Wednesday.

Got up early today, and went to early service - 7.30 am. Later we motored over to Wisbech to see Gran, Ann's mother. She seemed to be in pretty good form. Got there just before noon and had a very welcome cup of tea. Timothy, Ann's youngest brother joined us and we went round to Franks in two cars. When we got there we were talking to the girl who usually serves us and she said to Gran "You have three sons, I believe, Mrs. Clayton ?" Gran replied "I have a daughter and four sons, if you count my son-in- law, as I do". I thought that was lovely of her, and Ann,too, was very touched. Tim joined us, and we had our usual fish and chip lunch. It was as good as usual, with the usual attentive service. It was good to see Tim. He had put aboard a rather unusual Black Forest wall timepiece by Cammerer Cuss, fully signed to the dial to show me. It was unusual in that it looked like a small round dial clock, but the movement plates were wooden in the earlier Black Forest style, although it gave an impression of being rather later than this would suggest; say circa 1900. It's the great thing about old clocks - when you think you know the lot something else comes up and confounds you - well makes you wonder anyway. When Tim had gone back to his shop the three of us went back to Gran's flat and, if I'm honest, sat and dozed for an hour or so. We woke about 4pm and had a cup of tea and a piece of cake each. We set off home about a quarter to five. Just before we got to Nordelph saw a barn owl hunting along a dykeside. Haven't seen one for a year or so; it's nice to know they're still about. Got home about 6.30pm. Not bad going. Ann Driving. Oh well time for bed. Been a nice day. God bless you all.

Still Tuesday.

Tuesday.

This afternoon we motored over to Frinton to see our good friends John and Ann C.T. We stopped off at Manningtree and took a couple of snaps of the river (or should that be the estuary - not sure). They had a fairly awful Christmas. They went on a cruise of the Bahamas - and no, I know that doesn't sound awful but wait - and on Christmas morning John was taken very ill indeed. The ship had to change course to get within helicopter range- this took eleven hours- then John was airlifted onto the helicopter "(they hoisted me and the stretcher up in the air on a bit of string and we spun round and round"). Not pleasant. Even less pleasant was the fact that there was no room on the helicopter for Ann so she had to stay on the ship. John said this was worse for Ann than for him "I knew I was still alive but Ann didn't know if I was alive or dead." He then spent some days in a hospital (I think in Guadeloupe - near Antigua anyway, but my geography is shaky), then he spent some days in an hotel, whilst his insurance company argued about who was going to pay the bills, and was eventually shipped home. Ann eventually got home before John did. The whole thing as nightmarish. Their daughters have told them that it's the end of globetrotting for them, and at the moment they really don't mind very much. I think I mentioned last August or September that we went to their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Anyway, back to today. When we'd been there awhile John took a 'phoned call from their daughter Bea and we piled into our car and drove round their house where Bea wanted me to look at a thirty hour long case clock that they've bought. It's by George Spurr of Aylesbury, and despite (or because of) it's having been pretty well got at, it needs quite a bit doing to it. Have agreed to do the necessary eventually. We then went back to John and Ann's for a bite of tea, and eventually came home. It was lovely to see them but I'm afraid their Christmas adventures have taken it out of both of them quite badly. On the way home found there was a six mile tail back from the A12 to Manningtree due to a serious road accident on the southbound A12.
I'm going to knock off and go to bed in a minute, but first I'm going to try and put another snap of some swans at Manningtree on the blog. No, it doesn't seem to work. It'll have to go on in another blog. Goodnight.

Thursday.

Picture below is of doll mentioned in mid October as having been repaired. She belongs to friends, and has recently been completely dressed by owner in period costume. Said doll owners gave us lunch today at the farm shop in Semer as a 'thankyou' for work done on doll. Home and bought dollars to pay for tinder box recently purchased on ebay. Posted dollars to States where I believe they are legal tender. In past have sent money to States by International Money Order. Bank employee said they had stopped supplying those at the end of last year as there was no demand for them. I do wish shop assistants and bank people wouldn't use this as an excuse . The very fact that they have just been asked for an item gives the lie to their statement that 'There's no demand for those'. What they usually mean is that there wasn't sufficient profit in it for them. This was indicated today by the bank teller's further information of two different means of paying money abroad both of which cost more than twice as much as the international money order used to. My bank seems to charge more and more for doing less and less. Very annoying. Much more of it and I shall become curmudgeonly !!!!!

Thursday.

Thursday.

The picture below is of Gran, and one of her many great granddaughters, taken at Christmas., our senior Swedish granddaughter

Still Tuesday.

This is another snap of the Church Tower I took the other day (last Friday I think it was). I took this one because on-or just below- the weathercock is perched a collared dove, and I thought they made a nice pair - the pigeon pair as we say in East Anglia. I think you'll have to enlarge the picture to see them though. Our friend Helga called this afternoon. She and Ann went for a walk round the shops, and came back with cream cakes for tea. Ann had made fishcakes for supper and very nice they were too. Since then I've been doing some preliminary work on a flintlock musket that needs tidying up. Now must knock off and tidy myself up. Goodnight all.

Tuesday.

Cycled over to Toppesfield Bridge this morning and took above photo. Had been told that river was in spate and lapping road due to recent heavy rainfall. This morning the slacker down river from the bridge had been opened and river was at its usual level. It had been two or three feet higher than this. I think I've finally cured the little Welsh clock I've been working on, the going train was no problem- just needed a good clean, but the strike train is very unusually made, and has needed coaxing. However, it's now been behaving itself for some days. Still, you know what the Welsh are like - just when you think they're finally happy they come up with another complaint (with apologies to any Taffs who may read this - and if Ann reads this before I publish it she'll insist on my deleting the last bit - oh well, I'd better type fast). No, I'll publish now, and possibly blog more later.

Sunday.

Been very lazy regarding blogging this last week. So I'm just going to put down highlights of it :-
Monday, went to Southwold (to deliver repaired and restored clock) and were treated to lunch at the Crown - old inn/ hotel. Been done up since I was last there. Being Southwold it's been properly done, i.e. sympathetically. Lovely old place and a good lunch. Ran round by Yoxford and Framlingham on the way home, called at one antique shop and two antique centres. Only one purchase though. Tuesday, invited to lunch (and to look at recently purchased clock) at lovely Tudor manor house . Six of us -all knew each other- hostess asked for volunteer to carve chicken. As senior bloke guest felt it incumbent on me to volunteer. Due to combination of very well done bird and very blunt carving knife, rather regretted impulse to volunteer carving skills. Hostess eventually found steel to go with carving set, whetted carver, and improved matters. After lunch we were to taken to see a very interesting priest hole in attic -dormitory would be better word. Long room with small tudor fireplace- brick hearth with oak kerb. Our hostess knelt in front of the fireplace and pulled the oak kerb towards her, half the hearth (tongue twister that) came forward with it and revealed the priest hole below. It was used during the reign of Elizabeth (the first one) to successfully hide a catholic priest for four days. A remarkable piece of work , and a very pleasant day out. Wednesday, other than reading the lesson at early service - day off. Spent it in my workshop catching up. Thursday - met Sue and David at Crabtree's. Sue told us of a very good farm shop at Stratford St. Mary's. In the afternoon, after taking a load of green waste to the tip, we motored across to Stratford St. Mary's to try out new farm shop. Very well stocked with nice quality stuff. Also had a tea room, tried it out, equally good. Friday- busy day. Cycle repair man came in morning, raised handlebars on new bike, and fitted new seat. Also fitted lights to Ann's bike. Then motored over to Wisbech and spent afternoon with Gran. Then on to Fenstanton to meet Ann's brothers at the King William IV, William's (Ann's nephew) new pub and restaurant. Had meal and dicussed arrangements for Gran's 100th birthday celebrations. Saturday, choir practice at 10.30 am in vestry -better arrangement. Afternoon scrabble club. Three very good games but didn't win any of them. Today Sunday all in aid of Christian unity. First to Salvation Army 8.30 am. 10.30 am Sung Eucharist at St. Mary's. Both of us in choir this morning. 6.30 pm Elmstead Methodist Church evening service. Ann and I read alternate verses from Psalm 34.
What a quiet life we lead in the country!!!!!! Goodnight all.

wednesday.

I do love Suffolk churches. Not just the well known, often photographed, cathedral like ones, but small sturdy, country character, ones like this. It's a few miles from our home. I photographed it this afternoon. It's still very much the heart of the village. I find it heartening to think that even now, over the whole of England, there's a church like this every two and a half miles in any direction. Must go and do some work now. Will probably blog some more later.

Still Saturday.

Must just reopen this blog to say that when I got upstairs to supper Ann had roasted the partridges we were given yesterday, knocked up a delicious sauce, and vegetables (including crispy roast parsnips and fried mushrooms and leeks. The dentist had given her a bottle of French vin de pays rosee, which we had with our supper. Ann said it was the best roast game she could remember having, and I have to agree. Perhaps I do tend to hang game rather too long. These were only shot two days ago and were quite delicious. As we both picked the carcasses Henry VIII fashion I shall now have to go and wash my whiskers. I should add that Ann had made for pudding plum cobbler and custard, but we were both so replete we plan to eat this cold tomorrow. God bless you and may you all have had as good a supper.

Saturday.

Photo (included of course to reassure doubting daughter that I can still put pictures on blog) of shelf in kitchen, laden with mostly pottery, majority of which is staffordshire made, slightly damaged, and of very little value, which just goes to show something or other (e.g. it doesn't have to be valuable to be attractive, or how enjoyable collecting in a leisurely way can be). This sort of thing has given us a lot of pleasure over the years. Today :- It has been a lovely bright mild January day. So much so that Ann suggested a bike ride. After breakfast we got the bikes out and rode, eventually to Layham Church, which we pottered round, then home. I must admit to being rather out of condition, but it was lovely to be out in the sunshine. After lunch to scrabble club, played our usual three games (Hilary, Doris, and I this week). First game Hilary started by putting down a seven letter word. During the game I put down TWO seven letter words. To keep it short:- I won the first two games and Doris the third, but all three were good, close fought, (not to say vicious) games. Thoroughly enjoyed by all of us. Halfway through our first game a scream from the table next to us caused us to wander across to see what the excitement was about. Barbara had put down a seven letter word across two double word scores and had got herself 106 points - a personal best. A lovely afternoon. When I got home Ann was still at the optician's (being a guinea pig again), so I made myself a cuppa and sat down to the Telegraph prize crossword. Took me forty minutes. One good clue - well it made me chuckle :- 'Estimate value of female donkey' - six letters. The answer, of course, was:- 'assess'. Soppy, what ? From 'noises off' I deduce that supper will shortly be anounced so will close. Goddnight all.

Still Friday.

This is grandson Guy about to go out shooting one evening last autumn, armed with a new (toy, but only just) gun. Can't remember what the bag was.

Friday.

This is a photo of son in law Mikey and myself (the blogger) taken early last autumn when the blogger was allowed to try granddaughter Lucy's scooter. Sturdy little steed it was too. I was a little out of practice at scooting but put it through its paces and thoroughly enjoyed it too. Today was open house at the Deanery so we dropped by mid morning and enjoyed a cuppa and biccies (actually they were rather grand biscuits - left over from Christmas I should think- and very good they were). Talked to Hilary, Edna, et al. Also introduced to two new young people - of Indian origin- they have a young daughter who is at home in Indian being cared for by her grandmother. Must be very hard on the youngsters - economic conditions at home make it a necessity I suppose, but it seems unnatural, and as I say must be very hard on them the parents. This afternoon two friends popped over to pick up a sword cane I've been repairing for David. It was a quick easy job (making a silver band over the join) so I couldn't charge for it, but as David had bought us a brace of freshly shot partridges and a frozen rainbow trout I was very glad to call it square. They stayed for a while and had a pot of tea, etc., with us. It was good to see them. While I was trying to remember how long to hang partridges in a mild January, Ann had been busy plucking and drawing them, bless her. Think we'll probably have them on Sunday. Got to go and put a third coat of garnet polish on a gunstock. Goodnight all.
P.s. See NEA, I can still put pictures on the blog, so ner diddy Ner Ner. Much love, your venerable Pa.

saturday.

Just taken the above photo of a cross stitch picture Ann embroidered for my last big zero birthday. Always liked it. Sort of enlarged illuminated capital. Finished off small clock I have been working on over Christmas - now ready for delivery. Went to scrabble club this afternoon. Only five of us so rather than playing a three and a two game (two handed scrabble - if both players know the other's game - is very predictable) we decided to play a five handed game - great fun. Doris won the first two games by going out first and collecting the other four's remaining points, and although she went out first again on the third game, I had managed to build up enough points to win anyway. Very pleasant couple of hours. After that Ann and I met up in the library and then walked round to the local optician's where we acted as guinea pigs for trainee opticians. We do this voluntarily but the optician always presents us with a bottle of wine apiece as a 'thank you'- very civilised of him. Home and had the last of the leg of mutton casseroled with lots of left over vegetables - very tasty too. Just got to clean my black shoes ready for choir in the morning then off to bed. Goodnight all.

Friday.

Took this photo at 3.30 pm today just before Ann took the Swedish contingent off to the Harwich ferry which sails at 6pm for Esbjerg. They will then catch a train across Denmark to Malmo in southern Sweden. Stay in Malmo until Sunday evening, then catch the night train up to their home town in Northern Sweden, arriving at around 7am on Monday when the girls, and Ruth go on to school at eight am. By Monday evening I think they will be ready for another holiday !!! What it is to be young and energetic! Christmas is now over. We've more or less filled the traditional twelve days of Christmas, and I don't think I can remember a better one. It has been really lovely. Got lots of catching up and tidying up to do now. Goodnight all.

This is both Swedish granddaughters being themselves. As you can see I am still practising putting illustrations to my blog. At breakfast this morning took lots of photoes to practice with. These are the ones worth looking at. Walked into town this morning. Went to bank, did some shopping, wished a happy new year to a good many friends and aquaintances met in town. Ann's older brother Mick, and his wife Erica drove over and had lunch with us. They had realised yesterday that the Swedish contingent go home tomorrow, which only left today to come and see them. One of the things Ruth always likes to do when she comes home is to have fish and chips, so she and Ann drove into town and bought us each a portion of fish each, a mountain of chips, and a lake of mushy peas. I opened a bottle of Piesporter I'd shoved in the fridge earlier, and a good lunch was enjoyed by all. As snow had been forecast for today (and looked likely) Mick and Erica headed for home about three. We had all enjoyed their visit, as I hope had they. Actually Gran 'phoned later to say that Mick had just 'phoned her and told her how much they had enjoyed themselves with us. After they'd gone I got stuck into making the alarm weight and counter weight for a lantern timepiece alarm I'm restoring. Work (which I'd been rather dreading went well - usually the case). I'm afraid that after tomorrow life will be rather quieter for a while. Oh well ! Goodnight all.

This is older Swedish granddaughter being glamourous (just be grateful it's not the one of her being winsome!)

This is younger Swedish granddaugher still being a zebra.

Thursday.

This is younger Swedish granddaughter being a zebra.

Tuesday.

Yesterday, New year's eve, the six of us motored over to March to celebrate granddaughter Laura's eighteenth birthday. As our car, a Honda Jazz can only legally hold five persons, Ruth and Lassa hired a bran new Vauxhall Vectra, and we went in two cars. Kerry had fires in the garden; she'd originally planned a barbecue, but there were problems, so she cooked the meat indoors. There was a glorious spread and about thirty guests. Then Lizzy, her partner Danny, and Lizzie's three youngsters turned up, and we had fireworks and sparklers. In the end there must have been nearer forty people at the party. Ann and I hit the road a little after eight p.m. and were in bed just after ten. We didn't stay awake to see the new year in, I'm afraid. Today, New year's day, we all went and had lunch with Brenda and Warren. When Brenda 'phoned to invite us Ann asked if there was anything we could take, and Brenda admitted she was out of bread. That was alright as Ann had a loaf baking in the oven that was nearly done, so we took that and a bottle of wine. It was good to see them and we had a lovely cold lunch, after which I had to make my excuses and come home ahead of the rest, as I had a lot to get ready for tomorrow (Long Melford). As we've got an early start in the morning, I'm going to knock off and get an early night. Goodnight All.