Sam sets off

Up for a bit of writing, then out to pick pears to slice into our breakfast yoghurt and seeds and nuts. Beth also arrived with Enzo, who was very cute (see below). I squeezed in a bit of writing, and chatting to Luke who was grinding out mortar between bricks in preparation for repointing them. Later in the day I discovered that he had not brought his mask with him, and couldn't be bothered to get one. I shudder to think of him breathing that dust all day. 

Fond farewells to Sam setting off for the great trek north. It had done us all good to see him. Lorraine, sad he had to go so soon, sped him to Lewes, and then spent the afternoon at Beth's house. 

I did some more murdering of darlings on the shorter version of the collection. This against the background disruption of wall grinding, like the sound of having your teeth cleaned at the dentist. As for the collection, I still have not landed on a name that I am completely convinced about. 

The weather turned cooler, though still humid. Gloomy articles in the Guardian about the earliness of the fruit crop, and trees shedding their parched leaves. Freakishly low rainfall this year. 

Towards the end of the afternoon, as Luke was packing up, I went for a long walk in the company of Tolkien and his pedantic, prickly, occasionally moving and thoughtful letters. Home at 6:30pm and Lorraine had already commenced cooking a delicious chickpea curry. I watered the celeriacs from the water butts, and then scarfed the curry hungrily.

Below a snap of a peaceful baby Enzo this morning.