Ian 22 September 2020
Hello Everyone.
Is anybody there? Nothing from anyone for more than a month. Is it general despondency about the continuing situation? Has nothing been happening?
Anyway I got a piece of news from Peter Miles in a phone call yesterday. He is sill a member of CILIP and received the AGM papers recently. For the first time it included a list of members who had "passed away" in the last twelve months and John Warmington was on the list. No further details as to where he worked and what carried him off, Covid or something else. As he was really the one who brought us all together, I was sorry to hear the news and feel that we should raise a socially distanced glass to his memory. I promised Peter (who is keeping well, all things considered) that I would let you all know.
Not much news to report from us. We still manage bus trips out - yesterday to Shaldon, a beautiful fishing village on the other side of the Teign Estuary. A beautiful day with lunch in a well-organised restaurant, sitting at a table overlooking the estuary, Teignmouth and the hills and cliffs beyond. We relished the idyllic scene and realised that we may not have so many such experiences with the tightening restrictions, the breaking of the weather after the Indian summer and the passing of the autumnal equinox with the ever shorter evenings. And all just as we seemed to be emerging. We spent a couple of days overlooking Land's End in a holiday cottage with Kate and family in August followed by a couple of nights in an almost empty campsite nearby. There were quite a few holiday makers around but keeping their distance. In some ways things seem to have got worse since the return to school, crumblies like ourselves making the buses and seasides more crowded as they enjoy the remaining days of summer.
I have finally got involved with the Exeter UNESCO city of literature project. They don't actually seem to have got very far since the award was announced at the end of last year but I have offered them my collected work on book history of the past fifty or more years - starting I suppose with the lectures that fascinated me from Sigrid Mandahl and Roy Millington, although I no longer have the notes for these. They appear to have accepted them with gratitude and relief, but how they will use them I'm not sure. We also got out to Lewtrenchard Manor, the home of Sabine Baring-Gould, to work on the library there. The hotel is now open and seems to be quite busy, but many other organisations in the tourist and heritage sectors seem to be suffering. The Devon Heritage Centre is open for pre-booked visits and I have made a couple, pre-ordering documents which they are not always able to locate and, although there is a maximum of six for each two-hour session in the large reading-room face coverings have to be worn.
So, we soldier on. Keep safe everyone, and don't forget to raise a glass to dear old Warmingpan.
Ian
Jane 22 September 2020
A coincidence! I sometimes think I have a little bit of second sight as I just thought this morning that I had not heard from any Supsliskans for a while and should send an email.
Sad news about John Warmington. I am fairly sure that he worked at Sherborne School at one point but presumably was retired by now. No doubt data protection prevented any useful details being published by CILIP. An old school friend (whom I met a couple of years ago for the first time since we were at school) was married to a Warmington (for a short time I suspect!) and I asked her if she was related by marriage to John. But she thought not. A glass will be raised.
We escaped on 12th (David's first venture outside the centre of St Andrews since March) for dinner, bed and breakfast in the Peat Inn, the posh 'restaurant with rooms' about 5 miles from town, to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. It was an excellent trip, rounded off with champagne for breakfast organised by elder son (who was surprised to learn that we drank it all there and then). But I am still cross that we could not have a proper party for that or for my significant birthday in May. And now Our Nicola has decreed today that we cannot even invite a friend for coffee in the flat - presumably just to be a little different from Boris. I watched the English experts yesterday morning (it came after 'Homes Under the Hammer' when I have coffee and do the Times quick crossword - multitasking) and the map of the virus hotspots showed only England yet they talked about the UK. No wonder Scottish independence is rearing its ugly head.
Students have returned to the town and following huge parties on all three beaches during the first two weekends of the month, there are now 7 cases of Covid in the University. The Principal asked them all to stay in their rooms this last weekend, and town was certainly quieter. Hermann the German (that was how he introduced himself) a postgrad, arrived in the Attic flat on 1st, and I gave him the Watkinson introduction (where the bins live and when they are emptied) after I happened to meet him on the stairs. The next day he appeared at our door with flowers for me. I gave him a few apples from our tree - and the following day he handed in an Apfelkuchen. Tall, handsome - and he can bake!! The new tenants in the 2nd floor - 3rd year Economics lad and 4th year mathematician girl - are OK too, so far. At least they cannot have noisy parties at the moment. We had a month of disruption in August, with up to 10 workmen at any one time, while the flat was refurbished and the lad was most annoyed to discover that there was no longer a bath, only showers in the ensuites. I suggested he ask for a reduction in rent. After two letters to the owners, the 'common parts' were finally swept and washed but there were still grease spots on the stone stairs, so another cleaner came last week and put some white foam on them. We now have bright pink spots. We made several comments to the owners, to which we have had only the reply that they are relieved to have had the opportunity to refurbish the flat 'to add value to the block'. An interest in the whole building would be welcome. A broken chair was dumped beside the bins and when we asked for it to be removed, it was put over the wall in the nextdoor yard. Another sharp email to the owners and it was gone.
Douglas and family and Rosie the dog spent 40 hours with us, enroute from Portrush to Bath. They managed to fit in all St Andrews has to offer apart from the Himalayas putting course (pre-booking needed and your own equipment but we have only one putter) - a walk on the beach, Toppings bookshop, Jannetta's ice cream and the posh baker's fudge doughnuts. Fortunately Pizza Express had just re-opened so we could have a meal there. And Rosie barked at the workmen every time they went up and down the stairs, to my delight. When we will see the family again, or Peter and Laura, is anyone's guess.
So Darby and Grumpy Joan are back on their own for the foreseeable future. David has written an article on a St Andrews Provost for the Preservation Trust newsletter, and 'zoomed' and 'teamed' on various meeting of Trustees, while I seem to have been mired in domesticity and gardening with the occasional foray into the 17th century and 20th century rum-running. A huge pile of ironing is menacing me at this very moment.
Hope all is well with you all and look forward to your news. Love, Jane
Sylvia 22 September 2020
Funnily enough, I was thinking about sending out another round robin, but then decided that people might have had enough, since I'm often the one to start the ball rolling again.
Sorry to hear about John Warmington, or Widmerpool as my father used to refer to him. (Those of you who have read "A Dance to the Music of Time" might recognise the reference, although it was probably my descriptions of what John got up to, which made him reach that conclusion.) Interesting that you say he got us together, Ian, given that he was never a part of any group when we were in Sheffield and as far as I'm aware, sank without trace afterwards. I've always been grateful to you and Jane for getting/keeping the ball rolling for the last 50+ years.
Life goes on here. Things which seemed mundane in the past can seem quite exciting now - walks with friends, an actual meal with my walking group a couple of weeks ago, just before the Rule of 6 came in, brief visits to people's gardens, and FaceTime, Zoom or Skype sessions with family.
However, just when we think it's getting easier, we seem to be hit with another sledge hammer. The latest one for me is that my choir went back to rehearsals last week, albeit under very strict conditions and in a "Covid secure" venue, and I've just had an email to say that Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has stated that “Due to the rapid spread due to [repetition!] social contact, I’m afraid we can no longer permit exemptions for indoor grass-roots sport & amateur performing arts and choirs”. So, after one week, we're back to square one and will be meeting on Zoom again, which means we can't sing together, although we do sing (muted) to various CDs we've made in the past. Obviously, I won't argue with anything which will keep everyone safer, but I still feel every decision which is made is copied from the back of an envelope.
Luckily, I'm still able to contribute to the online transfer of the Herefordshire local archive catalogue, as it's sent to me at home. It's more laborious than when the hard copy of the catalogue was in front of me at the Record Office, but it's much better than nothing.
Margaret, it was lovely to have a phone chat and I promise to ring you again soon. Jane, if I hadn't spent time proof reading this email, I might have beaten you to it! (Haven't read your contribution yet.)
With love to all, Sylvia
Val 22 September 2020
Hello!
Glad everyone’s ok & interesting to hear how you are all getting on.
Sorry to hear about John, I suspect we made his life a bit of a misery which I regret now!! A glass will definitely be raised! Thanks for letting us know, Ian, & please give my love to Peter when you next speak to him. It seems amazing that he has never had a computer & so misses out on exchanges like our Supsliskan musings, amongst many other things. Well done for keeping him in the loop. Congratulations, Jane (& David!!) on your 50 years! We made 45 years on the 13th September. I chortle at your run ins with students & landlords, you’ll get them all licked into shape one day!! I’m hoping you saw something of your family in real time, Sylvia, before the “rules” changed again. Ian & Jill, glad you’re getting out & about & had a few days away…….at Sennen??
We managed a week in Northumberland with Victoria & family, not quite the booked two weeks in Florida Disney World for the whole family (we got all the money back!!), but very nice none the less. The weather was fantastic & we were on the beach most days & it’s very easy to socially distance on Northumberland’s beaches as you can imagine, even though everywhere was very busy. We ate some extremely good seafood meals in well managed restaurants in Amble & area. The only wet day was our pre-booked visit to the Alnwick Garden. It was all a very good week, but as it can be done in a day from here one doesn’t really feel you’ve gone away! Not like our customary 0530 start to drive to the far North of Scotland.
We have seen a lot of Charlotte & family & Victoria & family either here or at Linton on Ouse & York. Roger has made a couple of probably illicit trips from London! The girls have been back at school since May half term part time as Victoria was in, but it’s full time & attendance is averaging 98% & the Ebor Trust are not intending to close for anything!!
This has ground to a halt again as County Durham & surrounding counties are now on restricted everything again, though better than lockdown, it’s still a pain. It’s only because a few North East councils requested it. Others such as Darlington & Teesside didn’t so weren’t added in. Lots of people go to work or school from here & other places to Darlington & vice versa, so who knows!!
Barney is rammed as it always in in August & September, but more so. It’s particularly bizarre to inch past the crowds outside Specsavers taking photos of each other (I kid you not!!!) Also waiting at the traffic lights at the County Bridge whilst people nip out & take selfies with the Barnard Castle sign. The local economy is booming & even Oxfam had prints of the Castle for sale in the window with a sign saying “This is what Dominic came to see if he could see”!!
Chris’s work is all online now which he hates as he likes to walk around & interact when lecturing & doing workshops. I’m busy in the garden a lot still whilst the weather is so good, although there was a frost on Sunday morning, it’s never been so tended!! Well, that’s probably enough about us, so will finish now & look forward very much to some more instalments from you all
Keep well all of you. Love to all, Val
Jane 23 September 2020
Hello - it's me again!
I googled Warmers and he is there under The Old Shirburnian Society - with photo! Born 1942, he was indeed Librarian at Sherborne School, 1985-1996, previously Deputy Librarian at Westminster College, Oxford, and died suddenly in December last year. I am sure I sent an invite to one of our Reunions to Sherborne and am sorry not to have had any reply. I am afraid he pulled our group together because he annoyed us - what an admission!
Love, Jane
Anne 23 September 2020
Hello everyone,
Just to say I think it's rather sad that the only news we have of Warmers after 52 years is that he died. I know Jane made an effort to contact him and he obviously didn't react. I'm so grateful to you all in this group for keeping in touch all these years and especially in this year. This evening in my 1st lesson with one of my VHS groups after 6 months when discussing the pros and cons of lockdown, Covid-19 etc I told them how cheered I had been by contact with you all. In fact, interestingly enough, most found more positive aspects to report.i
Good night, Anne
Margaret 24 September 2020
Hello everyone!
How nice to be in touch again. But I agree with Anne about John W. Actually, he has connections with Wolvercote and is a distant relative of John Stockford who was born at The Plough, local pub, and has lived in Wolvercote all his life. I once mentioned John to him and he dismissed it remarking “we don’t have much to do with that lot”.
Well, I have settled down to life at home on the ground floor in my garden room with a live - in carer. I am very well looked after by Juliana from Cameroon and she is a super cook - not desserts, though, so I sneak a couple of Gu’s into my Ocado order. Currently I have Josephine living with me while Juliana has a break - much needed when working a 7 day week. She is also good and a nice calm presence. J is very worried about the situation in Cameroon and periodically can become quite hysterical which is a bit alarming. I just keep quite calm until she recovers. She has lived over here for 8 years with one of her daughters n Northampton but has family over in Cameroon.
I have rather surprised myself at how happily I have settled down to life at home in one room. But then I am not missing much out there as nothing much is happening! It’s amazing how the days go by and don’t drag as things happen and friends pop in. Daily reading of The Times fills most of the morning and then I do the difficult SuDoku usually getting it right but not always.It is good as it makes me focus. Currently I have 3 books on the go, all quite different.
I think that’s about it and I look forward to the next contribution to this current spate of emails.
With my best wishes, Margaret
Angela 25 September 2020
Hello Everyone
Thank you Ian for getting the e-mails flowing again. Poor old John Warmington. At least we did all remember him! I can recall him sitting at the front of the lecture room, always the first to ask a question with Jim Bragg patiently and kindly sitting next to him. A number of glasses will certainly be raised to John.
Congratulations Jane and David on your 50th Anniversary and glad you were able to have a celebration. Your new students seem really nice which must make life more pleasant, though the influx of university students generally must be concerning. I feel very sorry for them starting off University life with such uncertainty. It must be very frustrating Sylvia to get so near to resuming your choir too but great that you manage to get together on Zoom. It is lovely to chat to you Margaret and to hear that you are settling in so well to your new routine and becoming an expert on your iPad. I loved Val's description of the 'Cummings effect' on her local area. Good for Oxfam!
I think the slowing of e-mails generally indicates that we have started to gradually feel our way towards more sociable lifestyles with various outings and get togethers. Unfortunately the latest restrictions have pulled us up a bit. Still, with today's weather in Cley with lashing rain and 70 m.p.h. winds, I am quite happy to stay inside with the heating on!.
It is good to hear about the various family get togethers as having proper contact does help a lot. We saw Heather and family a few weeks ago when we went down to Hertfordshire and had a nice couple of days in Hanwell and Knebworth in lovely weather, before Freya went back to school. The relatives of our next door neighbours in Knebworth, who had been shielding in our Knebworth house since lock-down, moved back to their London house at the end of August. We were not sure what to expect in the house when we went back, but we had a wonderful surprise as the place was immaculate with some outstanding DIY jobs done and the sleepers in the garden which needed replacing all finished and painted. It was their very nice thank you for letting them stay as guests. They can come any time again after that! We also caught up with friends in Hertfordshire and Leo even managed a game of badminton with his 'old' group there and got to the Brent Reservoir for the annual bird count there. We were planning another quick trip down there next week, but will have to see what the latest restrictions are with London having a question mark over it.
Back in Cley when the weather was so good we had quite a few outside garden meals with friends locally, though the last one did require lots of layers and blankets! It's back to the quieter life here now with minor excitement provided by visits from the local mole catcher whom we now think must be on the side of the mole as h has had zero result. We hate to be so mean to the poor animal, but he has been systematically wrecking our lawn for weeks now and enough is enough! We decided he must be deaf as the solar powered mole deterrents which have worked brilliantly up to now have no effect on him.
Yesterday think I qualified for membership of Jane's GOW group. We regularly have high flying very noisy jets from the US airforce base in Lakenheath circling Cley as they do training runs along the coast, but the flights are usually quite spaced out and only last a few hours. For well over a week now, however, we have been treated to days of non stop noise going on from early morning to past 6.00 pm. We realise they have to do training flights, but yesterday one of them flew very fast and low over Cley Marsh reserve which considering the tragedy a few years ago when 4 helicopter crew were killed by bird strike doing the same thing, seemed completely mad. I was moved to phone up Lakenheath base but of course was just given a very curt 'We can't discuss anything because of security' reply which I thought would happen. Today though, the wind has put paid to flying!
I am continuing doing online fitness sessions and have worked out that I am actually doing more than I did before lock-down as it so easy - no travel and sometimes done in pyjamas! Ballet classes on Zoom have restarted and today our 'Silver Swans' ladies were joined by a 'Silver Cob' - a brave chap, complete with tights and ballet shoes but still managing to look quite manly. I suspect he once did ballet before. He reminded me of Eddie Izzard!
Well , not many exciting happenings to report up here, but perhaps that is just as well! Keep safe an well and keep the news flowing.
Love, Angela
Sue 27 September 2020
Hi Everyone
Yes, many thanks, Ian, for getting us all talking again. And yes, Angela, that's how I remember John, as a back view, sitting at the front of the class with Jim on his left. I guess that would have been during those sessions when we scientists joined the rest of you. The lads, I think, were mostly in the back row (was there a window seat
there?), many sporting waist-coats, with Ian apparently taking copious notes, but actually creating another witty strip cartoon.
However I don't think anyone should beat themselves up over John. After all we were only together as a group for about 9 months out of his life-time of 77 years; either he would have got used to dealing with reactions to his eccentricity, or perhaps his eccentricity was his way of coping with the world; who knows!
I don't envy you the roller-coaster of UK life under the twin threats of Covid and Boris. It sounds as though Germany is coping better, Anne, though no doubt you've hear that NZ is booting out 3 of your countrymen who tried to sail in - "As much as our country is known for its hospitality, New Zealand cannot become a maritime Covid-19 safe haven for everyone in unfortunate circumstances." Actually there are heaps of yachties who live permanently on their yachts trying to find a safe haven as the cyclone season gets underway in the Pacific. I guess it is being hard-hearted that has been an important part of NZ's Covid policy - that, and having a small population. The attached was taken last week; could be a few more on the beach this coming week as there are camping sites nearby and the school holidays are starting.
Great to hear that you are all managing to keep in touch with family and friends, and even meet with some of them. So far I haven't made it to Wellington to see Toby and his family; I guess I'm a bit nervous about the cleanliness of planes, given that they are being used to ferry returning folk to and from isolation destinations, and I'd hate to think I'd picked up the virus as I travelled to see them.
Speaking of picking up the virus, you probably already know all of this, but I gather there is now acceptance that the virus can survive in aerosols for some time; nice snippet from a physicist with specialist knowledge of the dynamics of aerosols that Covid has also been found in pooh, so it is important to avoid creating aerosols in the bathroom by ensuring that the lavatory seat is down when you flush... is this too much sharing? ... try telling that to a newly toilet-trained tot...
Love the Barnard Castle updates, Val, and congratulations on the 50th, Jane - yours was a lovely wedding. Good to hear that you are well looked after when Juliana takes a break, Margaret. I envy you the interesting tasks you pick up to keep your mind-working, Sylvia; far more stimulating than enrolling folk into pottery classes!
Stay well, everyone -
Love
Sue
Sylvia 27 September 2020
Thanks Jane for pointing us to the Sherborne School website, where there’s the photo of John. Despite the white hair, he would have been instantly recognisable anywhere.
A friend came round yesterday evening and we got a fit of the giggles when I mentioned my abiding memory of a couple of lectures we had outside on the lawn at Claremont Crescent. I think they probably didn't include the scientists, but I might be wrong. As always, John sat in the middle of the front row, blocking the view of some of us behind, but allowing us to see how his chair gradually sank into the lawn under his weight. Anyone else would have stood up and moved the chair to more solid ground, but John sat stubbornly on while the rest of us tried hard not to laugh. There was more than one instance of this and on one of them, one bit of lawn must have been softer than the rest, and he sank lopsidedly, still refusing to stand up until he was in danger of falling off. If John had been the class clown, we could have laughed out loud, but as it was, handkerchiefs in mouths was the order of the day. Sadly, I can't remember who the lecturer was or what their reaction was. Maybe someone else can?
Sue, thank you for your sympathy with our situation in the UK. I sometimes feel as though I'm sitting on a spinning top, waiting to see which way it will be pointing when it stops. As I type, our choir practices are on again, but given that we aren't due to meet until Wednesday, things might have changed yet again by then! If we do meet, we will have to wear masks for the whole session which can't last more than one hour and we will have to wear our coats as all doors and windows in the lecture hall will have to be open. It should make for an interesting sound!
Jane, it looks as though Covid has come to the university. I hope the students around you aren't affected, particularly Hermann, who sounds the typical polite German. Let's hope the Apfelkuchen keeps coming!
Vally, I loved your description of visitors to Barnard Castle doing the Dominic Cummings thing. At least something good is coming out of it, if only locally!
Keep up the messaging, folks. Love to all, Sylvia
Jane 27 September 2020
I did wonder about writing a letter of condolence to the School asking for it to be passed on to any family, but in light of what Margaret said, perhaps not! I had forgotten all about the sinking seat episodes - presumably summer so I might hunt out my diary for that term and see if it is recorded.
Glorious sunshine today and St Andrews was very busy, not with students but with visitors of all ages who have idea how to behave. I feel sorry for the students as the majority are being sensible, but we are enjoying the lack of noisy parties locally.
Gin time now!
Love to all
Jane
Janet 9 October 2020
Dear All
Sorry for the long "absence" but, back in July I was too bursting with happy news about our grandchildren to dare setting fingers to keyboard as Jane had declared she might explode if anyone mentioned any such thing. And then other stuff happened. However, Jane has now seen some of her family so it may be safe to report that we had a brief but happy socially distanced get-together with our daughter and family on 1st August at the home of our son and daughter in law in Woking.
My daughter Penny and family had been due to visit us in April but lock-down had prevented that so they had re-booked for October and abandoned any thoughts of their usual July visit, instead going to nearby France for a self-catering holiday in a rural holiday-let with private indoor pool. But then Penny suddenly realised that everything might be locked down again come October and that it wasn't really very far from where they were staying to the Eurotunnel and from there to her brother Peter's house and so it might be nice to have a family get-together on 1st August in anticipation of her 50th birthday on 3rd August. We weren't sure if Pete and Ali would agree to this as Ali had recently had surgery on her neck (to release a trapped nerve) and so they were still shielding her very conscientiously - as they had been for months whilst waiting for the op. However, it was agreed it could be done if we all took very stringent precautions. No-one was to enter the house (other than Pete and Ali themselves, obviously). Instead, we were to travel down in Dora, our campervan, which has all necessary on-board facilities, stopping only for contactless fuel purchases, and to use the side gate for access to their back garden. Penny and family were to stay in a Travelodge nearby and to use Pete & Ali's own motorhome, Caspar, with full on-board facilities, as their base for the visit and access the back garden through the gate between the house and the garage. We were all to wear masks and/ or face-shields except when eating and to make copious use of hand gel and our own hand-washing facilities. There was more besides but I think that gives the idea!
They had spent the week setting out socially distanced tables and chairs under gazebos and tarpaulins and we had all put in our orders ahead of time for a fish, chip and/ or burger take-away so no-one would have to cook. Plus there was a birthday cake. So we (or, rather, John) drove all the way to Woking and back in one day for a five-hour get-together with son & daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law and three grandsons, with no hugging (not even by means of individual duvet cover PPE), and a chance to wish Penny a happy 50th birthday in person. But it was sooo worth it. And even more so now that their October trip has had to be cancelled, too. Pen and her boys, having driven so far, did have a bit longer with Pete and Ali - they went back next morning for brunch and a bike-ride before setting off home to Switzerland. They were also able to collect some Christmas presents from all of us and some birthday presents for Philip, who will be 15 next week, just in case this was our last chance to give them. Who knows when visits will be possible again.
Apart from missing visits with family and friends, we have been doing fine and, like everyone else, have been keeping busy in the garden and having Zoom meetings and Skype sessions with family, friends and fellow U3A-ers. Sadly, there have been two funerals to attend. Whilst these have not been directly attributable to Covid 19, we feel that both deaths were hastened by it due to lack of normal social contact with family and friends. One was in a Covid-free nursing home not allowing visitors and the other was living independently but alone in a large house and ended up in hospital with dehydration which we felt was due to not having friends popping in and not having the usual trips out to the shops nor even the weekly visit from the cleaner cum carer due to shielding on both sides.
Lets hope they can get the testing and the track and trace system sorted so that everyone except those actually infected or in quarantine can get back to a more normal life. But, meanwhile we'll be staying at home as much as we can and trying to stay safe.
Do keep sending your news as it's lovely to know how everyone is getting along. Love, Janet.
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