Sam arrives

Woke up having had a significant dream. I have had lots of work related dreams lately, but in this one I was happily handing over the job to a vague but pleasant newbie. My desk had two old and battered cupboards on it, one said Metaphor and the other Healthcare. I had a feeling of cheery release as I spoke to my replacement about what an interesting job it had been.

Both Lorraine and I rather sluggish after last night's reggae shenanigans. We sat in bed sipping tea for some time. An early text from Sam arrived saying he was travelling down today from Glasgow put Lorraine in a state of excitement. I also discovered my trousers had called Toby amid the fiercest of the skanking. L and I had breakfast, and did Wordle, which we do every morning over a boiled egg, I got it in two goes for the second time this week. Lorraine also does Murdle which is a murdery logic problem. 

Over breakfast I also learned I hadn't been placed in a recent tiny booklet competition by Hedgehog. I had convinced myself I would ace this. My two previous entries winning, and running up. It made me corral eight poems into publishable shape however, so still good. But a bite of a reality sandwich I had no appetite for. 

Then we pottered about in what remained of the morning, I illegally poured more water into the fishpond which is gasping. An article in the Guardian this morning asking if the UK is catastrophically running out of water. I spoke to Anton who had an incredibly painful first day, but is saying his meds are a bit better balanced now. 

Lorraine collected Pat and Maureen, and everyone sat outside in the garden. Then lots of highly varied salads, with everything from avocado to pickled mushrooms, Kenny farm cucumbers and tomatoes in it, with new boiled potatoes, prawns and salmon, which was extremely nice. Had a chat with Mum, who was expecting to go next door but wasn't sure so had to phone.

I then went for a  walk, as now my theory is to lose weight I need to do more exercise as well as getting to grips with the eating and drinking. My thinner periods in recent years often coinciding when I have been walking lots. My gym membership has lapsed, but before I rejoin, I am going to have a late summer and autumn of long walks every day. While not loads, I have walked 37 miles in the last seven days, which is better than nothing. My dodgy knee feels stronger for it too, and I'm listening to Tolkien's letters as I mooch.

At ten past eight Lorraine and I sauntered down to Seaford Station, and met Sam. We judged him in need of a swift pint having travelled so far, so we had one in Steamworks at the station, then home to feed him and chat. It is good to see him. He gets to meet his little nephew tomorrow.

Another snap of the strange wooden figure by a pathway gate, and looking again at a stone I picked up on the shore when we were staying in Bjerregård. It isn't seaglass I think, nor amber but I don't know enough about stones to say what it is. I was holding it up to the sun, and light can pass through it, so perhaps some sort of agate.