I let time go lightly when the day is through.
I keep a watch on time when I've got work to do,
I let time go lightly with you - Harry Chapin
Time is a strange thing. Sometimes it can go lightly and sometimes it can hang heavy.
I was pondering on this as I sat on a seat for 15 minutes after my booster COVID injection yesterday. Fifteen minutes seemed much longer. That's because I had nothing to do except sit there and cogitate. Good word that cogitate.
Cogitate - think deeply about something; meditate or reflect.
I seem to do a lot of cogitating. In fact I cogitate most of the time. Cogitating in bed, cogitating in the bath. Basically I can cogitate virtually anywhere.
Sometimes time goes lightly and swiftly. Like when I'm writing this blog when an hour can slip away as though it is mere seconds. Sometimes time hangs heavily - like in the dentist's chair having my teeth cleaned when the process seems to go on forever but only lasts no more than 15 to 20 minutes.
Take a football match. It races along when you are either behind and trying to catch up or winning easily and trying to score even more. It goes very slowly when you are winning and trying desperately to hold on for the final whistle.
The thing is a minute is made up of 60 seconds and an hour of 60 minutes. Always has been and always will be. But an hour in one place isn't anything like an hour in another. It's all a matter of perception. If you expect time to drag it will. If you expect it to go quickly it will.
Today we will have our annual Remembrance Sunday service in the parish church. The two minutes' silence at 11 am will seem to last forever and certainly seem to be more than two minutes, although it isn't. That's because periods of inactivity seem to go much slower than periods of activity. Enough about time.
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I went to Attleborough for my booster jab as I had heard that the organisation at Connaught Hall was excellent and so it turned out to be. Booked in, I sat on a waiting chair for less than a minute before having the jab which took less than five minutes and then 15 minutes perched on a chair in case of any ill feelings and then home.
We went to Attleborough early in order to have a look round as it's sometime since we last visited. I find it a rather ordinary town but one of the small coffee shops had been recommended to us. We found Bailey's without much problem and captured a table (or rather sat at one). The food was really good. I had the chilli and a coffee and Bakewell Tart (there's nothing as good as a tart on Saturday lunchtime). My other threequarters had a bowl of home made soup and a cup of tea. It all came to £16 which was excellent value.
The thing I love about small coffee shops is how everyone talks to each other. My other threequarters had her hand knitted jumper admired by some ladies who had been talking about knitting. Then we were recommended the Bakewell Tart and, as I have already said, there's nothing better than a tart on a Saturday lunchtime. We make a point of always seeking out independent coffee shops and never go to the national chains. You can always find an independent if you look hard enough.
This one had a sign: "We don't have wi-fi, try talking to each other."
I even got a smiley face on my cappuccino!
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Yesterday I mentioned my chat on the phone with Nanette Olson. Nanette is now well into her seventies but she has an illustrious past.
Older people reading this might just remember her when she was Nanette Slack and won numerous beauty pageants/contests. She then became a fashion model and had a fairy tale wedding to a handsome American Bill "Ole" Olson.
Tragically pilot Bill from the United States Air Force (USAF) was killed in a mid air collision over Norfolk in bad weather in 1980. Nanette wanted to mark the 40th anniversary of his death with a special celebration in 2020. Then COVID and lockdown hit and plans had to be shelved.
Now that restrictions have been relaxed, there will be a celebration of Bill's life next Thursday. On the same day David Bullock will be remembered at Aylsham. David tried desperately to save Bill and lost his own life in the attempt. The commemoration will begin at David's grave in Aylsham Cemetery before moving to Hethersett Parish Church for a service.
Nanette and Bill came to live in Hethersett almost by accident and were expecting to leave the village and move closer to Bill's expected posting in Woodbridge in Suffolk. Then came the tragic accident and Nanette has lived in Hethersett ever since. There will be a full article on Bill and Nannette in my next Hethersett Herald e-magazine.
During lockdown Nanette found time to sort through a cupboard full of memorabilia and photographs and media cuttings and she put it all together in a book about her life with Bill and their two children. Only a very limited number were printed for family and friends but the book is readily available on the Internet and you can view and read it at:
https://issuu.com/oleolson/docs/ole_olson_-_celebration_final
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I was sad to read when I picked up our local weekly newspaper that Kevin Body has died.
Kevin was formerly a mayor of Wymondham and somebody I chatted with quite regularly when I was involved with Wymondham Town Football Club.
I saw him regularly around town in his mobility vehicle. Last time I saw him I said hello but there was no hint of recognition and, sadly, he died shortly after.
Finally thank you all so much for reading my driblings. It really does give me a warm feeling to know that some of you will enjoy what I have just written above.