Game

My dear friend Judy was unwell last Sunday so lunch and bridge at hers was postponed. Despite many serious health issues and an advanced age Judy is always bright, positive and cheerful, full of beans. She is enormous fun, and has a much sharper memory than me. To look at her and listen to her you would never know she has thrice-weekly dialysis for example. So for her to give in to illness was unheard of. I'm due there again on Friday evening, and wanted to check she was OK and still wanted me to come. "Absolutely fine," she said predictably on the phone. "Whatever I had last week has left me with fluid on the lungs so I'm very breathless, but they've taken an X-ray and they'll let me know." "Are you sure you want visitors?" from me. "Oh yes, I'm looking forward to it." Then she told me she fell flat on her face into a muddy puddle yesterday when she tripped on a step, and badly twisted her knee. "It's very swollen and I can't walk properly, but I'm completely fine." How did she get home from Halesworth, I wanted to know. "Well I drove of course!" Of course. As so often before, my jaw dropped open. I was going to say that when they made her they threw away the mould, but actually I know a lot of Suffolk octogenarians like her, and being with them is like being with schoolgirls. They are irreverant and funny, and can't abide a fuss. "Stuff and nonsense" is their motto. I strive to be like them, but I'm still a bit young.

Lunch in Orford was also a laugh, until the bill came. It showed £24 for two glasses of wine. I called the waitress back and pointed out the mistake. But there was no mistake. We spluttered, we expostulated, we rolled our eyes in mock disbelief, and we laughed, and they took £8 off, but the damage was done. When did a Suffolk hotel get so far up itself that they thought these prices were reasonable? Ruth Watson has left the Crown and Castle now, and a group of eight hotels has taken over. Well they can keep it: I won't be going back.

And lastly I went to see Three Billboards with Sammy in the evening, and neither of us knew what to make of it. The local lierati were there too - Julia Blackburn, Liz Calder and their gang - and even they, professional talkers, seemed at a loss for words. It was a powerful film, but the violence and cruelty, the gratuitous racism, made me uncomfortable and twitchy, and I'll need time to process it. I was glad when it was over and I could breathe again. Sammy agreed. For the umpteenth time I thanked god I don't live in the southern states of America. No sir.