New year's Eve.

Took Gran back to Wisbech today. Stopped off for coffee (and for Gran to stretch her legs -at 100 she gets stiff sitting in one postion for too long) at the Brandon House Hotel, a slightly down at heels county type hotel. Had a pot of (good)coffee for two and hot water for one in the lounge. Young staff very welcoming and obliging. When I went to pay the reckoning receptionist charged me £2 !!! - made that £3 of course. Good stopping off place - will use it again (D.V.) . Had lunch in Gran's flat, Ann had brought it with us -lasagne. Then popped round to see Accountant, Elizabeth, and collected the books. On to see old friends, Roy and Janet Beeston, had tea and very good mince pies. Spent two hours swapping memories - Roy and I were at school together. Then on to Mick and Erica's - more tea and a biscuit. Got home at about 8.20 pm. Well filled day. Nearly forgot what I started this blog to say :- Which was to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year. Warm regards, Mike and Ann.

Sunday morning.

Snapshot of meself and son Jonathan scrabbling towards the end of boxing day. In soft focus, but I suppose everyone feels a bit soft focus towards the end of boxing day.

Boxing Day.

On Boxing day morning Jonathan arrived, having driven across from Wolverhampton. He said it had been a good, swift, journey. I always say that for me (foodwise) the best part of Christmas is foraging for cold leftovers on Boxing day, and although Christmas lunch was a glorious feast, I think this still held true. We had the remains of the roast beef, cold, together with a piece of -cold- gammon that Ann had boiled on Christmas Eve, studded with cloves,and with baked potatoes, and various pickles. Followed by the remains of the Christmas pudding or apple crumble. I must confess that the last 'or' became 'and' for the gentlemen- the ladies were, of course, more restrained. After lunch Ann suggested a game of scrabble, and we had another one after tea, followed by a reasonably early night. Goodnight all.

Christmas.

Saturday.

Snapshot of Great Gran on boxing day with her present from Jonathan, which was a basketful of individual groceries (small puddings, tinned stuff, etc), ideal for an elderly person living alone, but which she has difficulty finding.

On Christmas Day, Liz, Danny, Georgia, Matthew and Beth came over to spend the day with us. We (that is Ann, Gran, and I) went to the 10.30 am family service. Ann was serving. We got home a little after 11.30 am, and Liz, and co. arrived just after midday. Danny said they had driven through the City, past Tower Bridge, up the Mile End Road, and onto the A12. The journey took them just over two hours, which was pretty good. We gave them beef from Cornwall (rolled rib). It was a lovely piece of beef, beautifully done and very tender. Followed by one of Neville Pool's Christmas puddings. It was a year old, and perfect. The crackers were rather special and caused much amusement. There were eight of them, each with a whistle in it giving a different note, with a number on the whistle and a similar number to be pasted to the blower. I was voted conductor, and (after a little practice) quite recognisable tunes could be played on the whistles. (I made up a Christmas crackery joke about the game:- what do you call a bankrupt conductor ? Answer :- A bust conductor----- Pause for groans.
After lunch we all exchanged Christmas presents, and all of us were very pleased with our gifts. We had a pot of tea with a piece of Christmas cake, illustrated earlier, and all we had room for, just after five. and the London contingent set of for home a little after six. It had been a lovely day.

Georgia, Liz, Mattew and Beth.

Christmas day.

Photo of Liz, Danny, Georgia, Matthew and Beth, taken just after Christmas lunch, and looking suitably replete.

Christmas Day.

Your blogger and Bloggeress engaged in the traditional English Christmas pastime known as 'hogging the fireplace'.

Christmas Eve, 2008.

Christmas cake made, marzipanned, and iced by Ann, and decorated this morning by me. Writing a touch shaky but generally quite pleased with it.

Tuesday.

Ann arrived home with Gran just before two p.m. Must say I think it's very sporting of Gran to undertake a two hour car journey at her age , to come and spend Christmas with us.
We had a soup and toast lunch, then have been pottering about doing last minute pre Christmas jobs. This morning found the cutlery drawer in the kitchen was falling apart, which is disgusting when you think it's only about ten years old. Glued and screwed it back together, and it's now hardening against a radiator in my cellar. Been restoring a shoe snuff box (circa 1830) with tiny nailhead decoration this afternoon. Should be done this evening. Must knock off now and do some more work. Cheers, Mike.

Still Tuesday.

Photo of handsome Tudor (or possible just pre Tudor) house in Brent Eleigh.
This morning Ann motored over to Wisbech to fetch Gran for Christmas. Went into town at about midday to post letters, etc. Had a horrid feeling ever since that there was something else I was meant to do whilst in town..... but details elude me. Annoying. In town something rather pleasant happened. Stood outside flower shop rather shocked at price of flowers, presumably because it's Christmas week. Eventually decided I really aught to buy Ann some and went in. Lady who serves behind counter looked up and said "Oh, it's my gentleman. I'm ever so glad to see you." I always get on well with our flower shop ladies, but this seemed a distinctly warmer welcome than usual, so I said "That's nice. Why?" and she replied "Well the last time you were in here I overcharged you by ten pounds. You asked if I could change a twenty because you didn't have anything smaller, and I only gave you change for a ten". She then dug an envelope with a tenner in it out from under the counter and gave me it. Well, that meant I could then buy Ann a potted cyclamen and also a bunch of freezias for Gran's bedroom (she loves them). This came to ten guineas, but the shop lady said that the ten pound note would do nicely. Obviously I thanked her profusely, which pleased her, and the whole transaction cheered me no end.

After a cheese sandwich for a late lunch I am sorry to record that I sat and dozed in my chair for and hour or so. So must get on with some work now. More later perhaps.

Mike.

Monday.

Snapshot of very pretty cottages in Brent Eleigh.

More Sunday.

Today was the shortest day. And a lovely, bright, sunny one it's been. After my blog of this morning regarding the choir I just wanted to place on record that at this afternoon's choir practice we suddenly seemed to hit mid-season form. We then had a spot of tea in church (supplied by the ladies of the church). Well, more than a spot actually. We then robed ready for the service of nine lessons and carols, which went off very well indeed.
Do you know, I seem to remember much the same thing happening last year - you know, dreadful rehearsals, then the actual carol service going with a bang. Oh well, must try and remember that during the run up to next Christmas. Goodnight all, and I wish you all a very happy Christmas, Mike and Ann.

Sunday.

Doorway from the porch into the Church at Brent Eleigh. Nice, solid, piece of work.
This morning we both sang in the choir at the 10.30 am communion service at St. Mary's. We'd been told we wouldn't need a choir practice. In the event this was a mistake. During the last hymn, which was being played at the wrong speed (and this wouldn't have mattered quite so much had the organist been playing the right tune), the Rural Dean (who was taking the service) looked round at me and raised an eyebrow. The following conversion was conducted between the Rural Dean and meself entirely by use of eyebrows, rolled eyes and despairing looks, but was quite clear and intelligible to both of us. It went :-

R.D. "What the *&$%++4&* is happening ???? Musically, I mean."

M.s. "Your Employer knows. I certainly don't. And I value my sanity too much to try and find out. You might try a spot of direct communication with The Governor, applying for Divine Intervention. But it might take the form of the organ being struck by lightening."

R.D. (after some thought) "Oh. Yes. Alright then. You might have a point."

We are having the annual carol service this evening. We have been requested to assemble in church at 4.45pm to practice...... (So perhaps some lessons have been learnt - or are about to be - by us.)

Tell you later maybe - if I survive.

Sunday.

This is a photo of the mural at the back of the altar in Brent Eleigh Church.

Still in Brent Eleigh Church. If you look at the outside corners of the box pews (to the left and right of the font) you should be able to see two rather earlier bench ends that have been built into the box pews. Also the carved oak font cover which was probably made at much the same time as the boxing in was done. Cheers, Mike.

Saturday.

I seem to be going the long way round this. This is a view from inside one of the box pews. If you look at the left and then right hand corners of the box you will see half a medieval bench end, with a blue covered bench seat and a very low bench back to it. If you now look at the previous blogged photo you will see the outside of one of the box pews. The photo above shows how the original benches have been left in situ, and very ingeniously been given much higher backs as part of the boxes.

This afternoon (as part of the church choir) we sung at a wedding in St. Mary's. Our previous dean took the service. It was good to see him. Being called to supper. So - goodnight all.

Saturday.

Saturday.

This morning motored across to Brent Eleigh, to look at murals in church (Brent Eleigh church above). Church is cold, rather dark inside, with fragmentary but early murals, and very interesting seating arrangements - early pews (probably fourteenth century) which have been retained, but boxed in, I should think during the late seventeenth century. See next photo.

Friday.

Yesterday afternoon I had a tooth out. Big, fangy, back upper double tooth. Had an infection in it twice during the last year, and decided that enough was enough. Dentist had cleared infection with antibiotics ten days ago, so took infection-clear tooth along to him. It was quite a scrap between large, evil, much filled fang, and young, athletic, turbanned, dentist. Glad to report that after a long tug-of-war, dentist eventually won. Feeling much better (though still a bit sore) today.
Spent Wednesday at South Kensington Christies (arms and armour). Prices still ascending but bought two lots. More later perhaps.

Tuesday.

Yesterday left home at 9.30 am and drove to Manningtree, where we attended a sick grandfather clock. Found and (I think) cured problem in 15 minutes flat. Had coffee and mince pies with clock owners , then on to Frinton to see our good friends the C.T.s. (partly at the request of their daughter). We went to their 60th wedding anniversary celebration last year (recorded on this blog entry for 6.10.07), and at that stage they appeared as fit and happy a pair of diamond wedding anniversarees as you could imagine. John is now very ill indeed (but clear headed, and still very much himself), and Ann's short term memory is shot to blazes - I hate to say it but she is now a shaky old lady. Called in to see their daughter on way back, to report back to her; she was out -and thinking about it now, I'm rather glad of it. Their son in law, David, was in, glad to see us, and we spent twenty minutes discussing possible arrangements for the immediate future. Drove home feeling thoroughly sad.

Today, as stated earlier, went to lip reading pre Christmas lunch. This term's lip reading classes ended a fortnight ago, and it was decided then that a get together was in order. We held it at the King's head (in a private room fortunately - we would have deafened the rest of the pub's other guests). It was a pretty good do. I had turkey followed by Christmas pudding with brandy butter and cream - good healthy stuff. We all let our hair down (well, those of us who had any) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Lunch broke up at just after three. This is fairly late for a pub lunch, and was partly because the one waitress (Jan) was doubling up as washer up and wiper upperer as well, so there were pleasant gaps between courses - no bad thing when downing a traditional English Christmas pub lunch. Do you know, I think I now feel a traditional English post prandial zizz coming on, too, so will close now , for a short while, with slightly fuzzy warm regards, Mike.

Tuesday.

Snapshot taken of Ann and meself in Lizzie's kitchen on Sunday. Got to go out now to lipreading lunch in the King's Head. More later perhaps.

Sunday.

This morning hit the road early (8.45 am) and drove to London. Got to youngest daughter Lizzie's house (just off Chiswick High Street at 11.15 am. Photo shows (left to right, Beth, 14, Lizzie (it would be ungallant to tell you her age, but traditionally life should now begin for her) and Matthew, 15. The character in front of them is Brian. Partook of spot of lunch, then Matthew and I went round to view South Kensington Christie's Arms and Armour sale. Not much there for me. About five possibles, but will have to go back on day of sale, I think, to bid (and also to collect three lots bought at Thomas Delmar's over the blower last Wednesday). On tube back to Lizzie's sat next to Chelsea pensioner in full uniform. He wore four campaign medals - all showing head of our present Queen. Then I thought that she has been reigning for the past fifty six years, and said pensioner is probably only a few years older than I am, so it is perfectly possible to have joined the army, grown grey in Her Majesty's service, retired and become a Chelsea pensioner, all in the last fifty or so years. Had early supper with Liz and family - chicken breasts in a sort of ham wrapping, like Parma ham but not - Serrana ham, I think Lizzie said it was - new one on me but very pleasant, followed by an apple crumble that Ann had brought with us - very pleasant meal. Home by about 8.15 - now about twenty past nine, and Ann's just gone up the wooden hill, so I must join her. Goodnight all.

Tuesday.

This afternoon we gave a scrabble tea party (as above). We put up two tables of four, played two games of scrabble then had tea, followed by a third game. It was great fun, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. It is good to feel that in winter, in a recession, with doom and gloom being forecast by all, we are still quite capable of providing our own simple entertainments. Long may it continue.

Thursday.

Another try at a Vermeer type Dutch interior. The week has flown past. We're just back from choir practice. Monday and Tuesday hard at work in workshop getting ready for Long Melford fair. Wednesday - Long Melford fair, quite a busy and successful one. Wednesday evening a shared meal at Jackie's - most enjoyable, followed by a gallop through Joshua, Sheilah doing Biblical commentary, and me doing secular history. It always fascinates me that Old Testament stories can be set against bronze age artifacts and developements and both can be seen the more clearly for the comparison. Today John and Margaret Tinworth came to lunch. They are retired Antique dealers. This never seems right to me. Antique dealers should not retire. They should (as I have) simply become more in keeping with their stock. Very pleasant lunch; Ann gave them roast chicken with roast vegetables, followed by a choice of pears in red wine or trifle or both, followed by a cheeseboard and coffee. Very pleasant relaxed day. They pushed off a little after four pm. Choir practice this evening - sorry - I said that before. Pushing nine o'clock now and an early night begins to feel a nice idea. So- Goodnight All, God bless you.

Monday.

Blogged snapshot of this cyclamen early in November. Still blooming on 1st December.