Wednesday.

 

Flowers from the garden on sideboard now.

Sunday.

 

Further to yesterday's entry, have just put a touch of green to the inside of all the lily of the valley flowers, and I think it's helped matters. Not perfect, but at least you can see what they're meant to be now (I think). More later perhaps.

Saturday.

 

Have spent a lot of today decorating the above cake for Gran's party. Not altogether satisfied with it. The writing's not too bad, but the flowers (supposed to be lily of the valley - Gran's favourites) are really only recognisable by an act of faith (I suppose I shall have to tell people what they are meant to be). Still, it's the best I can do. I have stuck the 'flowers' on with tiny dabs of marmalade, and having decided that they're not good enough, I tried to take some off again to better them, and found that marmalade is better glue than I had realised. Oh, Well.........

Yesterday was a very full day. Ann helped at the Ansell Club luncheon. She was home by about two o'clock, so we then went and picked Hilary up and motored over to Terry's to play scrabble and have tea - both activities very enjoyable. Had taken Terry a bunch of sweet peas and (by request) a copy of the Guardian. Got home at ten to seven, which gave us just time to get changed and round to the Guildhall gardens where a party was being held for David and Felicity, who are retiring, and will be very much missed. Fine weather for a garden 'do', and a very pleasant evening. Went to scrabble club this afternoon. Three tables of three people. Played three good games. Won last. Off to bed now. Goodnight all.

Thursday.

 

Hanging basket beside scullery window which is undergoing necessary repairs. Been a busy day. Walked into town this morning, went to bank, did some shopping, and bought Ann an orchid of the type she likes. This afternoon went on double decker 'bus into Ipswich using our senior citizens bus passes, to order new beds. Had a cup of tea at the Ipswich Institute, and by chance met old friends Philip and Phylis there. Used to sing next to Philip in choir for some years. I think he is now 95 or so, but apart from near blindness he appears in good health and spirits. Told him of Gran's approaching 100th, which cheered him. Did a bit more shopping- bought samphire on market- first this year. Then went and found a tobacconist's shop I used to use, and to my surprise they were able to find me a small tin of Wilson's lavender snuff, which I like but haven't been able to obtain for a long time. Caught 4.15 'bus home. Choir practice this evening. Trying over some unfamiliar and rather difficult anthems. Didn't go well, and eventually 'words' were exchanged by our choir mistress (who is red haired) and our Dean's wife. After turning pink and spitting at each other a bit (only metaphorically - being ladies) our choir mistress who was (in my view) winning on points, realised that this was not very Christian, and backed down reasonably graciously. Quite exciting for a while. Home and had samphire for starters, beef casserole for main course, and stewed fruit for pudding,with cream. Nice supper. Goodnight all.

Tuesday.

 

Earlier this year we attended a marriage ceremony in the family where all the lady guests were given a packet of seeds. Ann put hers in this pot, and the photo shows the result. Not the most dramatic of pictures, but should interest two of our viewers (the newlyweds - Hi Maggie and Mark). More later if I get time. Got a busy day (I hope) tomorrow.

Monday.

 

Photo is of small, box hedge enclosed, square of garden designated 'the rose garden'. Considering we put them in less than a year ago, the roses are already giving us a decent show of flowers. Yesterday was a very busy Sunday. Morning service - self in choir, Ann serving. After lunch (about 3.30 pm) we walked round to friends who were having an 'at home' in their garden. Very nice it was, too. Their lawns run down to the river, and they'd set up tables and large garden parosols. Stayed for about an hour and had tea and cake. Everyone drifted in and out, and we chatted to friends going there, coming back and during. This really is a very sociable and civilised little town. In the evening we went across to Woodbridge, giving Hilary and Tricia a lift, to a service in St. John's being celebrated by a friend of ours, who has just taken up the post of curate there. Hadn't seen him for quite a while, and he seems to have become very high church in the meantime. Clouds of incense. As we were going out I muttered to Ann "Smells and Bells, what?". But she very fairly pointed out (in wifely fashion) that there hadn't actually been any bells. Afterwards a very decent do in the church hall. On the way there Hilary said in joking fashion that she must be home by 11 pm as there was a programme on TV she wanted to watch. We all laughed at the idea of not being home by 11, but in point of fact she only just made it. Thoroughly nice day though. Goodnight all.

Sunday.

 

Don't know what this is. It's growing in our rockery beside the small pond. An alpine of some sort I suppose? Any knowledgeable suggestions welcome.

Saturday.

 

Snapshot of Ann in front of sweet peas, with which she is very pleased. Haven't had much success with them in previous years, but this year's have been lovely and we've picked lots. We've also put red and white flowered runner beans either side of the sweet peas, and they too are now begining to flower, so we should have a bait or two of runner beans to eat later in the year. Had a very busy day in the workshop, but played scrabble between two and four. Played three good , closely faught games. Won the last one, but all four final scores were within about thirty points of each other, which we all enjoyed. Must close now, it's 2215 hours. Goodnight all.

Friday.

 

Snapshot take from upstairs back bedroom window of local school sportsday. Playing field is beyond our parking space to rear of property (I sound like an este agent).
During last week I have spent three day in London, all either viewing sales or buyng stock. Just had lunch with Sue and David - very relaxing - one of David's very subtle curries with rice, then strawberries to follow . Perfect summer lunch. I've got two of Brenda and Warren's grandchildren coming this afternoon to be told all about the history of guns. Hope I don't bore them. More later perhaps.

Friday.

Just got back from U.R.C. Cinema Club. We watched the film 'le Vie en Rose' about the late Edith Piaf. Must say the film confirmed my view of Parisians.

Friday.

 

This is the house I was trying to illustrate yesterday, but it came over all modest. I hope it behaves and illustrates itself today.

 

Remains of apple tree beside road now being taken over by rampant rambling rose.

Thursday.

 

Photo of 18th century house nearby, that is rapidly being overgrown in all directions, but (despite or because of this) still manages to look charming. This morning motored over to Corncraft- nearby craft centre, garden shop, restaurant, etc., where we met up with friends Terry and Diana, and had lunch - we all decided on chicken and mushroom pie with vegetables, and very nice it was, too. It's getting to be a very popular place.We got there first at midday and found there was only one table available, so we bagged it and lingered over coffee until the others arrived. I'm afraid we then lingered over lunch, and finally left at about 2.30 p.m. We then went over to Sudbury, did some grocery shopping at Waitrose, bought a bottle of black ink for the printer on this machine (which drinks the stuff), then went on to the scruffiest and best of the garden centres in this area (it is really the large garden of a bungalow, where the owner keeps a very large selection of plants at very reasonable prices, about a third of what one would expect to pay at a nearby Wyevale Garden Centre). We bought some bedding plants, fuchsias,etc. Got home about 5pm feeling that we'd had a busy day. been pottering in the workshop since then -fairly productively. Must knock off soon for supper. Goodnight all.

Tuesday.

 

Our district council is incredibly fussy over what colours we may paint our cottages. There was a great hoo-hah a couple of years ago over someone who painted his home orange between the beams. I have always wondered how the owner of this cottage, which is very near the Church, got away with painting his chimney such a very festive blue. I'm glad he did - it is such a very silly and unexpected colour that it quite cheers the place up. Talking of which- Cheers everyone.

Tuesday.

P.s. I really must correct the last entry but one. I don't know how I came to commit such a glaring error. The Deanery tower was build in 1495 -NOT 1494. Sorry.

Tuesday.

 

On the other side of the churchyard to St. Mary's and the Deanery tower is this double jettied Guildhall. Exact date is not known, but I'm told it was in existence in 1386. They are a glorious trio of buildings in oak framing, brick, and stone.

Tuesday.

 

Cycled into small town nearby and took photoes. St. Mary's Church, 14th century and earlier, and, to the left the Deanery Tower, built in 1494.

Monday.

 

Well, it looks as if it works. The figures on the lawn are Ann, Terry, and Hans. A bit of our garden, and 'one perfect rose'. Had a bit of good news today. Last lipreading class (just before half term break? I was told that, due to local government cut- backs, I was approaching the end of my last year of lip reading classes. This afternoon I was I was informed that I was being given another year of lip reading instruction. This is excellent news as being able to lip read really helps me stay in communication with people. But I do need all the instruction and practice I can get, so another year will be agreat advantage. Will try again tomorrow.

 

Monday.

 

Eureka. This is the snapshot I took yesterday in Terry's garden of the Rambling Rector in his tree. Don't quite know how I've done it but itseems to be working. We'll see in a minute.