Being a misanthrope

Cold nights, and beautiful sunny days. Wrote this morning, and having one of those days when I am feeling very positive about Gordon Road. Also sent off for Mason's death certificate, now finally available after the inquest, which took almost a year to get around to conducting. The registrar sent me a link for this after I wrote to them.  You have to pay for them: £12.50. Spoke to Mum this morning while I was finalising this.

World news continues to be unutterably horrible, and I feel very pessimistic. The likelihood of Russia invading Europe, China invading Taiwan and Trump doing yet more evil seem more likely by the day. I am consciously reducing my news consumption, rather like I did at the beginning of Covid. Doomscrolling only makes you feel utterly impotent.  

To the gym at lunchtime, where I pushed myself a bit. Walking home I was phoned by the doctor's office saying they needed to tweak my blood pressure pills as my latest readings were still high. This made me feel anxious as if I were about to explode at any point. New meds at the end of the week should help.

A quick snack with Lorraine, after she returned from her personal trainer, and seeing Penny, and then we went around to Steve's where we had another Shakespeare night with Patrick and Adele. Today: Timon of Athens. Yet another Shakespeare play I knew nothing about. The over generous Timon is exploited by his friends, and when he falls on hard times, is not helped by them. Financially ruined, and in an epic flounce, he goes to live in a cave. He finds gold immediately, but then does not use it to change his circumstances, and is a lively misanthrope until he dies. I picked the role of Timon out of the hat, so read a good deal of the play.

Steve served some really tasty and very healthy food including Mediterranean aubergines, and pomegranate and chickpeas and home made flatbreads, and a bowlful of lamb balls flavoured with mace, and a delicious and fiery carrot salad. A cheery gathering. Lorraine and I mooched home happily, looking at the stars. 

Timon finding his gold, which he then buries and later gives away to help destroy Athens.