Category: August

Nice to see Daphne yesterday though I feel awkward about meeting people in person nowadays–it’s too intensive–takes all one’s energy and concentration. I’m so used to short bursts of video calling or having time between written messages to reply. Found it hard to concentrate and respond properly. Or to give her a proper turn when speaking: I found myself doing the conversational sin of waiting for her to stop talking to reply.

Picnic with Kellens yesterday in the grassy area in front of their house: Helen unable to settle because James kept running into the road. Spiky thorns everywhere and fruit from the thorn tree dropped on us. James stepped in, then rolled a ball over, his mother’s plate. Wind blew an empty toilet roll onto us. Pete stepped on one of the spiny branches and failed to catch James running into the street to Helen’s dismay. Rohan became enthralled with a ‘tame’ fox who’s been visiting their neighbourhood and apparently stole some shoes from inside the house. The neighbour child Holly has been feeding it, evidently. Not a very relaxing experience but they seemed delighted for me about Edinburgh. Helen said she’d consider it as one of the few places outside London she’d be willing to live.