Monday.

Yesterday, Sunday, went to London. Set out at 9.15am, Ann drove; A12, M25, A1, North circular, then to Lizzie's (youngest daughter), just off Chiswick High Street. Sandwich lunch, then Lizzie ran grandson Matthew(now nearly 14) and I round to Olympia where we viewed Sotheby's arms and armour sale. Saw Thomas Delmar, and was able to thank him for freebie catalogues. Matt (bless him) carried briefcase, and found me the lot numbers in catalogue, usually well before I asked for them. Afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by both of us. Left a few (thoroughly optimistic) bids on so fingers crossed. Sale is on Tuesday but can't get to it as I've an appointment at cardiology unit at Ipswich. Wanted to change appointment in order to go to auction sale, but Ann, Sarah, and Lizzie heavily agin this course of action (no sense of priority some people). When we were ready to return Matt used mobile 'phone to Lizzie, who picked us up a few minutes later and we returned to Lizzies, where we had a very pleasant supper with them, and were home by about 8.30. Lovely day out. Today in workshop most of morning then changed for lunch and into lip reading class at 1.30pm. Last class of year. Took in a box of Ann's apricot flapjack. Somebody else had brought a cake, John Bloomfield a bottle, and we made rather a party of it. Jill (our instructor) had devized various lipreading quizzes which were fun, so it was a very instructive, as well as pleasant, afternoon. As it was a showery afternoon Ann picked me up in the car, and said that John Rye had called and left the vestry clock (a vast and dusty, early Victorian English fusee timepiece by a local maker) on our kitchen table for me to have a look at, with a view to having it going again. That will keep me going for a day or two. Still, good to feel busy. Goodnight all.

Friday.

Work went well in workshop this morning. I'd been avoiding starting a job for a week or so because I couldn't see what the problem was. Got started on job, almost immediately spotted problem, and (rather to my surprise) remedied it first go. I think. No recurrence after ten hours. Time will tell. Got changed. Had lunch. One or two jobs to do in town, then off to see friend Terry (Theresa) who wants to thin out goods and chattels in her remote cottage in Suffolk countryside, and needed advice. Also had repaired lock and found key to her antique writing box and had to whack and screw lock back into place. Went well. Advice given. Accepted graciously(though I expect she will have 'listened very nicely, then gone out and done precisely - what she pleased'). After which we wandered round Terry's large, and very well kept, garden for a while, and had tea with her. As we were about to come away Terry said 'there's something else I want you to look at' and took us upstairs. She had laid out about a dozen items that she had already decided to part with, and wanted us to choose one of them 'as a small thank you present for all your help'. As she was quite insistant on the point we eventually chose a thick pottery tile that I thought was Persian , but Terry told me was Indian. It is about nine inches square, has a narrow blue border, and a white background with blue and turquoise flowers on. Terry used it as a teapot stand, and we've both always liked it. Very kind of her. After we left we took a pretty route home, and eventually found ourselves at Lindsey Church, which we explored. Pretty little building with all the once carved oak worn and scrubbed to a sort of silvery grey/ off white. Lindsey is a small parish with a few farms and cottages. It has a Church, and St. James' chapel, but no real village. Yet it was once an important enough wool growing area to have a woollen cloth (linsey) named after it. Suffolk is a lovely area (and I speak as a Norfolk man); it has no dramatic scenery, small hills, and many very pretty villages that know they were once market towns, and behave as if they still are. We never tire of exploring it, and it can still give us pleasant surprises. Drove home via Kersey (another village with a cloth named after it). Had last night's casserole hotted up for supper. Don't know why anything of the stew family always tastes even better the next day, but they always do and so did this one. Good night.

midsummer day.

Spent an hour or so in the workshop this morning, then changed for an early lunch and off to St.Mary's for a lunchtime concert at 1.10 pm. given by our organist, and choirmistress. Michael started off by giving us an Australian Christmas suite by Robert Ampt. This he explained, wasn't as peculiar as it sounded (although actually the music did sound peculiar - but that's only my opinion) because although he was playing Christmas music at midsummer, in Australia Christmas IS at midsummer. Wasn't too certain about this piece of reasoning, but we sat through the organ recital, then Margaret sang - lots of lovely traditional stuff- O Waley, Waley, The foggy dew (this has to be sung at Suffolk concerts - I've sung it myself often- because it's a Suffolk folk song), then Drink to me only, a Cradle song, Purcell's Hark the echoing air, and others. Lovely stuff, and very well sung. Then they gave us a Piano and organ arrangement of Handel's organ concerto, which also went down well. The whole thing overran by about fifteen minutes but nobody minded that. After that we walked back with Hilary to her home, and had two good games of scrabble with her followed by a cup of tea and cherry scones. Got home about five- a very pleasant afternoon. Hilary wants to publish John's autobiography (her late husband) but some of his family isn't too keen. Can't think why not. He always told a good story. She dumped it on my lap before going off to make tea. Had a necessarily very quick flip through it and some lovely stuff in it. It brought dear old John's story telling gifts vividly back to life, and I can't think why his family are agin it being published. After supper took a short walk. Lovely midsummer evening. People out walking. Young lads along the river fishing, probably after pike I think. Home and soon to bed. Goodnight.

Sunday.

Been a good week generally. Went to an 85th birthday party at our local coffee bar on Monday morning. Great fun. Coral ( the birthday girl) is a very bright old lady, a botanical illustrator and a keen cross word puzzler. We found we knew most of the other guests. The invitation was for coffee and nibbles, 10.30 to 12 noon. The nibbles were of such good quality (and quantity, plus a birthday cake) that when the birthday party broke up at about 1.30 pm. we decided that in fact we had had a pretty good lunch. Afternoon not so good, because I went to dentist to fix a broken, but complete, tooth. He pinned it back in situ but said if, or rather when, it went again, he would have to crown it. On Wednesday attended antique fair at Long Melford. Collected a small oak chest Ann had bought from Thor Schotte a few days previously. Thursday a musical day. Lunchtime concert in Church given by our town orchestra, very good stuff, and well played. Then in the evening we motored across to Newmarket, had supper at six pm with the Littlejohns, then the four of us went on to Swaffham Bullbeck to see a performance of H.M.S. Pinafore in a barn. Quite up to their usual very high standards, and the scenery was so good that it would have been easy to imagine it was sung on the maindeck of a man of war. Orchestra, if anything, even better than usual. Took the Littlejohns back to Newmarket where Sandy pressed us 'to come in and join them in a drop of something'. Regretfully declined on the grounds that it had already been a very long day, and anyway one of us would have to drive home. Altogether a very enjoyable evening. Got home just after 11 pm. Slept well. Saturday David finished off our new garden (pro tem- more to be done when potting shed is ready for instalation). He stayed on nearly two hours longer than usual, wouldn't take anything extra for it, so I gave him a bottle of home made sloe gin. Scrabble as usual in afternoon. This afternoon 19 'hidden gardens' in our town were thrown open to the public for the benefit of the church. Managed to walk round about half of them. All lovely; some I'd never susected the existence of; ranging from tiny (some even smaller than ours) to a couple of acres or so. Picked up lots of ideas for our new garden. Mild evening so had supper in the garden. And so to bed.

Friday.

When we got home yesterday evening found there were two cards on the doormat telling me I had parcels awaiting collection at the postal sorting office. I always find the thought of parcels exciting (childhood memories of Christmas, birthdays, etc., I suppose), so immediately after breakfast (first things first, chaps), I went into town to collect parcels. Parked car just round corner from sorting office. Yes, I know I should have walked into town, I usually do, but reasoned that I did not know how big these two parcels would be to carry home. My reasoning was proved correct as it happened because there were not two parcels awaiting me, but three, all of a fair size. I found that by piling parcels in left hand and holding them down with my chin, stick in right hand, I could make fair progress until nearly back to car park when I spotted a twenty pence piece on pavement in front of me. "Ah! Michael's lucky day" I hear you murmur. Well, no actually as the next few minutes were quite eventful. I hooked my stick over my left wrist to free up my right hand to gather in unexpected riches, and by bending knees lowered myself pavementward. As I reached the twenty pence piece my stick reached the ground, unhooked itself and fell off. "I'll get it," said total but helpful stranger (much my vintage but altogether bendier) and did so. He handed me the stick. I retained my presence of mind I'm glad to say and pocketed the twenty pence piece thus freeing up my right hand and enabling me to repossess the stick. Where I went wrong at this point was to raise my chin from the top parcel in order to thank helpful stranger for his assistance, as this caused top parcel to fall to the pavement whence it bounced into the road, hotly pursued by self and still helpful stranger, this in turn causing majority of our High Street traffic to brake sharply in efforts to avoid bouncing parcel, helpful stranger and self. Glad to report their efforts (and ours) eventually totally successful. When we regained pavement helpful stranger, myself, and first two motorists (coming from different directions) were helpless with laughter, and(this is the moral of the story ):- I was still twenty pence ahead of the game. Goodnight.

Thursday evening.

Have had not time for bloggery lately as we spent the weekend in Norfolk (business). Very pleasant and reaonably successful. Got home on Monday evening. Tuesday morning (after a visit to the bank, and one or two jobs in town) back in the car and drove down to Sussex. Took us two hours (Ann drove). Lewes first, then on to Bosham. On Wednesday we awarded ourselves a day off, and the rain tiddled down. It can be quite fun being slightly deaf. About mid mornng Ann, knowing I don't do days off asked how I was enjoying it. I thanked her politely and said I was enduring my day off quite well. I was too; we both were. The rain was more or less horizontal, we both wore hooded raincoats, and it was great fun splashing through the puddles exploring Chichester. Today, after breakfast, we called on an old friend (by appointment ) in Chichester and had coffee with her. It was great to see Sheilah again and pick up the threads. She has a thoroughly wacky sense of humour. Then on to Singleton to meet another old friend, Jim, who does a little buying on my behalf in the Sussex area. We had lunch together in the Singleton pub, which is thoroughly unspoiled. Had roast southdown lamb, followed by treacle sponge pudding and custard. Delicious. Then a quick look round Singleton church (Saxon tower) and eventually drove home. Took us nearly five hours this time, due to radworks on M25. Good to be home, and looking forward to catching up on some work. Goodnight all, as Sergeant Dixon used to say.

Wednesday yet again.

Got up and went to early morning service (7.30 am), then drove to Bury St. Edmunds because our new car (two years old now) was one of a batch to be recalled to check something doubtful in its private insides ( to be technical). It passed with flying colours and was given a clean bill of health. Then on to see Great Gran, who is still a little depressed about her cousin Mary's and her auntie Joan's deaths. Took her out for a fish and chip lunch which we all enjoyed (nice fresh cod)and was very reasonable. Called in to see Mick and Erica on our way. Mick had been over to Grandma Jack's funeral but returned while we were there. Too many deaths in this but all three were around or well over ninety. That generation thinning out rapidly, I'm afraid. I had a great admiration for the Victorians (and Edwardians), I wish my generation were as certain of anything as they were of EVERYTHING. Had tea and cake with M & E then drove home, arriving at about 7.30 pm. Scrambled egg on toast, and so to bed.

Friday ( I think)

Spent this nmorning in workshop quite successfully. Then out to coffeeshop for light lunch, at table in open air behind shop as a lovely day. Halfway through our lunch young lady at next table, with her back to Ann, started choking (tears running down her cheeks, etc.) "Shall I thump your back ?" says Ann. The woman was beyond speaking but nodded heartily. With that Ann fetched her a wallop between her shoulder blades that would have had Rocky Marciano reeling against the ropes and begging to end the fight. Well it did the trick and dislodged whatever the obstruction had been; but if given the choice, and if she had answered honestly, I think the young lady might have prefered instant oblivion. Still she had the grace (when recovered somewhat) to thank Ann for her intervention. I suppose I should have warned her. We then motored over to Coggeshall, where we went clothes shopping, and I bought a navy blazer (Gurteen), and a blouse for Ann. Had tea at the White Horse, collected a copper warming pan and drove home. Had a lovely supper with our good friends Sue and David, just back from Sardinia. David had made supper (a jazzed up shepherd's pie), not sure how you jazz up a shepherd but it worked well (delicious) . Had a good potter round their garden ; they have an incredible collection of Granny's nightcaps (aquilegia), I think David said 169 different sorts, but must check this as it seems as incredible as the collection was (probably my hearing at fault again). Listened to a conversation between our Dean and one of the churchwardens the other morning about headlice, couldn't make much of it as they'd started off talking about the public address system in the church. Checcked with Ann later, and it turned out that they'd been talking about head mikes. On which note goodnight and God bless you.

Thursday.

Spent last weekend with Carl and Jude. Very pleasant and relaxing. Thought Carl looked better than last time, which is at least six months ago. Whilst there called on old acqaintance John, and was able to do a little business. On the Monday we all went to a very good garden centre, and the ladies bought. The car on the return journey looked like a motorised Burnham Wood on its way to Dunsinane (not sure if I've got my quote right. On Tuesday took pretty route to Peterborough and renewed my passport. Called on Kerry on way home and saw Laura and Tom. Good to see them. Rest of this week have been hard at it in my workshop. Got lots done. Today being Ascension Day, this evening had a sung Eucharist, and those of us who are fit enough climbed to the top of the tower to sing the opening hymn in the fresh air (tradition). The air was very fresh as it was raining slightly, but it was very bracing. All seven of us (counting the Dean) had to really let rip to make enough volume in the open air. We all enjoyed it (the choir I mean, and I hope, our hearers. Ann was a server, so did not climb the tower. Now feeling what a cockney friend of mine would call 'thoroughly cream crackered' (work it out then) so will knock off and retire. Goodnight all.

saturday

Spent this morning pottering. Finished off small jobs. Started off other small jobs. Drank tea with gardener, filled in password renewal form. Earlier in the week we had invitation from near neighbours to 'join them for a glass of wine at 12.30 pm'. Felt this was very civil of them but not sure how long to stay. Went. Met other neighbours. After nearly hour and a half of very pleasant chat made our excuses and I dashed off to scrabble club. Hope we got the timing right. At scrabble club shared table with Arthur (who is, if anything, rather deafer than I am. So conversation, between play, consisted of alternate bellowings, and even louder "Ehs?". Rather wearing, I should imagine for third member of party, elderly lady, stylish ex- cockney ). When scrabble club started three or four years ago, I was chatting to said elderly lady, who had walked very fair distance to club, and said "don't you drive ?"
She laughed heartily, and said "Do I drive ? You should have seen some of the things I drove in the last war". It turned out that from 1939 onwards she regularly drove everything from tank transporters to Rolls - Royces packed with top brass. It just shows that it's unwise to make assumptions about anybody. I digress. Back to this afternoon. I won the first two scrabbles, then towards the end of the third game Brenda (the tank transporter lady) who had been lagging behind the two blokes, suddenly hit a brilliant patch, and then went out on a seven letter word onto a triple word score, and won by just over fifty points . It's a great game scrabble, and keeps the grey matter turning over nicely. Ann just called downstairs that dinner is imminent. Evening meal over. Very nice, too. Then Ann washed and I dried. And so to bed, as Mr. Pepys said. Bet he wished the blog had been invented in his day.

Thursday.

Got up this morning and dressed scruffily because I intended spending day in workshop. Was reminded at breakfast that I had to nip into town to have passport photo taken for new passport. Several jobs about house that needed doing (in one case redoing) so got stuck in, then just before lunch went and made myself respectable, and after lunch walked into town and had passport photograph taken at chemists. Later sent off parcel to U.S.A. Not as expensive as I'd anticipated. Hope it gets there safely. Must try and email putative recipients and tell them it's on way. 8.24 p.m. Just been to choir practice, Organist away, Choirmistress called away to family crisis, so Bob took over as organist and oliver, youngest choir member (13 I think) took over as conductor. What looked like turning into a fiasco turned into a pleasant and satisfying evening. Goodnight all.

Wednesday.

Got up early for early service (7.30 am) followed by frugal breakfast in church (fresh bread, butter and honey, or jams - a good choice of - much of it home made, tea or coffee) and much chatter. Chatter not as pointless as it seems. Much parish business is settled at this sort of do. Later in morning,11.30 am meet up at Brent Eleigh with David and Felicity; the four of us then go to pick up Teddy, elderly friend (even more elderlier that the rest of us) who has recently moved into a rest home here. Teddy pleased to show us round his new home, small bed/sitting room with French windows opening onto a glorious sweep of lawn surrounded by mature trees. After admiring it awhile and helping Teddy a bit with the Telegraph crossword, we take him with us into Lavenham and treat him to lunch at the Angel on Lavenham Market Place. Four of the five of us have the rabbit stew with orange and herb (herb was specified but can't remember it afterwards which was a shame as the stew was delicious and wouldn't mind trying to copy it). In the evening we had a 'shared' meal with Margaret Bottle. Six of us and everyone brings something. We do this once a month, no collusion before hand and it always works out as a well balanced meal. Very pleasant evening. Altogether a very pleasant day. Worked hard in afternoon, and that too very satisfying. Goodnight.

Tuesday.

Had to go to surgery this morning; blood test to determine if thyroxin level is still alright. Good lady who took blood threw a very gifted needle, hardly felt it ; probably keeps her hand in by playing darts regularly. Met up with Ann in local coffee shop, where we met several aquaintance. Bit of a salon that place, or do I mean saloon ? What I really mean is that it's a popular meeting place for chatting, socialising, doing crossworsd puzzles, etc. I'm told it's about to change hands again. Hope they don't lose the flavour. Met our new neighbour this afternoon, he seems a pleasant enough youngster (well, about 30 I should think). Got a good deal of work done today. Ann finished bedrooms, stairs and hall today. After David repaired upstairs sash windows last week place has been gritty. Place feels civilised again now. Goodnight.

Monday

Bank holiday, rained most of last night and this morning. Garden needs it. One half of garden divided into two further parts with potential box hedging; these two parts being a herb garden and a rose garden. Loads to do yet though. Nice quiet day, spent most of it in workshop, got on very well. Learned by 'phone that our friend Hilary has just got home from having a new knee joint put in. Had a rough trip. Got M.R.S.A. post op. Sounds a beastly business. Hope all goes well now. Going to knock off now and have two last pills of the day; and so to bed.

Monday

Bank holiday, rained most of last night and this morning. Garden needs it. One half of garden divided into two further parts with potential box hedging; these two parts being a herb garden and a rose garden. Loads to do yet though. Nice quiet day, spent most of it in workshop, got on very well. Learned by 'phone that our friend Hilary has just got home from having a new knee joint put in. Had a rough trip. Got M.R.S.A. post op. Sounds a beastly business. Hope all goes well now. Going to knock off now and have two last pills of the day; and so to bed.

Saturday/Sunday.

At 2pm had time for one game of scrabble with my usual three opponents. Modesty of course forbids me to tell who won, but I avenged last weeks crushing defeat. Then on to this year's last session of stewarding at the art exhibition. Usually as dead as several dodos on the last day but a very busy afternoon which flew past. I was on the door selling catalogues and Felicity, the Dean's wife had printed a quiz for me to hand out to children, the questions all concerning the pictures, the idea being to give the little dears something interesting to keep them quiet. Counter productive. One enterprising young gentleman's first question was ;- "what's the prize?" Thinking on my feet I came back with "There isn't a prize because entry to this quiz is free" This slight non-sequitor seemed to satisfy him pro tem, but he was back ten minutes later to complain that he couldn't find the answer to some of the questions. As I wasn't too busy at the time I took him off to point out the more obvious answers. Had gone about two steps when I spotted Felicity and seeing the obvious solution to the problem, introduced him to 'the lady who set this clever quiz' and left them to it. I just hope Felicity could remember the answers.
Today, Sunday. Morning service . Both of us choired. Ann set off earlier than I to help a friend of ours , who has just had a knee job done, get dressed. After service popped into Eileen's to wind clock. Behaving better. Clock not me. After lunch to Deanery Lodge, where gardens were open in aid of Red Cross. Very pleasant afternoon. Lovely gardens sweeping down to river. Met up with Janet and Ozzy Simpson, who are both gardening afficiendoes (that plural doesn't look right- not sure the word is either but it sounds good so will leave it in) and were able to tell us the names of everything. Ann has just called down to say "supper in five." so had better knock off. Good night.

Friday.

Most peculiar day. Went into local hospital at first light (well, 8.30 am if you want to be pedantic) for an exploratory op which should remain anonymous, but in these lax and easy going days I don't suppose I shall shock anyone much by stating it was a colonoscopy. Had to prepare for it yesterday afternoon by imbibing THREE litres of noxious rat poison, which in REAL liquid measure is over half a gallon. This is why there was no entry in my blog yesterday, because as my tonsils were awash with the stuff, whenever I started to move towards the consol I found myself swaying from side to side and making sploshing noises. Back to this morning. The chap in charge of the op told me that he was going to 'slightly sedate' me as the op could be a bit painful. I do remember him injecting the back of my hand and then a nurse was trying to wake me up from the deepest sleep I can recall. I only agreed to resurface on her promising me cups of tea and biccies if I would sit up for them (remember that by this time I had been fasting for about 20 hours). Before the op they had said I could watch it on the monitor. I don't much like anyone inspecting my private insides, but if it's going to be done I think I've a right to a ringside seat if you see what I mean, but I'd slept soundly through the whole performance. Most disappointing. Still, they told us afterwards that I was completely clear -'nothing sinister' was the phrase. So then I took Ann off to the canteen and restored the average intake to some extent. Complete waste of a morning. Slept this afternoon, can't think why. Done a little work this evening. Still a bit tired, so good night all.

Wednesday.

Busy day today. Can't think of much to say. So I'll just put down what I can remember of the dustbin day song : - The dustbins up and down our street are stood so neat and all replete with household items obsolete on dustbin day in the morning.
The dustmen are a toughish crew, don't have a clue on what to do, and some of them get smelly too, on dustbin day in the morning.
They spill the rubbish; cardboard scrunch; and then a bunch of bottles crunch, and eat the broken glass for lunch, on dustbin day in the morning. There was a lot more but can't remember it. Crowbards has very kindly written another verse in one of yesterday's comments. Don't know why our brains waste their time in making up silly verse, but I think a lot of us find ourselves doing it. Can anyone think of a reason ? It seems pointless especially as I suspect most of us forget it all within a matter of hours. Just as well considering the quality of the above dotty doggerel. Good night all.

Tuesday.

Today is dustbin day in our street in our town. And as our street is a narrow twisting one, and our town a thoroughly medieval one with many jettied buildings overhanging these narrow twisting streets, life becomes very hectic at rush hour on dustbin day. As the first verse of a song on the subject goes :- "The dustbins up and down our street- are stood so neat- and all replete -with household items obsolete - on dustbin day in the morning" . Never heard of it ? Not surprised. It's one I wrote myself and I've never sung it except to my immediate family who are fairly tolerant as far as the old man's concerned. Usually. It can be sung to the tune of "I saw three ships" and I can't remeber why I introduced the subject. Yes I can, I was rambling on about dustbin day in rush hour, And today started busy and continued busy as I have spent it getting ready for Long Melford tomorrow. Which means a very early start in the morning, so I intended to apologise for a very short entry in today's blog. But casting an eye over it I find I needn't. What I do need though IS TO GO TO BED. Now. Goodnight.