Grateful: Day 19

I tap-danced today. Grateful to be saying yes to such random things, even though I expected to dance like a buffalo. Well, I was no gazelle, but it wasn't all bad. I had a lovely time, and it was a lot of fun. Taught by a Portuguese woman, in German. She was very sweet and very funny.

This morning, I was overcome with gratitude to have a triple dose of Esther Lilley and a great meeting with her and Rob Grundel. It's such a tasty blessing when a work meeting feels like a pleasure and a game. I had a lovely time. We were at work. And it was on Skype. To me, that's still a bit like being in Star Trek. I love it.

And then I got to have nearly an hour of Lilley face-time. I'm in Germany, and I get to go to her house through Skype and see her face and hear what's going on. Lordy, I've missed her over this last week or two. She does my soul good, she really does.

I've had the concentration of a gnat today. Nothing going on up there. Just nothing. And I had a fabulous night's sleep. No reason for such intense head-empty vaguenesses. None. But I woke up to a faceful of big white dog. Stella is a real delight. She makes me smile every single time. She's tall and excitable. She is almost offensively soft. She delights me with her doggishness. When she's happy, she comes in specially to show it off like a school trophy. She loves to be teased. She likes to be taken seriously, though it's hard, what with all that fluff.

I still wouldn't choose a long-haired dog, but if one presented itself, I think I'd be fine with it. And there's always clippers. Would the RSPCA do you for shaving your dog? I suppose they could, but how would that sit with what people do with poodles? They get proper haircuts and colours.

I've decided to have another haircut. I don't like it now, when I look at this hair. I'm not traumatised - but the guy didn't do a very good job. Not surprised, what with doing it with only one hand so he could grope around with the other. I have a laughable twist in one side and the lengths are all wrong.

Sandra's shower is a little slice of heaven too. Hot and powerful. I could just stay in there and steam. Sandra is such a gift too, and i'm so grateful for her hospitality, which is really allowing me to be here.

I rode my hired bike around a bit today. Oh dear me - it's got back-pedal brakes. It's a fucking liability, is what it is. I have nearly brained myself about 15 times already. Every time I flick the pedal back so I can start my push-off, I come off the saddle and fall. This is the one and only time I'm grateful for a ladybike. See - things could be worse.

I do have to be careful, though. I'll try and keep off the big roads. They don't do helmets here either. I did ask. They're just for kids, and the hire place doesn't do them anyway. I knew I should have brought mine. I'd have no shame if I could get hold of one. I'll just have to be super-careful.

I stood under another tree full of little birds today. It was a smaller, sparser tree than the one I stared up into yesterday, so I saw more birds. They could have been chaffinches or tits and there were some on every branch and behind every leaf. They were enormously singy and very pleasing. I wonder what on earth they had to chat about. I do hope it was scandal.