. Despite this, life goes on: I guess you’d get used to living with it eventually. As another friend, Kevin, said, it’s not bad weather, it’s the wrong clothes. Not sure that’s entirely right (puts on extra jumper).

On Monday another Paston trustees’ meeting at Dayspring. I went a bit early to chat to an afflicted Lucy, but not sure I helped much. The meeting went well, and I agreed to help at the Paston Day at the end of April, organising some Chronicle stuff, or as we prefer to put it, reading out some poems and letters.

Drove to Coventry to fetch Andrew on Wednesday. Phil is having a bad time at the moment, so he couldn’t assist. No real problem in the driving, and A was much better than expected. On the Thursday we braved the wind and cold and went to Ranworth: had a sandwich or two at the staithe and then walked to the revamped wildlife centre on the edge of the Broad. Pretty much on our own there, which was quite nice in a way. Good views; but the staff had spent the morning unpacking and weren’t really in full flow. I wanted to buy a map, but no-one knew how much it cost. In the end I said I’d leave it and come back next week (which we might do, with the grandchildren).

Andrew and I then climbed Ranworth Church tower and found ourselves on top with a family of four: grandparents and two young children. We took each other’s photographs, but didn’t hang around long. Earlier I had walked over to the Riverside shops with Andrew and bought him two pairs of new shoes as well as some other items of clothing. On the way back from Ranworth we called at the Rosary, which he didn’t recognise for some time as we were approaching it from the wrong direction.

On Good Friday we walked up to the Castle Museum and spent a couple of hours looking round, starting with the wildlife section and proceeding to the basement by way of the keep. After lunch at home Phil walked down to see him. Andrew and I left for Coventry at about 3.303pm and stopped for a meal at Thrapston Little Chef before reaching The Langleys just after 6.30pm.

Unusually he wanted me to help him unpack and sort himself out; so I didn’t start for home till well after 7pm. But despite being delayed by alleged animals on the road near Newmarket (the police stopped traffic and were searching along the edges) it was a really easy ride back , and I was home by about 9.45pm.

I have omitted to mention that while Andrew was in Norwich I had my first session with Sharon Gibbons at the Oasis, when she got a life history and did some manipulation of my shoulder, which is quite painful at times. Not sure what caused it: she suggests a problem with a complex of muscles in that area. Sounded convincing, and the manipulation felt good.

The whole appointment took longer than I anticipated (over an hour) and I was late back for our meal, which made Dot late for her visit to Carrie. Oh well. (Fleetwood Mac again).

Today we enjoyed an extensive bit of shopping at the supermarket, and I checked one of my car tyres again that I thought might have a slow puncture. It probably has, but it’s very, very slow. Now anticipating the artival of David and the children late this afternoon. According to our tracking device, they have arrived safely at the Co0omes’ house in Bishop’s Stortford for lunch.

Dot has a new job as an RE Quality Mark assessor. It remains to be seen how much more time this will take, but it shows how highly thought of she is. Not surprisingly.