Mandarin! Mandarin ducks. Not mandrakes. Thank you, Corinna, for pointing that out with such gentle grace. Mandrakes are hallucinogenic roots with all sorts of mythologies attached to them, and they're big in Harry Potter. This morning was the first day back to the pond for two days. It was quite warm on the way and the water was forgiving. Tomorrow is my last opportunity to say goodbye to the far end of the pond, as the halfway barrier will go up at the weekend, when the clocks go back.
The far end is where the mandarin ducks (ha!) hang out quite a lot, and there's a branch up there where the kingfisher sits after one of his flits close to the water (there's discussion about the fact that we don't know at all if he's a he or a she, but most people seem to him him).
I was thinking about the kingfisher this morning.
In fact, I was thinking about Jean, who hasn't been at the pond for a month or so. She was part of my staple diet of very funny women when I first started and definitely someone I always looked forward to seeing. Jean's irreverence and humour please me very much. And she's seen more theatre than most people will see in a lifetime. She's in her eighties and she looks about twelve... Well, a lot younger than she is, anyway. I remember her story about getting cautioned for 'swimming without supervision' a few months ago, and her wicked glint.
Jean always says that it's a good day if you've seen the kingfisher... but only if she's seen it. If it's just you, it doesn't count. I was thinking about this as I reached the far end of the pond today, and about the fact that I haven't seen him for three weeks or so. And suddenly, there he was. In fact, I saw him, lost him and saw him again four or five times. He was all over the place and he really is just beautiful.That counts as a brilliant day, Jean. I see him for you... I'm beaming it up and hoping some of it hits you.
I was beaming as I walked back across the heath. Really smiling all big. I walked a different way and felt decadent. I smiled at everyone. It's not just the water, or the light, or the translucent sheen on the back of the crow/raven/rook birds I see, or the jays, or the ladies. It's all of that and the ritual too. I feel in rude good health and happy with it.
I made myself laugh on the way back. Walking my different way, I decided to go down a path I'd never go on my bike (because it's not allowed and I am reasonably well-behaved on that front), only to find that it was a dead end full of parky business - compost, fence posts, gravel. And what came out of my mouth, out loud, in the clearest, crispest tones of RP? "Oh," I said, "Is it?". A ridiculous utterance in any accent, but really!
I miss Ruth at the pond. I like so much to see her face there in the mornings, and she's only there at weekends. As I'll be in Germany from Thursday morning, I'll miss her all this week and all next week too. Bum, that's all I have to say. Bum.
I really do want a dog, I decided this morning. It's not news, obviously. But I do. Of course I wouldn't take one on in my current situation - changing where I'm living every few weeks, single and travelling often, out most of the day most days - but when I can, I will.
In the meantime, I want a dog on an alternative basis. I'd like a neighbour with a Great Dane, please, or a friend with a Viszla. Or a partner with a Weimaraner or a scruff-faced mongrel (short-haired, mind, or there'll be shaving on the menu). A partner would be nice too, but first things first.
This lunchtime's show was a gift, not least because of the ridiculous warm-up. There were three of us, so most of our games were redundant, but we slammed on through and laughed a lot. And then we did a show. There was a hiccup at the start as a child was scared when she saw me in a mask. Her mother was very angry and determined to stop the show from going ahead.
We went ahead in the end, though, and our only challenge was getting the children (some older, some younger than the frightened girl) to stay back. They crowded round the masks, shouted things out, joined in and loved Will's mask, Joe (who doesn't love Joe? I think I have a crush!). It was a great success. Alex and Will, you were ridiculous, divine and delightful. Great show.
I love that I get to play so often. Tomorrow, we'll do a 2-person impro show, Will and I. Lord knows if there'll be an audience. I hope so. And I'm sure we'll have a laugh. Maybe Joe will come back. Here's hoping. He doesn't have a dog, though.
Steaming on through my day as the countdown to midnight approaches. Kate came home from Mexico and it was wonderful to see her face and talk and laugh. And I got a dose of Pudding in a cafe in Acton (where there's a secret pool table in the back and lots of smiling Polish women that run it - quite a find).
And some good news, and a chat with Our Face, my sister in Sheffield. It's all right... no elision. This is all right.
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