Monday.

 

Photo is of small, box hedge enclosed, square of garden designated 'the rose garden'. Considering we put them in less than a year ago, the roses are already giving us a decent show of flowers. Yesterday was a very busy Sunday. Morning service - self in choir, Ann serving. After lunch (about 3.30 pm) we walked round to friends who were having an 'at home' in their garden. Very nice it was, too. Their lawns run down to the river, and they'd set up tables and large garden parosols. Stayed for about an hour and had tea and cake. Everyone drifted in and out, and we chatted to friends going there, coming back and during. This really is a very sociable and civilised little town. In the evening we went across to Woodbridge, giving Hilary and Tricia a lift, to a service in St. John's being celebrated by a friend of ours, who has just taken up the post of curate there. Hadn't seen him for quite a while, and he seems to have become very high church in the meantime. Clouds of incense. As we were going out I muttered to Ann "Smells and Bells, what?". But she very fairly pointed out (in wifely fashion) that there hadn't actually been any bells. Afterwards a very decent do in the church hall. On the way there Hilary said in joking fashion that she must be home by 11 pm as there was a programme on TV she wanted to watch. We all laughed at the idea of not being home by 11, but in point of fact she only just made it. Thoroughly nice day though. Goodnight all.

Sunday.

 

Don't know what this is. It's growing in our rockery beside the small pond. An alpine of some sort I suppose? Any knowledgeable suggestions welcome.

Saturday.

 

Snapshot of Ann in front of sweet peas, with which she is very pleased. Haven't had much success with them in previous years, but this year's have been lovely and we've picked lots. We've also put red and white flowered runner beans either side of the sweet peas, and they too are now begining to flower, so we should have a bait or two of runner beans to eat later in the year. Had a very busy day in the workshop, but played scrabble between two and four. Played three good , closely faught games. Won the last one, but all four final scores were within about thirty points of each other, which we all enjoyed. Must close now, it's 2215 hours. Goodnight all.

Friday.

 

Snapshot take from upstairs back bedroom window of local school sportsday. Playing field is beyond our parking space to rear of property (I sound like an este agent).
During last week I have spent three day in London, all either viewing sales or buyng stock. Just had lunch with Sue and David - very relaxing - one of David's very subtle curries with rice, then strawberries to follow . Perfect summer lunch. I've got two of Brenda and Warren's grandchildren coming this afternoon to be told all about the history of guns. Hope I don't bore them. More later perhaps.

Friday.

Just got back from U.R.C. Cinema Club. We watched the film 'le Vie en Rose' about the late Edith Piaf. Must say the film confirmed my view of Parisians.

Friday.

 

This is the house I was trying to illustrate yesterday, but it came over all modest. I hope it behaves and illustrates itself today.

 

Remains of apple tree beside road now being taken over by rampant rambling rose.

Thursday.

 

Photo of 18th century house nearby, that is rapidly being overgrown in all directions, but (despite or because of this) still manages to look charming. This morning motored over to Corncraft- nearby craft centre, garden shop, restaurant, etc., where we met up with friends Terry and Diana, and had lunch - we all decided on chicken and mushroom pie with vegetables, and very nice it was, too. It's getting to be a very popular place.We got there first at midday and found there was only one table available, so we bagged it and lingered over coffee until the others arrived. I'm afraid we then lingered over lunch, and finally left at about 2.30 p.m. We then went over to Sudbury, did some grocery shopping at Waitrose, bought a bottle of black ink for the printer on this machine (which drinks the stuff), then went on to the scruffiest and best of the garden centres in this area (it is really the large garden of a bungalow, where the owner keeps a very large selection of plants at very reasonable prices, about a third of what one would expect to pay at a nearby Wyevale Garden Centre). We bought some bedding plants, fuchsias,etc. Got home about 5pm feeling that we'd had a busy day. been pottering in the workshop since then -fairly productively. Must knock off soon for supper. Goodnight all.

Tuesday.

 

Our district council is incredibly fussy over what colours we may paint our cottages. There was a great hoo-hah a couple of years ago over someone who painted his home orange between the beams. I have always wondered how the owner of this cottage, which is very near the Church, got away with painting his chimney such a very festive blue. I'm glad he did - it is such a very silly and unexpected colour that it quite cheers the place up. Talking of which- Cheers everyone.

Tuesday.

P.s. I really must correct the last entry but one. I don't know how I came to commit such a glaring error. The Deanery tower was build in 1495 -NOT 1494. Sorry.

Tuesday.

 

On the other side of the churchyard to St. Mary's and the Deanery tower is this double jettied Guildhall. Exact date is not known, but I'm told it was in existence in 1386. They are a glorious trio of buildings in oak framing, brick, and stone.

Tuesday.

 

Cycled into small town nearby and took photoes. St. Mary's Church, 14th century and earlier, and, to the left the Deanery Tower, built in 1494.

Monday.

 

Well, it looks as if it works. The figures on the lawn are Ann, Terry, and Hans. A bit of our garden, and 'one perfect rose'. Had a bit of good news today. Last lipreading class (just before half term break? I was told that, due to local government cut- backs, I was approaching the end of my last year of lip reading classes. This afternoon I was I was informed that I was being given another year of lip reading instruction. This is excellent news as being able to lip read really helps me stay in communication with people. But I do need all the instruction and practice I can get, so another year will be agreat advantage. Will try again tomorrow.

 

Monday.

 

Eureka. This is the snapshot I took yesterday in Terry's garden of the Rambling Rector in his tree. Don't quite know how I've done it but itseems to be working. We'll see in a minute.

Sunday.

First of all, my apologies for not blogging lately. This is partly because we have been very busy of late, and partly because I have been having camera trouble again, and cannot persuade pictures onto my blog. I will (D.V.) contact friend Craig (our local computer tamer) and ask his assistance. Been a very pleasant day. This afternoon went to friend Terry's to view her Rambling Rector, which is a lovely white rose rambling up through a ten year old Metasequoia Gypeostroborides (or so I am told). I have a photof it in my modern hi-tech Fuji camera (and much good that will do us !!!!!!!). Bring back the Box Brownie say I - I could manage one of those - nothing to go wrong with them providing the sun was shining direct onto whatever I wanted a snapshot of. Had tea with Terry and met another guest Hans - very pleasant chap - had an encyclopoedic knowledge of most of North Europe. Picked his brains about Styria, a country which has been recently mentioned in arms catalogues, and which is part of the old East Germany he told me, although he said there are two of them, the other one in part of what is now Austria. Home in time to attend Evensong, and was asked to read O.T. lesson (part of 1 Samuel, ch. 21) in which David, to avoid censure, pretends to be mad, and dribbles in his beard. Found that I quite badly wanted to mop my own beard in sympathy with David and had to struggle to stop myself doing so. Afterwards several of the ladies in the congregation told me that they had had much the same thought and were disappointed that I hadn't wiped the whiskers in mid lesson. Ann read the N.T. lesson without problem. Must knock off now. Will try and illustrate blog again soon. Goodnight all.

Sunday still.

Went, as planned to Silver Band concert in Deanery Gardens, where we were also served with strawberries, cream and 'fizz'. Met up with old friends Brenda and Warren there by arrangement. Must remember that Warren prefers the description 'friends of long standing' being a little sensitive about his age. They came home with us for tea. Spent half an hour in undercroft with Warren who taught me a better way of putting photies on blog. Previous four pictures are all experimental, and a direct result of Warren's tutorial. Just had supper - cold mutton, boiled new potatoes, and red cabbage which Ann does with apples and cloves -super supper. Nearly bedtime. Goodnight all.

Still Sunday.

Old clock in my workshop.All the last few blogs have been the results of experiments organised and supervised by friend Warren

Sunday

Jenny and Frank brought Ann these lilies about ten days ago on Frank's birthday.

Sunday.

 

Your blogger. Somewhere in deepest Suffolk. About a year ago. Had a weird experience yesterday. Went to look at a clock rope on a thirty hour long case clock. Last time I saw it the owner had repaired- well tidied up the splice on the rope and was a bit concerned about it. I examine the splice, tried it, and it was very strong - quite up to the job and good for a year or two yet. David 'phoned me a day or so ago to say that the rope had broken !!!! Went over yesterday morning and examined the broken rope. Found the splice still in good order and the rope broken about half way round opposite the splice. Rope on either side of the break was totally rotten - could pull it apart like cotton wool for about three inches either side of the break. I've never seen clock rope rot before. No damage to clock fortunately, and I had a rope of the right size handy, so reroped the clock in half an hour and it is now ticking away again happily. We lives and we learns. Next time I'm asked to look at a clock rope I won't just look at the splice, but at the length of the rope besides. Going to listen to the Boxford Silver Band playing in the Deanery Gardens now. More later perhaps.

Sunday.

I've been thinking about the van I saw on Thursday marked 'Horse cremation Service', and wondering what hymns would be sung at a horse cremation service. The only ones I can come up with are :- 'The bay thou gavest, Lord, has ended' and- 'At the end of the day I kneel and say Thank you Lord for a perfect grey'. Any others (more suitable and of course, more reverent), would be gratefully received.

Friday.

Had planned to do some DIY to the home today, but as the job I'd planned involved cutting some fibreboard to shape outside, and as it's rained on and off all day(the old joke about 'flaming June' holds good), I stayed in my workshop and got on with half a dozen (or so) jobs I'd been keeping for a rainy day. Fibre board is sensitive stuff and must not be allowed to get wet. Still the work I did went well, so it's been a good day. Bath then bed now. Goodnight all.

Thursday.

 

Snapshot is of a village a few miles from here. This afternoon, went to visit friends on way into Ipswich. Spent a while sitting in their garden chatting and drinking tea. Lovely weather; very restful. Then went on into Ipswich to look at beds. In Ipswich found ourselves following large van lettered:- Horse Cremation Service. I'm as fond of horses as the next man, but this seemed a wickedly wasteful idea when there are hungry frenchmen in the world. Goodnight all.

Wednesday.

 

The photo was taken a fortnight ago and shows granddaughter Amelia dressing up -as her venerable grandfather I suspect - which does very little credit to either of us. Today we spent in Long Melford. Set off at 7 a.m. and went to an antique fair. Very pleasant and sociable day. Sold a sword to an American family. It was the longest small sword I've ever had (I know this sounds nonsensical, but it isn't really -not if you know swords and their nomenclature). Got home about four thirty, unloaded car, and have been pottering and computering since then (with a break for supper - cold roast beef with stir fried vegetables which tasted remarkably like bubble and squeak, of which I'm very fond, followed by bread and butter pudding with custard). Time for bed. Will try and make more sense on my next blog. Goodnight.

Sunday.

 

Snapshot of a particularly festive aquilegia (or granny's nightcap) in the garden. One of Ann's favourite flowers. On Friday we were invited to Orford Castle to give an opinion on a rather nice goat's foot lever (device to span a crossbow). A good and complete specimen, probably 17th century. We took Matthew with us and did a bit of shopping in Woodbridge on way. Yesterday Ann put Matthew on train back to London. We had thoroughly enjoyed his visit, as I think he had, too. Went to scrabble club in afternoon. There were two new men there. They were from Ipswich, and explained (rather condescendingly) that they had heard of our scrabble club. The younger one played at my table, and, during the early part of the first game, kindly explained all the finer points of the game to us. he grew rather more silent as the game progressed, and (I am rather unsportingly glad to report) was soundly thrashed during the first two games. He then shut up, concentrated hard, and did manage to win the third game by a narrow margin. He did say he had every attention of coming again. In a way I hope he does if only so that we can continue to teach him sportsmanship, and hopefully we can all learn a bit more about scrabble. Been a busy day of rest today, two services, both of us in choir this morning, self in choir this evening, and Ann serving. Off to bed now. Goodnight.