Sunday.

In kitchen earlier and saw this pottery toad leering over the rim of a Victorian teacup at me on the windowsill. I think Ann had been doing some tidying up - he doesn't normally live there. Remembrance Sunday today. Family service at 10.30. We were both in the choir, and I was asked to read the "They shall grow not old........." speech, just before the two minutes silence, and the "When you go home tell them of us, and say........." bit afterwards. I wasn't wearing a watch and I wasn't too sure how to judge the two minutes' silence, so I counted to 120 slowly, then counted another ten (just in case). I was told afterwards that I'd got it just about right. Must remember that for another time. This afternoon, at 3 p.m. we had the Memorial Service in Church - after the Service at the War Memorial. The Church was packed. Good service - the Rural Dean gave a good, bracing sermon.
Got Sue and Tim coming for a meal this evening- should be here by now - but just got a 'phone call to say they've got a puncture so will be a bit late. Oh well, that means we can both relax and wait for them. Glass of madeira sounds a good idea. Cheers all.

Thursday again.

Snapshot of a cyclamen in the garden that has been giving us pleasure for about three weeks now, taken with flash. Choir practice went well, apart from a little friction among the more highly strung sopranos, and a good deal of extraneous chatter among the tenors. The bases, of course, were quiet and restrained (I have known a base line remain quiet and restrained when singing a passage marked FFF. ) Getting ready for Christmas. I know that sounds early, but we only have seven more practices to go. Talking of going, I must - to bed. Goodnight all.

Thursday (continued).

Photo is of neice Naomi, family friend Phoebe, and latest great nephew Theo, all at Gran's 100th do. To return to which :- After lunch a reception was given by Gran's neighbours in a large room on the groundfloor of the flats, which they and the family attended; as did the Mayor, Mayoress, photographers and reporters from both local papers. Gran (in an armchair in the centre of the room) held court very graciously and sedately, and showed eveyone her 'telegram' from the Queen. Various cousins, mostly elderly, turned up. Nobody was very clear about the degree of cousinship, except of course Gran, who recognised them all, and explained the degrees of relationship very clearly. At one stage I overheard two of the elderly male cousins discussing Jimmy Fletcher, so I was able to join in as he had taught (or tried to teach) me music fifty odd years ago. I also heard Gran telling a young lady reporter all about a zepellin air raid she had witnessed in 1916 - all good topical stuff - but there, the Wisbech Standard has never been all that up-to-date on its news items. In other words a very good time was had by all. The party began to break up at about four, although the family went back to Gran's flat with her. We left by degrees, so that Gran wasn't left suddenly on her own again. When we left at about seven p.m. David was still with her, and said he would push off an hour later. I think Gran had thoroughly enjoyed her day, and indeed had coped very well with all the excitement. Ann's just calling that it's nearly time for choir practice, so must knock off now. Goodnight all.

Thursday.

Yesterday (5th November, 2008) we motored across to Wisbech to celebrate Gran's hundredth birthday. We met up at her flat. The top photo is of Gran. The one below is of her four offspring, Tim, David, Mick, and Ann, and, of course, Gran again. We had taken lunch with us - cold chicken, boiled new potatoes, and salad, followed by apple crumble (made by David's wife, Jo) and custard. Ann's now calling that supper's ready, so will continue this after choir practice (which will closely follow supper).

Thursday.

Answer to Diss game of 3rd November :-

Diss Mounts.

More blog later perhaps.

Monday.

Snapshot of Ann reading in front parlour. Taken through glazed door to front hall. Not very successful photo. Trying to be too clever with light. Aiming for Dutch interior effect. Still find photoes better and clearer when taken outdoors in full sunshine.
Quick Diss game. A Livery Stable and riding school in Norfolk whose members were not very skilful and kept falling off ????????? Probably far too easy for some of the sharper witted of my readers. Answer in a day or two (if I remember). Must go and do some work now. Goodnight all.

Wednesday.

Both these snaps taken yeserday from Aldham Churchyard. The top one looking across meadows with a footpath across them. Looking at the meadows I think they must cover an old settlement. The second one looks down from Aldham's small hill to water (old moat ? It doesn't seem to have any relevance to the buildings there now). Must close. I've just been reminded that we must nip into town to post a letter before bed. Goodnight all.

Still Tuesday.

Autumn colours (also at Aldham).

Tuesday.

Took these two photoes this morning on our way back from Brenda and Warren's, with whom we'd been having coffee and cake. It's of a tiny church, but as it stands on a small hill, it looks bigger than it is. Like most East Anglian round towered churches the tower is thought to be older than the rest of the church, probably built as a defence against the vikings over a thousand years ago. The windows in the tower are probably later additions. Inside the church, now set into the wall, is part of a very old grave slab with Celtic interlaced strapwork, which rather bears out the supposed date of the tower. The name of the parish in which the church stands is,rather aptly, Aldham. Must knock off now; got a letter to write. Goodnight all.

Still Monday.

Took this snap this morning as I walked in to town. I do like a town where you can see the countryside from the town centre. I know two decent sized towns (well, one of them is a city) in East Anglia where this can be done. The city is Ely, where you can stand near the market place, look along Fore Hill down towards the river, and see fields beyond. The other is Bury St. Edmund's, wheere you can stand outside the Corn Exchange, look down the hill, and see fields and trees. I suppose the sub-conscious reasoning is that if you can see to open countryside, then the town you are in can't really be that big and threatening. I suppose.
Having a fairly lazy day today after a three day antique fair at the weekend. Walked into town this morning, as stated. Put some cheques into bank, picked up a parcel at the sorting office, and posted a package off to Ruth (her birthday soon). Then bought Ann some carnations and walked home. Stopped two or three times to chat to friends and pick up latest news. It's that sort of town. We sometimes say 'just going to nip into town', but we never do actually 'nip' because we're invariably delayed by someone who needs to pass on (or occasionally be told) the latest snippets of gossip. Still - wouldn't have it any other way - it's a very sociable custom.
Whilst in Norfolk over the weekend collected two clock movements that will have to be put into good working order, then returned to their owners, and reunited with their cases, sometime around Christmas (or the new year). So must go and start work again, I suppose. Cheerio all.

Monday.

On Friday last we stopped on our way to Norfolk at a vegetarian pub I have mentioned before and had lunch. I spotted, to the right of the main entrance, this notice, which I rather liked. I hope my readers do too. More later I hope.

Wednesday.

Suffolk pub. Suffolk autumn gateway (can't remember where I took this one, but it's somewhere in Suffolk, not far from here).
Just been out looking for sloes. At this time of year we usually pick between five an seven pounds of sloes, to make sloe gin. We usually bottle the stuff the following June. We make it in half bottles, so that we can distribute some of it around the more discriminating family and friends. I'm afraid they are going to be disappointed next June, as we saw about three sloes - all rather wrinkled specimens. Not altogether surprised as there were three late frosts this last spring, and people we know who grow plums say there was a very thin crop; and, I'm afraid, no sloes. Must go and do some work. We're getting ready for what I hope will be a busy weekend. Will write/blog some more after it. Cheers All.

Tuesday.

Same corner of the garden as yesterday with the sun going down at about 5.30 pm. It amazes (and cheers) me to see how many flowers are still in flower in late October. I did a quick count and made it just over twenty different types. Especially as we've already had two or three mild frosts. Ann is visiting her mother today, so I've been getting on in the workshop. She's just 'phoned to say she is about to call on Mick and Erica, so I shan't expect her until about eight. She has eaten (took Gran out for a meal -which she loves) so I'll go and get meself a hot meal - a cut off yesterday's leg of mutton, a couple of spuds, and warmed up left-over vegetables - should keep the wolf from the door. Good night all.

Monday.

The first photo is of Sidmouth looking down on it from the hill to the east. The second is of a display of cosmos in a corner of our garden that greeted us when we arrived home yesterday. This morning popped into the surgery to get the result of some tests done before we went on holiday, and am glad to report I was given a fairly clean bill of health. Called in at the local sorting office to collect a couple of parcels - pleased with the contents. Spent the rest of the day cleaning pewter and brass ready for Loddon at the weekend. Must continue cleaning stock now. Regards to all - Mike.

Sunday.

Hello again. Just got home from a week in Devon (Sidmouth to be exact). The top photo is of Ann on top of the cliffs about half a mile east of Sidmouth. The bottom one I took from the car window, as we were passing Stonehenge, on our way home on Friday. We got to Sarah's on Friday afternoon, and stayed over two nights, then drove home this afternoon. It was a lovely break. We shared a flat at Sidmouth with Ann's brother David. It was a ground floor flat in a Regency house with a good sea view. Weather was pretty good for mid/late October, as the photoes will show. David has been going to Sidmouth for a good many years now. This is our second visit, and can see it becoming an annual fixture - we'll see. Feeling a bit creamed now, as a builder friend of mine says (cockney rhyming slang - cream crackered), so off to bed. Goodnight all.

Even more Thursday.

Here is another photo of a fine old English pub. I took it a few weeks ago in Manningtree in Essex. If you enlarge it you will see that it is now the Mogul Indian restaurant, rather as the Red Lion that I wrote about below is now a vegetarian restaurant. My first reaction to this is that it is rather a pity to see old English pubs changing into specialist (usually foreign) restaurants, but on thinking about it I suppose that they are really serving their original purpose of providing whatever refreshment is required. And I do believe that the market always finds its own level. I suppose that the important thing is that these lovely old buildings continue to exist as public houses (in the real meaning of that name) as they were designed. As long as they survive to serve the public need all is well. Goodnight all.

More Thursday.

A quick round of the Diss Game. The name please of a Norfolk firm of estate agents, who double up with a building society to supply mortgages??????

Thursday.

I seem to have been taking photoes of Suffolk pubs lately. This one was recommended by Sue and David Parker - not so much as a watering hole as because it has recently reopened as a vegetarian restaurant. We called in for lunch there yesterday on our way home from Stowmarket where I'd been for a haircut. I took my barber (who collects guns) an early 19th century Irish shotflask. When he asked how much it would set him back, I was able to reply 'Ten pounds and a haircut', to which he agreed . To return to the Red Lion (which I would think it's customers invariably do) Sue and David are right, it's food is excellent. It was a lovely day, and we lunched outside in a sheltered, but sunny, corner of the garden.We had filo parcels of....... oh! nuts and beans and pine kernels and stuff, in a mustard and cress sauce, and beautifully done (and served) fresh vegetables, and a dish of pomme de spud au gratin. It was all mouth wateringly tasty. Afterwards I told the young lady who served us ( I think the landlady) that with food like that I could very easily become a convinced vegetarian, provided they'd let me have a joint of beef occasionally to keep me healthy. She looked a bit doubtful about the last bit (and a customer at the bar nearby snorted into his beer), but I think she took the compliment in the spirit in which it was intended. Nice to find a place like that, and shall bear it in mind when in that area. Lunch time, must knock off now. More later perhaps.

Saturday.

This is a snapshot of the snuffbox I mentioned yesterday. I must say that I find the idea of a brass snuffbox that has been made with five different indicators that have to be in the correct position before it can be opened very redolent of the late georgian period. And a fascinating little artifact.

Ann's gone to see Gran today. I'd promised to go to scrabble club in case of further problems with the younger generation, so couldn't accompany her. There were no problems, and my table had three good games. Phyllis won the first, I won the second, and Phyllis and Kevin came first equal on the third. The club is becoming very popular - we had to put up a fourth table to accomodate everyone.

Ann's just got home from Gran's, so I'll knock off - Goodnight all.

Thursday.

Not a good photo, I'm afraid, but I had to record a wild dog violet in flower on the second of October (!!!!!) in our garden. Long Melford antique fair yesterday. Quite a good one. An American couple (dealers) bought a very fine, dated, pierced brass, coach warmer and a good tinder box from us. We also sold most of the remaining Scandinavian metal ware. Got four or five pieces of Swedish treen left.Took in with me a brass snuff box, with a combination lock built into the lid. The box was locked when I bought it, and I left it with Graham the fair organiser, who loves locks and is very good at persuading them to open. He brought it back to me just after midday - now open. It was, he said quite a complicated one, with two clock dials, a movable moon, and two sliding studs, all on the lid. He'd enjoyed unlocking it, and obviously it's now far more saleable with the combination written down. Second of these I've had this year. Almost supper time - with choir practice to follow, so had better knock off. Good night all.