Day 271: What Are You Staring At?

The lady said to her friend: 'I won't be free then - I have to go home and toast the cat'. And her friend didn't flinch or laugh or anything. It was like she'd said 'I can't meet you at  3, I have to pick up the kids.' So of course, I asked, expecting her to laugh at me and say she'd said 'post the hat' or something equally explicable. But no, she had said what I heard her say. Her beloved cat had been put down four years before and on his anniversary every year, she gathers her friends and they toast him, with champagne, not marshmallow sticks and a bonfire. Apparently, it's quite a do, and much less sombre than it could be. Glad we cleared that one up, then. 


Yesterday was good because of good people, smooth transport (despite it being the first day of the Olympics) and the prospect of a lovely lie-in. The day before (oh,  I can't get away with lying, me) was really mixed - very very good, a little bit hard in places, blissful in others. I really liked the Olympic opening ceremony. I've never bothered to watch one before. Go, political Boyle... the NHS dance was brilliant, as were lots of other bits. I never expected any of it to be moving. I had a little weep, once or twice. 
I had a nice dose of Steve Wheeler after a blissful dose of the pond on Friday evening. Just a gentle bit of heath and talk time. Nice. Good on you, Mr W. Good stuff. I love that place, too. Even if I'm a little bit gently pensive, it's a soothing spot.


Been back there today, with my beloved Pudding. A walk mostly in the dry - a wander from Spaniards whatsit end to Hampstead Heath station bit, with only a flurry of rain at the very end as we got up to the top of Parliament Hill. We had chance to have a proper talk. Walking does good, just generally. To my bones, to my mind, to everything, really. And such a good friend. Oh, yes. 

I've been less productive than I wanted to be today, but I'm getting to the stage of packing. I'll be on a plane to Australia (via Abu Dhabi) this time on Tuesday. Wow. That's quite big, isn't it. And goodness, there's a lot to do before that!  Better get some sleep, then.