under another sun

Swings and roundabouts Finally the summer returned with a beautiful hot day. I woke up conscious next week is a big one for me. Once up though, my desktop computer did not start this morning with what appears to be a terminally doomed hard disk. Immensely depressed by this. Thank God though that I recently did a massive back up. However will have lost everything I have been working on for the last couple of weeks, and God knows how long this is going to take to sort out. Off to Lorraine's to, as Lorraine put it grimly, fill some ant holes. I briefly envisaged thousands of microscopic operation but I soon found myself up a ladder plugging two tiny holes from which ants are entering Lorraine's house. Lorraine not too happy with these ants and inflicting death on them at every opportunity. Anna and Anton and the bairns came by and we went to Preston Park, looked in the pond for newts and fish, had ice lollys and sat chatting in the packed playground. I was called upon to push both...

A trapped bird A cup of tea in bed this morning, as Lorraine had been driven across town to my bed by invading ants. Up and working early. Appalled by Calliope who crept in behind me into my study, to release a bird. It then flew at the window and Calliope sprang after it before I'd even had a chance to put my cup down. Much roaring at the cat, and ferreting out the sparrow which had found a tiny niche next to my paper reams. Managed to tip the poor thing out onto my window ledge where it hopped about and flew off, apparently not too much the worse for wear. There is something really disturbing about having a bird in your room. Calliope in disgrace afterwards, but was more resentful than contrite, and was later climbing in the airing cupboard: a forbidden zone so was in trouble again. Forced to get a ladder to remove her. Relations were cool in the afternoon. Ant updates from Lorraine today: she has been murdering them. Otherwise a quiet day for me. Pressed on with a few bits of ad...