This For That

Enforced idleness does not suit me, not at all. I rage at my smitten body which won't let me walk more than a few steps without having to sit down. My legs are filled with builders' rubble, my head is a hive of angry bees, and my energy levels sit in a crack in the floor. I go hot and cold, take wrappings off and then put them on again, but I have neither a sore throat nor a chesty cough, so it could be worse. There, I've got that over and done with. Kind Sue from the prettily named Sweetbriar Barn down the lane took Hugo for a walk in the field after she had read the lesson in church yesterday. He went with her reluctantly, turning to look back every two steps, but she encouraged him and before long he was enjoying himself. Later Ruth came over with some shopping for me, and before she left in the evening she too took him for a walk, letting him off the lead when they were a good way from the house. I watched him start back, but she galloped ahead calling to him and again he got the message and raced after her. Watching from an upstairs window I suddenly saw him streak across the field beyond the one they were walking in, heading towards Bannock Lane. I imagined her consternation, and rushed to the car to drive down and head him off, or at least safely catch him. But my car was blocked by hers, so I had to rummage around in her bag to find her keys before setting off. When I got down the lane all was quiet, and to my amazement I spotted the two of them, him now on the lead, heading towards me along the edge of the field. How the hell had she got him back so quickly? She was quite unperturbed and he was gleeful, so I returned home and lay down to recover. Two wonderful walks, and he was happy to crash out too.

Sammy phoned today with incredulity to ask if I'd seen the email from Jeremy who organises the ushers at Snape. He has invited the two of us to train as "Front of House", the super-ushers who run the whole show in pairs when there's a performance on. In his email he told us how senior Snape people had been "impressed by our competence and commitment", and despite our relative newness in the job he felt we were eminently suitable for promotion. Well! This despite nearly ruining the evening a few months ago with our over-diligence. It's very flattering, and we're going to think about it. But I fear it will be too much for me now that I have Hugo. Leaving him for five or six hours at a time would be asking too much of the little chap I think. Still, it's nice to be asked.

I'm finally engrossed in The Essex Serpent which I struggled to get into at first. It's Sarah Perry's second book, and she's a natural. The story has undertones of the French Lieutenant's Woman, and Possession too, and it's thrilling, engaging and beguiling. Her imagination is rich and far-sighted, as is mine, but to match that with the ability to tell a story and write it well is a gift I envy above all others. Well, all others apart from having a wonderful voice. And a talent for a musical instrument like a cello. And maybe a brilliant facility with languages. And I wouldn't mind a mathematical brain too which could easily cope with the laws of physics - astro, quantum, particle, I wouldn't mind. Thank goodness for writers like her who allow you to lose yourself in a world of make-believe, especially when you're confined to quarters.

Tha day started chill but it's warm and still now. Hugo and I are curled up as usual on the sofa in the garden room with an open door letting in the fresh air, and the sun just disappearing behind the hedge. At times like these I am thankful that the dog I ended up with is a couch potato who likes nothing better than to sleep, as long as his few essential needs have been met. I'm going to dwell on that positive, and try not to think about the wasted day when I could have achieved so much in the garden in these ideal conditions. Is that what you call quid pro quo? I think so.