Wednesday 5.

Herewith as promised.

Wednesday 4.

Stopped off at roadside plant stall on way home whose hand written labels usually repay study. Today, as you see, she was offering Handy Cycle men at £1.25 a pot. Bought a Dianthus and something else (can't remember what ). Then on to Sudbury and to the best nurseryman in East Anglia, whose knowledge of his subject is extensive, his advice and information are free, and his stock not expensive. He lives in a bungalow with at least half an acre of garden, all of which is set out as a richly stocked garden centre. Bought six trays of purple and yellow over wintering pansies, for use in the hanging baskets and urns. Crazy Gang joke, circa 1950 :- "What's a Greek Urn?" - "About three drachma a week".

Seem to have lost accompanying photo - will try to put it in next entry.

Wednesday 3.

Pie and pastry stall on Market -resisted!

Wednesday 2.

Had coffee near Cathedral then walked to Bury Market Place (Wednesday is Market Day in B.S.E.). The Market is a good, well attended and active one. Bought some tools and drill bits from a tool stall - the stallholder seemed to know his subject. Pottered around town for a while then back to Refectory where we both had venison for lunch; very good it was, too. Garage bloke picked us up outside the Angel Hotel (where, according to Dickens, Mr. Pickwick once stayed), then picked up car, payed, and drove home.

Wednesday 1.

Up early this morning and to early service where we both read a lesson. After service to Bury St. Edmund's and left car at garage for its service. Garage bloke ran us into town whilst service was done. Took above photo on Angel Hill. The Abbey Gate (just left of centre) has been in situ for around seven centuries. The Cathedral Tower to the right of the picture was finished a couple of years ago. Although it's taken us seven centuries I think we finally got the Cathedral right.

Monday 3.

Same lane, showing another couple of thatched cottages, one of them being rather well rethatched. I'd guess the thatcher (and the owner) is thanking The Lord for a fine autumn. We really are very fortunate in Suffolk with regard to pretty villages and fine old buildings. Being called upstairs now to an early supper as Ann is out this evening.

Monday 2.

Photo of a row of thatched cottages taken in a side lane about a hundred yards from the Church in the previous entry.

Monday 1.

This morning drove over to Bury St. Edmund's for Ann to have an eye test, and to book the car in for it's service. Had lunch at the Refectory (part of the Cathedral), as we usually do in Bury (and it was as good as it usually is). Drove home through a lovely sunny, perfect autumn afternoon, trying to retrace our steps from a similar drive home when Matthew was last with us, when we got lost in the lanes and found a fine medieval farm house that we'd not seen before, and seem fated not to see again, as we couldn't find it, this time (and have looked once before). I now rather regret not stopping to take a snapshot (it was fairly late in the evening). We are now starting to doubt our own memories of it. Perhaps it was an apparition that only appears once a century. Please ignore those last two sentences; we are practical rather than imaginative types. Anyway, we did stop to take the above photo in a tiny village about half a mile past the back of beyond.

Saturday.

Dead heading the late roses in the garden this morning and brought these two beauties into the house for Ann. Drove up to the school this morning to have my 'flu jab. Ann's recovering from a cold, so decided to have her jab in November. Came home and did the Telegraph prize crossword- took me just under half an hour. Sandwich lunch then to scrabble club. Played three games. Won the last. Middle one was best - three of us got a seven letter word, and a good close score. Called in at library on the way home -took out two books, and bought, from the 'surplus to requirements' table, a book on 'Life in Ancient Rome'- some useful stuff in it. Must get on in workshop. Got a Quaker clock waiting for me.

Friday 1.

Ann just called me out into the garden to see 'a beautiful spider'. I don't know much about spiders, but isn't he/she a beauty ?

Wednesday 2.

And just to be fair - Your blogger with two of his grandsons. All funerially garbed.

Wednesday 1.

Your blogger with seven of his granddaughters on Monday. On my left arm is Tuva who completed her mourning costume by painting her fingernails black. Gran would have loved it (and the hat).

Tuesday.

Strangling Grandpa.

Monday 2.

P.s. to last blog. I like the way all our grandchildren made an effort to dress for a funeral. One of the granddaughters on the below photo (Tuva to the right of the picture) even went to the extent of varnishing her fingernails a shiny black!!!!!!!!

Monday 1.

Been over to Welney, in the Norfolk fens today. Great Gran's funeral. Above is a snapshot of nine of our grandchildren. Ten actually attended, but Kerry and Laura had to get back to meet Tom home from school, before I took this picture. There was an almost complete family turn out. Distant cousins and cousins we only ever see at funerals turned out (partly, I think because Gran was the very last of her generation, but mainly because we all loved her).We had lunch at the Lamb and Flag (in the background), the service was at 2 p.m., during which I gave the eulogy. The church was completely full. Interment followed in the churchyard, then to the village hall for tea, etc. Then before we came away I broke with tradition and took a few photoes of the grandchildren. It was a good day, although most of the great grandchilren, almost all of the grandchildren, and indeed, a good many mature adults, shed tears during the service (for Great Gran was universally popular). Afterwards we all had the consolation of discussing a very long life very well spent. Ann's just gone up to bed. Been an emotionally tiring day for her. I think I must go up now, too. Good night all.

Saturday 5.

As you can see there was not much left (not in the least surprised). Got a feeling the girls might ask for the rest of it for breakfast. We had it with a choice of creme fraiche or cream. Although it's only nine all the ladies have now gone upstairs to bed. Not surprising as three of them have been travelling for about twenty four hours (by train- sleeper- to Stockholm- then by 'bus to the airport, then by 'plane to Stanstead, then by car to our home in South Suffolk). I think it's now bedtime for me too. Goodnight all.

Saturday 4.

And this one, to be really, really, totally fair to everyone, shows all four of the ladies present, id est:- Ann, Freja, Ruth, and Tuva. The main course was followed by a pudding, a treacle tart, made and given to us by our friends Roz and Simon Cook, who are, as their surname indicates, professional caterers. I am just going to nip upstairs and see if I can get a snapshot of the remains of the pudding.

Saturday 3.

This one Shows Tuva starting her main course, too. I show this one just to be toally fair to the sisters.

Saturday 2.

Here is Freja about to get stuck into the main course, which is a chicken casserole which Ann made and put into the slow cooker this morning, and left cooking while we went to fetch them.

Saturday 1.

This afternoon we motored over to Stanstead Airport to pick up Ruth, Tuva, and Freja. They have come over to attend Great Gran's funeral on Monday. We got home at about six. We ate at about 6.30 p.m. Ann had prepared the starter (shown above) yesterday. I consists of half a roast red pepper, stuffed (before roasting) with halved cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, and herbs. The whole thing roasted in a little olive oil can be eaten hot or cold.