Friday 29 May 2009

Friday.

We went to a funeral in Ipswich today. Been to far too many this year. I think it's seven. Today's funeral was that of Angus Andrews. We sang in the same male voice choir for thirty five years. He had a deep, rumbling, bass voice. We were (as Gus would have said) fellow basso profundos. He could sight read far better than I, and had the nearest thing to perfect pitch that I ever came across. It would have been impossible to stand next to Gus and sing out of tune. He was always ready to give gentle guidance and advice to younger singers. When he was almost completely deaf, and provided he could see the conductor and the score, he was still a great assett to the choir. I think he'll be an assett to whatever choir he's singing with now.

Thursday 28 May 2009

Thursday.


Our roses are just starting to look well.
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Thursday.


Photo is of three donkeys, five little boys, and a guardian granny. This afternoon we motored over to a farm shop at Stratford St. Mary, bought some new potatoes and some locally grown strawberries. We then went to the tea shop on the farm, had a pot of tea and scones, sitting outside, and watching donkeys, et cetera.

Nea. Please tell the girls that now we have made the aquaintance of these donkeys (etc.) we shall be in a position to introduce them if you'd care to take a short drive over there when you come over in June. But watch the smallest one. He is quite vicious and very quick on his feet. One of the other donkeys tried to eat one of the carrots they'd been given - the small donkey spun on his forefeet and lashed out with his hind feet, getting the larger donkey squarely in the ribs, before returning to the carrots - he wouldn't let the other two near them.

Sorry - not telling today in any sort of chronological order. Spent this morning in workshop, doing up a pair of rather handsome late georgian brass candlesticks, and tidying a brass tinder box. Cheers all, Mike.

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Wednesday 27 May 2009

Wednesday.

Skyscape taken on Tuesday between Newmarket and Bury St. Edmund's. I must say that I think a good skyscape can be quite as dramatic, or even more so, than a good landscape.
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Wednesday.

Took some 'skyscapes' yesterday on the way home from Erica's funeral.
When we set out from home at 9a.m. it was a rainy, miserable, thoroughly funereal looking, day. As we approached Ely, we could see that the sky was becoming lighter. Picked up Lizzie at Ely Railway Station, and on to Welney, where the weather eventually became quite sunny. We were at the Lamb and flag by midday, where I hadbooked a table for eight (although Kerry was unable to join us). Son Jonathan and his lady, Jude, had motored across from Wolverhampton (2 and 3/4 hours). Had a really very good lunch - for a country pub- and less expensive than I had thought. After lunch went across road to Welney Church (where I was Churchwarden for a few years in the 80s). By 2.30 p.m. the Church was more crowded than I had ever seen it. People were being ushered into the choir stalls, and even the old gallery at the back (not normally used at all) was crowded. The service was atypical but, I think, very sincere. At the interment Mick was standing on his own at the head of the grave, whilst his children and grandchildren stood at the foot. Ann decided that her big brother looked lonely, so at my suggestion she went and stood next to him and supported him. Our youngest daughter, Lizzie, then came and stood by me, which I was glad of (later both Mick's daughters came and thanked their Aunt for going to him- as did Mick). After the interment I met loads of people I hadn't seen for years. The memory, I'm glad to say, worked reasonably well. Cissy Bedford (the village dressmaker at one time) asked me if Gran Clayton was present as she would love to see her again. I took her across to Gran, and the two old ladies - one over a hundred and the other a year or so less- were so pleased to see each other that it was a real pleasure to see and hear them. We then went to Littleport Village Hall for tea. Met lots more people -memory continued to do its duty. Eventually dropped Lizzie off at Ely Railway Station and drove home. Weather now was much improved and managed to photograph impressive cloud formations.
A memorable, but very tiring, day.
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Monday 25 May 2009

Monday.


Another part of Carl and Judy's garden.

This lunch time we attended an 'at home' held by friends of ours in town. 'At homes' seem to vary with every home that holds one. This one had about fifteen guests (most of whom we knew), drinks were served and a very good selection of nibbles handed round (all home made, I should judge). It lasted about two hours, during which time we felt we had got to know some people rather better than before, met one or two new people, and renewed old friendships. It was a very enjoyable occasion held in a lovely home, medieval, but with some later (XVIth century) beams.
Since then have been getting on in the workshop fairly effectively. Still got one or two jobs to do so - Good night all.
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Monday.


Clever piece of topiary work seen in a garden centre in the midlands at the weekend. More later perhaps.
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Sunday 24 May 2009

Sunday.



Got home a little after five, and found this painted lady in the herb garden, enjoying the sun.

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Sunday.

Snapshot of another bit of Carl and Judy's garden. On Saturday afternoon we drove out to a very good garden centre and purchased plants.
This morning drove round to sister Margaret's with roses and a card to wish her many happy returns of the day. Back to Judy's for lunch, then drove home - a very relaxing weekend.
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Sunday.



This is a photo of the grave after our attentions.
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Sunday.

On Friday afternoon drove to Leicestershire and spent very pleasant weekend with Brother and sister-in-law Judy. Above photo is of Ann and Judy in Judy's garden, which is rather larger than ours and is (as can be seen) beautifully kept. On Saturday morning went to see old friend/business aquaintance, and managed to do a little business. Then on to cemetary to Mother's grave, which we tidied up, and left flowers on, this year being the sixtieth anniversary of her death.
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Thursday 21 May 2009

Thursday.


Quick last blog for today. Took this on Tuesday from the car. Weather that day was mostly clear and sunny, but twice it decided to remind us of what late spring weather can be like in England. This was one of the times. Cheers, Mike.
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Thursday.


Cottages at Weeting, Norfolk. With reference to earlier blog, we didn't sing from the top of the Deanery Tower because neither churchwarden had the key to the tower, and it couldn't be found. So we sang from near the base of the tower (in the open air), and the singing sounded pretty good we were informed, so everyone was (fairly) happy. Goodnight all.
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Thursday.

Snapshot taken on Tuesday in Thetford Chase near Brandon, on our way to Gran's. Been a nice day. Our friend Penny came to lunch. Very light lunch - As we'd been given a good big bunch of asparagus by a gardening friend, Ann made asparagus soup (chicken stock), with bread she had just made, followed by a cheese board and coffee. A lovely lunch, and we had a lot of catching up of family news to do. Penny came just before midday and left just after two, which meant Ann could go to a committee meeting (Ansell Club) and I was able to get on and finish the work on the longcase clock movement I mentioned yesterday. I found that I also had to make a copy of the clutch spring (brass and incomplete). It's the worst of restoring antique clocks - there's always more work to be done when you get them apart than at first appears. Still, a nice, satisfying job, and all now done. Must knock off now. As it's Ascension Day service this evening, those of us who can make it are singing from the top of the Deanery Tower this evening. More later perhaps. Cheers, Mike.
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Wednesday 20 May 2009

Wednesday.

Snapshot of XVth century moated manor house a few miles from us, hidden among the back lanes. Got up early this morning for early morning service, held in a retired (or realisticly- semi retired) priest's home. She is having great difficulty getting about, and asked if the early communion service could be held in her home. She took the service. It worked well- not sure if that's the correct expression but I'm sure you'll know what I mean to express.
Pottered in workshop this morning (fairly successfully), then walked into town to have a snack lunch in the United Reform Church's Room - a new departure - snack lunch is available for £2.50, the original idea was to provide a good lunch for the elderly but these new 'snack lunches' are available to anyone. I had a 'cheddar cheese ploughman's lunch', Ann had a baked potato with tuna mayonnaise filling, both with salad, and tea or coffee is included in the price. A great many of our friends attended. The general feeling was that this is going to be a great assett to the town, and the Church Ladies say they are making a profit for the Church, so it's all to the good.
After lunch changed into workshop scruff and got stuck into a grandfather clock movement whose strike system needs repair. Needs several minor repairs. The one that had been bothering me most (a broken off securing pin which was so small I could hardly see either end) yeilded to treatment more easily than I had hoped - drilled it out. Movement is now back together, and I'll get stuck into rest of problems in the morning (D.V.) Going to knock off now before I start making mistakes. Good night all.
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Tuesday 19 May 2009

Tuesday.


Ann about to help Terry to a dollop of macaroni cheese.
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Tuesday.


Table set for simple supper for three, yesterday evening. We were joined by our good friend Terry Turk for this meal. It consisted of a macaroni cheese, with mushrooms and things chopped up in it, with a dish of shredded cabbage in a yoghurt sauce (I think Ann Said), followed by apple crumble with cream, and coffee (all delicious). After the meal we went to the old town hall where a talk was given called 'Henry VIIIth in Suffolk'. I don't think he ever came to Suffolk (which was all to the good for Suffolk) BUT..... his representative, Cardinal Wolseley, came from Suffolk and a tax Wolseley introduced was directly responsible for rioting in our area in the 1530s. The lecturer pointed out that the rioters from our town would have been completely familiar with the room in which we were sitting, and had probably planned their part of the insurrection therein. To cut a long story short Henry VIII eventually rescinded this unpopular tax, and allowed the Suffolk men to return home (probably one of the few sensible decisions that Monarch ever made). A very good lecture, and very clearly delivered. I've always wondered why Mary Tudor, Queen of France and a Princess of England, is buried in a Church in Bury St. Edmund's, and during the course of the lecture, this question too, was answered. A lovely evening.
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Tuesday.


Thorpe Moriuex Church seen across fields this evening. Been across to Wisbech to see Gran today. Took with us remains of last night's supper, upon which we lunched. Took above photo on way home.
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Monday 18 May 2009

Monday.


Snapshot taken about ten days ago in a village a few miles from here.

Went to the Hadleigh Show on Saturday morning. It's one of the longest running agricultural shows in the country. It was started in the 1830s and has run continuously since then with a break from 1940 to 1945, when we had other things to think about. I took loads of photoes to show in this blog, but when I got home I found that the camera hadn't stored them. Don't know what I'd done wrong - it's working again now. I'm sorry I can't show you any, but if you flick back in this blog to same time last year you'll find I took (and published) much the same sort of thing then. Scrabble Club on Saturday afternoon. Three good games- won two of them, but in both cases- only just. Just back from lipreading class and feeling thoroughly cream crackered (rhyming slang for a trifle fatigued). Friend Terry Turk is coming for an early supper, then we're going with her to a lecture about Henry VIII. Might (or might not) be quite interesting. Will report thereon (if I remember) later. Cheers for now, Mike.
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Friday 15 May 2009

Friday.


Ann showing a few of her aquilegia (or granny's nightcaps). The herb garden is full of them at the moment.

Yesterday was a lovely day. Started off with a totally unexpected, but very welcome, letter. Then later in the morning our good friend Eileen arrived in her car to take us into Ipswich. She said this was a 'thankyou' trip. We went to her club (the Ipswich and Suffolk club) for lunch and then a talk. The club started life as a gentlemens' club (it showed: very masculine and full of mahogany furniture). We had a drink in the bar then were called through to the dining room. Four large round tables seating ten people each. Before we ate we were introduced, or introduced ourselves to our neighbours. Ann was next to Eileen on one side, and an elderly lady on the other. When Ann heard what part of Ipswich she lived in She asked her if she knew a Molly Clegg, a cousin Ann had lost touch with some years ago. "Yes" says Ann's neighbour, "She's a friend of mine. She's at the next table, sitting back to your husband." It was lovely to see her again. Despite the intervening thirty odd years, she instantly recognised Ann, and had changed remarkably little herself. She and her husband (now dead), although childless, had been very kind to our children. She could hardly believe that they now had children who were almost grown up themselves. At this point we all had to return to our places as lunch was being served. Two choices. I had lamb, with sweetbread, in a pastry crust, followed by jam rolly polly pudding (suet pastry), and custard. Ann had the fish (plaice) and said it was very fresh. After coffee, we had the talk, which was about the restoration of the locks on the river Gipping. Most interesting, especially as we know stretches of the river. Then, after Ann and Molly got together to exchange present addresses, Eileen drove us home. We'd all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We then 'phoned Ann's mother to ascertain the exact relationship of Ann to Molly. It transpired that Ann's great grandfather ('old' Robert Clayton), after having a family and being widowed, had married again, and sired Molly's mother . I worked that one out as Ann and Molly being first half cousins, once removed. Still, it's all family, I suppose. That's Norfolk for you. Choir practice in the evening, and that went well , too. Both felt we were in good voice for once. We should have sung - but didn't : 'When you come to the end of a perfect day.'
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Wednesday 13 May 2009

Wednesday.


Snapshot of your blogger in the herb garden.
Got up early this morning and went to Mattins, which Ann and I took. Had breakfast in Church, then walked home. Ann did some grocery shopping in town then drove home. Since then been pottering in workshop - oddjobs. Soup and sandwich lunch, both by Ann, both from last remains of Sunday chicken. It's amazing, when there are only two of you, how far a decent chicken can be made to go (and without monotony or boredom). Lunch was followed - I'm ashamed to say- by a quick 'zizz'. Back in workshop now, waiting for a friend to collect the long case clock movement I 'fixed' on Sunday. More later perhaps, or perhaps not, as we've people coming to Supper. Cheers, Mike.
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Monday 11 May 2009

Monday.


Leaves and blosoms snapped on my way home from lipreading class this afternoon. Isn't this a lovely time of year?
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Sunday 10 May 2009

Sunday.


The Bishop's Palace at Ely, taken on Friday.

Yesterday drove to Glemham Hall and met up with friends Jon and Jo to see new antique fair. Antique fair very small (16 stallholders) but one or two good displays. Was well worth the trip to see the hall and look round the gardens, which were lovely. Then on to the Crown Inn at Great Glemham, where Jon treated us to lunch, which I thought was very good (top end of the pub grub market, anyway) but Jon thought too much potato in the fishcakes. Generally though, we all enjoyed the meal. Lovely sunny day. Drove home through the back lanes.

Standard Sunday today. Family service, followed by short communion. Home, changed into me scruff, then in workshop all afternoon and evening. Fixed mid eighteenth long case clock. Click spring caput on winding ratchet, made a new one as exact copy of bust one -brass. Also had to re-tension small clutch spring on fly, also brass, and sort out a few (potential) problems whilst clock was in bits- would have been silly not to- prevention better than cure. Finished the job ten minutes ago, cleaned up, and now ready for bed. Ann's just gone up so will join her. Goodnight all.

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Saturday 9 May 2009

Saturday.

The gateway to the King's School, Ely.
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Saturday.


Left- Ely Cathedral Main entrance. Centre - the old Bishop's Palace. Right - the Minster Tavern.
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Saturday.


The next few photoes were taken yesterday on our way home, and from a moving car. This one is the Octagon tower of Ely Cathedral, otherwise known as the lantern of the fens.
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