Normality

 

Hello everyone. I hope that you are ok. We are doing well - all things considered. It is slightly less boiling today, which is just as well because I was "on the door" this morning at church, and the sun can really singe you a bit through the glass doors. We were a bit short on people this morning. Partly because of the weather and partly because it was Pick and Mix. This is when people can go from room to room and do different things rather than just sit in the main room for the whole service. You can walk around the city and pray or do a drama or make a picture of the disciples using split peas and glitter - that sort of thing. I hate it with every fibre of my being, but it is obviously not about just me, and some people love it. Therefore, we will do it, and I will be cheerful about it - or certainly appear to be. 

 I'm not very good in the heat. It's nice when the weather is sunny, but I have reached the point in my life where I don't feel that well in hot weather. My ankles double in size, and my fingers go extra sausagey. It's not an attractive look. On the bright side, we took bacon sandwiches and coffee up to the Hoe for breakfast, and that was an excellent way to start the weekend.

This is all very news-based this week. We had to buy the Observer today because there were no inserts in the Sunday Times, and I have now been radicalised as a person who reads serious news rather than just getting out the magazines and looking at dresses for £25,000 and reading interviews with actresses that I have never heard of. 

We have all been hanging on the weather people's every word this week - checking out if we can expect the end of the world anytime soon. I am very much a BBC weather person. My favourite is Tomasz Schafernaker because I have eyes in my head, obviously. I am also a fan of Louise Lear because she has an impressive air of authority, and I believe every word that she says, and I admire a woman who is not afraid to wear a dress that would not look out of place on Demis Roussos or in Abigail's Party. I'm not so sure about that lady who wears dresses so tight that we can see her ovaries. She would probably say that it is none of my flipping business, and she would be correct. 

I think that the heat is no longer a weather story - it is a news story. It's about the future of the planet. I remember the summer of 76 very well. We had standpipes fitted in our street. (We didn't actually use them. The water company sent the wrong man to switch them on. He was from the fitting department rather than the switch-on department and didn't know how to do it. Also, it rained on the Saturday after they were fitted, so it didn't seem worth making a fuss by then. But I distinctly remember being told that the summer was an aberration that we probably wouldn't see again in our lifetime. Now, it seems to happen every summer, and it is even hotter. It's a bit disturbing how easily we have come to terms with it. I don't mean in a sort of full-on denial way like some of those Americans who say it's made up if the President says it is. I mean, the way we are all sort of ignoring it. Me included. Shouldn't we be storming the barricades? 

Also, on things we are putting up with that don't seem right. I am a big fan of the Royal Family, as you know. *Puts down laptop to stand and sing God Save the King before sitting to continue* Well, not all the Royal Family. You will have read my thoughts on Andy and his wife last week, and also, I don't see why the taxpayer should fund some random bloke and his lovely American wife to have security when they visit. I'm not saying that they shouldn't have it, but they don't actually DO anything now, so maybe their dad should pay? Also, can I ask? Do you mind? Why are we paying three times as much for the Royal Purse for much less work? Now, I understand why they are doing less. They are all knocking on a bit; two of them have had cancer, and Katherine must spend a lot of extra time just being lovely and fragrant. That's ok. Put your feet up. Watch Channel 5 documentaries on Henry VIII. But, with things the way they are, surely a little bit of pulling in of horns might be wise? And correct. 

Just a normal week then. We went to the Everyman cinema to see a film. It was called Savage House. Don't worry too much about it. It was fine. I had chocolate-covered honeycomb with my film, and that always improves things immensely. 

Also, I am here to tell you that I have improved my lemon drizzle cake recipe. Well, let's be ..honest. It's not my recipe. Obviously. Good grief, that's the last thing that people need in these troubled times. However, I have found this Fay Ripley one, and it involves putting a layer of lemon curd into the middle of the cake. I know. I know. 

Anyway, I am off to watch some football now. After all my pronouncements about the World Cup - saying that it would be rubbish and I don't want to support such a rubbish, corrupt tournament, I have watched loads. I simply cannot be trusted. Sorry. Have a great week. They have predicted rain on Tuesday.