under another sun

Mum's eightieth birthday today, so I felt sad not to be able to see her in person to celebrate. However with the pandemic raging away, there is no option. We chatted for an hour this morning, and during the day she received flowers from Toby and Romy, and more flowers from Lorraine and I, and had lots of messages and phone calls and presents, so I suppose it could have been a far worse.  Lorraine went in to work to let a workman in, as her premises manager had broken her wrist some time before Christmas. Lorraine enjoyed the peace of a quiet school to do filing and other tasks uninterrupted. She also wait to hear the Government's health secretary's latest tightening of pandemic restrictions. Secondary schools are having their opening delayed, but not primary schools at present. I fervently wish they would. I went for a long walk partially retracing my steps from yesterday's jaunt, and had a healthy walk around Wild Park. I had made noodles with miso soup before I went, ...

Lolling about in the lull between Christmas and New Year Lorraine and I drove off this afternoon to Stanmer Park, and as there were no places to walk, to Wild Park not far from it. We met Rosie and Innis, and walked through the woody bits, and scrambled up a steep hill to the circular pond I usually arrive at from a different angle. We walked in pairs for most of the walk, so were trying to be as legal as possible. Pippi the dog wearing a fetching little green coat, and is becoming quite a well behaved little dog these days. Home to hot coffee in the car.  A long chat with Toby tonight, home briefly after a trip to Deviation Road. He and Romy are heading back soon to be there for new year too. What better place to be?

Wild park Another stunningly beautiful autumn day. Lorraine and I went in search of trees and drove to nearby Wild Park. Sadly best known locally as the place the bodies of two young girls were discovered 25 years ago. There is a little memorial to them there. Otherwise it is lovely built around a small valley with a football pitch in it, and surrounded by tree-flanked downs. Lorraine and I scrambled up to the top of one of these and walked about in the woods, stopping in the cafe to sit on a veranda in the strong sun. Here we talked about Lorraine's career and the choices she has at the moment. Just to be somewhere different put these in good perspective. Phoned by Betty who had her training day at Chessington and was sensibly spending her lunch break with penguins. Felt lovely to be among trees again. At one point Lorraine stopped us and we could hear the papery rasp of leaves falling to the floor. As readers of this blog know, I am no hairy-chested adventurer, but I have always ...