Sunday.

This morning (after early service) we all motored over to Waterbeach (near Cambridge) for a 'get together lunch' with Ann's family.Took all three photoes in the garden just before we set off (actually, Ruth took the top one).

This one was of Ruth, Tuva, and Freja, asking Granny to join them in a photo (she is usually rather reluctant to be photographed - don't know why).

And this one is when they'd succeded in persuading her to do so.

Friday.

Took the above photo earlier in the week near Frinton-on-Sea, over the border in Essex. Lovely church - early, or possibly just pre, Tudor brick tower with a rather earlier stone nave.
Been a busy day; so busy with a daughter and two granddaughters staying that I can't remember much of it. Played scrabble with Ann and Ruth this evening; got thrashed. Both of them scored seven letter words early on in the game, and although I was starting to pick up a bit by the end of the game, I was still thoroughly beaten, Ruth coming in a few points ahead of Ann.
Goodnight All.

Thursday.

Been a fairly busy day. Went for a walk this morning.

On the way home checked the swan's nest beside our river. Five cygnets.

Late this afternoon Ann had a 'phone call from the lady who acts as cook for the Ansell group (formed to give a good hot meal monthly to the elderly in town). Pam, the cook, has a glut of plums which she's just picked , and if Ann could collect them, stone them, and freeze them, then she, the cook, could make a
 massive plum crumble for the club.

Ann agreed, so from five p.m. to just after 8p.m. the five of us set to and stoned plums. They were tiny, so it took us awhile, but by eight o'clock we had five bags of plums ready to be turned into enough plum crumble to keep the old dears happy for a while. Just had a swift evening meal, and the ladies have now gone up to bed and I must follow. Goodnight all.

Wednesday 2.

Yesterday drove over to the Essex coast and had lunch with our friend Bea, who is the daughter of our old friends John and Ann. After lunch went and had coffee with Ann, who now lives in the old coach house, which is attached (quite literally) to Bea's home, having been turned into a very pleasant 'granny-flat'. Stayed with Ann for half an hour  or so (she is not well and tires very easily these days). Bea told me that John's headstone has just been erected, so after we'd left them nipped round to the churchyard and took the above photo of it. As a thumbnail sketch of John I couldn't better  the very restrained inscription, although it gives no idea of his glorious sence of humour.

To more cheerful things - I think Ruth's girls are asleep- they've been up and travelling since 4.30 this morning. Ruth's just gone up, Ann's about to, and I must join her. So - Goodnight all.

Wednesday 1.

Early service this morning. Ann read N.T. lesson. I read O.T. lesson. At one forty five p.m. we set out and motored over to Stansted, where we picked up Ruth and the girls, they having flown in from Stockholm. Their flight was five minutes early, they came straight through Customs, everything went like clockwork, and we've just got home. Cuppa now available upstairs, so more later perhaps.

Monday.

Spent most of today in my workshop putting the crossbow, purchased on my behalf by grandson Matthew about a fortnight ago, into good working order. Had to make two small parts for it. It is, as can be seen, a bullet bow (or slurbow) with the original gut bowstring  working in a slot cut through the forestock. It is made, according to the auctioneer's catalogue, to shoot heavy darts, but it could just as well have been used to shoot fairly heavy lead pistol balls, according to most of the books on the subject (and in accord with my own opinion). A very plain weapon (the stock has the shape of an eighteenth century military musket). Of no great value, but a satisfying weapon to have worked on.

Saturday.

Snapshot of sweet peas and scarlet runners in the garden.

Today we motored over to Baldock, partly because we had an appointment to look at a Suffolk long case clock that's for sale there (this appointment was a dissappointment or anyway the clock was), and partly to take David and Joe (Ann's brother and his wife) out to lunch at a restaurant we used to frequent some years ago. This, I'm glad to say was not a dissapointment - it had changed hands, but not its standards, and was as good as ever.
Took the above  photo near Stotfold, on our way to pick Dave and Jo up. Always admired this roof. It's a pegtiled roof with two colours of pegtiles very carefully laid in order to give a zig-zag effect. Not pretty, but pretty eyecatching for all that.

Friday 2.

Just got in from Cinema Club. The Film was called 'On a Clear Day'. The chap hadn't retired- he'd been made redundant. Rather a good film that we both enjoyed, as did most of the audience. Well worth seeing.
Took the above snapshot of a red admiral butterfly in the garden yesterday. It most obligingly stood still whilst I photographed it.

Good night all.

Friday 1.

Took above photo of our town's double jettied Guildhall when walking into Church this morning. Did a fair amount of work on the book stall which has been reopened after a two month closure, and has also been completely rejigged (for which, Lori, read rearranged). Then to Cafe Church, had coffee and croissant at table with Ann, Robert, Gloria and Pamela. Did bit more work on bookstall then walked home.

We had invited our friends Keith and Jill to a light lunch. They are fellow dealers with a great interest in early metalware. Keith wrote the definitive book on paktong (tutenag, lori). The book's called  'Paktong - The Chinese alloy in Europe'. Ann gave us mushroom soup, ham and a porkpie with salad, then a very good summer pudding with cream. Followed of course, by coffee. After lunch I picked their brains about a couple of pieces of early metalware I've recently purchased (it's all quite fair as Keith often asks my opinion on clocks or weaponry). A small amount of business was also done before they left around three thirty.
Ann and I then walked into town to pick up the car, which had been serviced, did a little shopping, then drove out to our farm shop, did a little more shopping, then treated ourselves to a pot of tea in my case, and a pot of coffee in Ann's. We plan to go out this evening to see a film about a chap who retires (of which I rather disapprove) then swims the channel (which I rather admire). Can't remember the title, but if the film's worth seeing, will try and remember to record it when we return. So- more later perhaps.

Wednesday.

I seem to be having real problems commenting on other blogs. I've just written and then lost a long blog after the computer had great reluctance to accept it. I think the system is playing up. Hope things soon improve.
Took above photo in Monks Eleigh yesterday.

Monday 2.

Just reopened this to show another photo of same building. I've just been enlarging the first photo and cannot see details of date, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Monday.

Motored across to Wisbech today and met up with Ann's three brothers to finalise the details of their late mother's estate. The top photo shows them at Tim and Sue's house discussing details. From left to right they are Tim, Ann, Mick, Sue (Tim's wife) and David.

Small (but delightful) cottage in one of the grottiest backstreets in Wisbech, just off the old Horsefair. If you embiggen the small plaque between the two upper windows you will see the date of the building 1781. At that period even the smallest dwelling was beautifully proportioned (well generally speaking).

At 4.30 pm, by prior arrangement, we went and tea with cousin Sid. To be pedantic, Sid's late wife Mary was Ann's mother's cousin. He had put a superb tea on for us, enriched by a chocolate cake which Ann had made, and taken with us. Sid is a lovely intelligent old man. Last year, at the age of 93, he had his right leg amputated. We visited him in Brighton, where he'd had the operation, and was staying with his grandson. He's now returned home, been fitted with an artificial leg, and is trotting around quite happily on it, although he says it's a little uncomfortable at times. He is an example to all of us. Left at around six, and got home just before 8.

Took above photo of rural Suffolk (tautology, I'm afraid- most of Suffolk is rural) on the way home. We're about ready for bed now, so, as usual, Goodnight All.

Saturday.

Been a fairly full day. Helga and Rosemary called in for coffee this morning. Then Ann and I had to change and get to St. Mary's to sing with the choir for a wedding at one p.m. Picked up two of the other choir members en route. Went reasonably well. Slight problem as most people were singing from the wedding programme and the words to the hymns were marginally different to the choir's hymn books (and some of the words of the hymns as printed in the programme were difficult to fit to the hymn tunes). We got there eventually, but it must have sounded a bit ragged in parts. Then Hilary and I had to gallop across to scrabble club. As it was now raining quite hard, full gallop (with brollies up) was the best means of progress. Three good games. Then home, quick meal, and round to Milly and Jim's for wine and nibbles to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. Home just before nine. Again threatening rain, so had to hurry home, then  just after we got home sun (low in the west)  finally came out from under the rain clouds and I was able to take the above photo.
Bedtime now. Goodnight All.
P.s. Just reread the above, and in the interests of complete honesty, when I say full gallop I mean a spirited attempt at full gallop for the first hundred and fifty yards, then a determined hobble trot for the rest of the way (probably another two hundred yards).

Friday 2.

The Guildhall again.

I'm sorry to have to report that I've spent most of the rest of the day virtuously doing the books (BORING!!!!). But I'm glad to have to report that I think I can finally see light at the end of the tunnell. I'm about ready to knock off now, so - Goodnight All.

Friday 1.

Just back from Cafe Church, where I enjoyed my weekly coffee and..... (thinks.... flaky French job.......got it!)- croissant.  Nattered with Martin, Robert, Hilary, et allia; then did a bit of work on the bookstall, now heavily revamped, and having been closed for a couple of months, because of concerts in Church. Then walked home. The town is looking very well this summer, with many hanging baskets of flowering plants every where. The top two photoes show our library, and the bottom two the Guildhall. Got to nip back into town soon - should have gone to bank (don't seem able to make my head save my feet these days- still, it's all good excercise I suppose). After lunch will do. More later perhaps.

Thursday.

Today I was able to purchase the above neolithic stone axehead/hammer, and the remains of a bronze age short sword. I don't normally deal in, or collect, antiquities, but these both come under the heading of antique weaponry which I do deal in, so I was pleased to get them. They're of no great value, but of very great interest.

This afternoon we drove across to our friend Terry's house (see top photo) and had tea with her. She divides her time between Suffolk and London, and it is good to have her back in the area. Just been reminded that I must rush - choir practice.

Wednesday.

This morning we'd been invited to look round a five acre area, three or four miles from us, adjoining the river Brett, which has been allowed (encouraged even) to revert to marshland. Tracks have been cut through the undergrowth to make walking possible. I think the tracks have been quite cleverly designed so that the area seems much bigger than five acres. It reminded us very much of the Bedford Level area of the Norfolk Fens near the village of Welney where we grew up. Spent a very pleasant hour or so, wallowing in nostalgia. Mark you, one false step, and in some places we'd have been wallowing in mud, stagnant water, and duck weed.
The above photoes will give you some idea.