Thursday.

Door and doorway into Linsey Church.

Thursday.

Ann about to enter Bildeston Church, yesterday morning.

Thursday.

Scattered skyscape, A14, Tuesday afternoon., coming home from visiting Great Gran.

Sunday.

Went to Long Melford to pick up an elm stool. Took wrong road out of Long Melford, which enabled me to take a picture of this Suffolk green road. No time for a proper blog - been playing scrabble with Ann and Matthew, who won the last game. Bedtime now, so - goodnight all.

Saturday.

The little chap to the left of centre in the photo is the grandson of friends of ours who are walking with him. He has recently learned to walk and, after watching the soldiers marching, decided that he would like to walk like that, and is trying to march. He made quite a good job of it, too.

Saturday.

Matthew and Ann walking home along the High Street. Veteran in wheelchair to the right (W.W. II, I should think).

Saturday.

His Worship the Mayor inspecting the troops. Probably wouldn't have gone to see it if Matthew hadn't been with us, but as he has just got his Sergeant's stripes in the Army Cadets, he felt he aught to go, so we accompanied him. Worth going - moving and colourful occasion.

Saturday.

At 9.30 a.m. we walked down to the Market Place to watch a parade of the locally based Army Air Corps to show our support for our troops serving and fighting abroad. We did not agree with our government sending them there, but feel we have to show our support for them now they are there. So we (together with most of the townspeople) were there when the band shown above came swinging into the Market Place from the High Street playing Lillibulero (the R.E.M.E. marching song) followed by the regiment. They were very smartly turned out, and their drill was excellent. They formed up on the Market Square, presented arms, and were eventually inspected by our Mayor. Next picture should show the Mayoral inspection.

Friday.

Well, we've seen a lot of the kids this summer, I'm glad to say. So here is another one.

Been a good day. Ann, Matthew and meself set out just after nine a.m. and motored to Snape. Looked round antique centre and bought a few bits. Went to Snape antique fair, met up with friends Jonathan and Jo. We all had freebie tickets to the fair so went in and pottered round for an hour or so.Bought a very nice pair of extending iron ember tongs - very pleased with them, early 19th century and in facetted, polished steel. went on to the Golden Key pub, where Jonathan bought us lunch (I think it was my turn to pick up the tab, but he was adamant about it - arranged to meet up at the Southwold fair, where he has agreed to let me pay). Very good lunch - I had white bait as a starter, followed by smoked haddock, with Welsh rarebit on top. Didn't need a pudding. Matthew (being fifteen) managed a starter, main course, and pudding, then thanked Jonathan sincerely and heartily for his meal. Jo also had pudding, but I think this was to keep Matthew in countenance. Returned long case clock movement I'd been repairing for them. We then drove home and arrived just nicely in time to go to Hilary's party. It was a sort of cross between a tea party and an 'at home'. We sat in Hilary's tiny walled garden (it is slightly smaller than ours, but is south facing, and an absolute suntrap, and is crowded with flowers, shrubs and fruit trees) and chatted, joked, laughed, ate excellent sandwiches and cakes, drank tea and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. About twenty people there, all of whom we knew. Even Matthew (who didn't know many of them and was easily the youngest person there - except possibly the young waitress, hired for the afternoon) said afterwards how much he had enjoyed himself. Walked home and had three good games of scrabble, the last of which Matthew won easily. Decided we needed a bit more sustenance before bed, so had tea, dippy eggs and soldiers (explanation on application, Lori). Bedtime now - Goodnight all.

Thursday.

Snapshot of grandson Matthew in the farm shop.
Today has been a very busy but oddly relaxing day, spent mainly in the workshop, with Matt doing most of the heavy work, Ann providing the ideas, and me largely directing operations. We have completely cleared (it needed doing !!) and now rearranged, two thirds of my cellar. Good game of scrabble this evening, which Matt won very convincingly. I plan to take him to our scrabble club on Saturday afternoon, and spring him on some of our better players there, some of whom are absolutely vicious (as players, I mean). Most of these are thinly disguised as elderly English gentlewomen, and I think young Matthew will do them a power of good! Got a fairly heavy day (socially) tomorrow, so I'm going to knock off now. Good night and God bless you all.

Wednesday.

Pair of guinea fowl seen at farm shop yesterday, prehistoric looking birds. Got up at 5.30 a.m. today, and were on the road to the airport with Ruth and the girls by 6.30 a.m. Got home at 10.30 a.m. Been busy since then. Walked into town, picked up parcel, shopped, walked past the Church and could hear Bob Smith practising on the organ, so slipped into a back pew and listened for a while. After lunch grandson Matt helped me clear out part of my workshop (it needed it). After supper the three of us played scrabble. Matt plays a decent game. Glad to have him here; it would have been horribly quiet otherwise, now Ruth and the girls have gone home. Still, it's been a lovely summer so far. Off for a quick shower, then bed. Goodnight all.

Still Tuesday.

Geese beeing fed. Other side of fence to below picture.

Tuesday.

Matthew, Freja, Tuva, and Ann feeding geese at our local farm shop. Fairly quiet day. Spent this morning pottering in workshop. Reroped a lantern clock, etc. Ruth spent morning packing ready to return to Sweden tomorrow. Freja hates saying goodbye to us, and had to be comforted with the thought that she would be seeing her Daddy tomorrow. We played cards with the three grandchildren after lunch, till Ruth was done, then decided to go to above farm shop. On way there the heavens opened - minor flooding on back roads- only two or three inches but the children loved the excitement of the water spraying up from the front wheels. Got to farm shop and took refuge in coffee bar there. Treated children to hot chocolate and cake while the storm abated, then pottered round farm feeding the animals.Bought a few bits in the shop, then home. For supper cleared up leftovers from yesterday. Chicken, bacon, gammon, and vegetables, followed by fruit and ice cream. Nice relaxed meal. Early start tomorrow. Must leave home for the airport at seven a.m. So I wish you a good night.

Monday.

Yesterday became quite hectic. Freja and Matthew came to morning service with us, so Ann was in the congregation with them, whilst I was in the choir as per usual. Liz and Beth set off back to London soon after midday (Matthew is staying with us for a fortnight), while Liz and Danny holiday in Malta. A few days ago we had a 'phonecall from our old friend Friedhelm in Germany saying that he, a grandaughter and a ladyfriend would be touring England in his motorhome and they would like to spend a day or so in Suffolk. Friedhelm was widowed four years ago so we were glad to hear of a ladyfriend. I made arrangements with our local hotelier for them to park on his carpark while here, and they turned up at teatime. His granddaughter is very quiet. She's 14 and seems a nice child. Erika (the lady friend) is very like Karen, Friedhelm's wife. She seems very nice. We've known Friedhelm since 1975, when I took part in a choir tour in the Teuterburgerwald in Germany, and was billetted on them. Been friends ever since, so it was good to see them. We gave them tea, and walked round the town with them (conducted tour). They are coming for supper with us this evening. Must close - a cup of tea is imminent.

Sunday.

Frog in our pond.
Came down this morning to a pleasant surprise. Ruth had made breakfast, and she had done a superb fry-up. Egg, bacon, mushrooms, fried bread, and bubble-and-squeak (will explain that last item on request). Yummy, as the grandchildren say. Poor Lizzy, who is on a diet, bravely declined to partake, but sat next me at the garden table, and by deep breathing tried to at least inhale the scent of this banquet. Church now. More later, perhaps (which means - if I have time. ) Have a good day. Regards, Mike.

Saturday.

Been a very busy day today. I think everyone is realising that Ruth's visit is drawing to its close and coming to see her and the girls. Photo shows (left to right) Ann's brother David, our daughter Ruth, daughter Liz, son Jonathan, his lady Jude, back view ofgrandson Matthew, and Ann. Also present were Jude's daughter Tia, granddaughters Beth, Tuva, Freja, and, of course, meself. When Jonathan, Jude and Tia went home the rest of us walked through the town with them to where they'd left Jude's car; a procession of twelve, what you might call an extended family. Goodnight all.

Friday.

Internal view of the church illustrated below, from the nave looking into the apse. Also of Ann, Freja, and Ruth. Goodnight all.

Friday.

Photo is of the apse of St. Mary's, Cockley Cley, in Norfolk. It is a small Saxon church, well pre conquest, and possibly of (claimed !) 7th century date.
Today Ann and Ruth helped at the Ansell Club lunch, and left me (nominally as it turned out) in charge of the girls. A bit after midday I went into the kitchen to prepare lunch, and was told in no uncertain terms, that they were doing that, and did. Freja (9) prepared open Swedish sandwiches, consisting of one slice of bread and butter, mayonnaise, prawns, cucumber slices, and tomato wedges. Tuva (11) then prepared a tradional English summer desert of strawberries and cream. After this they decided that the prawns really needed clearing up and made us all another open sandwich. They served lemonade to drink ( I, with their tacit approval, jazzed mine up with a shot of Pimms). Altogether a lovely light summer lunch. After lunch we played cards till Ann and Ruth returned. Then after a cuppa Ann and Ruth went grocery shopping, whilst I was left with the girls (again in nominal charge) at the local park. They spent quite a while on the swings (Officer-in-charge Grandpa doing the pushing), the roundabout, and a sort of updated see-saw. Walked home, about half a mile, and got back just before the ladies. After dinner polished two pair of shoes for the weekend, and am about to hoover my cellar floor, ready for guest beds at the weekend. Will put up one more photo first.

Friday.

Snapshot of our lunch party yesterday at the Castle Hotel, Downham Market. Left to right are Great Gran, Ann, Freja, Tuva, Ann's older brother Mick, Ruth, and meself. The photo was taken by our very friendly and helpful young waitress.

Thursday.

Ruth, Freja, Tuva, and Ann, in Downham Market. We set out at 10.30a.m. and motored to Downham Market, where we met Great Gran and Mick at the Castle Hotel for lunch. Lunch was as good as usual there, and the staff as helpful as they invariably are. Ann and I both had poached salmon on a bed of spinach - which is a mixture of tastes that always works well. Great Gran had steak and kidney pie - the staff, at Great Gran's request, had carefully taken all the kidney from her portion of pie, evidently feeling that at a hundred one is entitled to one's foibles. We had the dining room entirely to ourselves, which I suppose is a little worrying from the point of view of the hotel.
On our way home stopped at a reconstituted Iceni village, which turned out to be somewhere between a total washout and a dead loss - historically it was an insult to the intelligence. However, nearby we found the remains of a Saxon church. It claimed to be 7th century - whatever (as the youngsters say) it was a lovely, early little church - will try and put up a picture of it tomorrow - bedtime now - Tuva and Freja have just trotted down to my workshop to say goodnight. So - goodnight to all.