Expectations

The nightingale did not return though I had half promised my visitors that it might. Instead we had unusually nice August bank holiday weather, and we made the most of it. When friends and family come to stay they always want to head to the coast, and these two couldn't wait to get into the sea for a swim. "It's lovely and warm," a young dad paddling at the edge of the water with his small son called enouragingly, but the swimmers did not agree. Freezing, was the verdict, but they are old hands at swmming in England's icy seas, rivers and pools, and they came out dripping but beaming from the rush of endorphins. We had walked down to the beach through Dunwich Heath, a lovely hike through the woods and the heather with a very nervous Hugo in tow. It was his first walk off the lanes since he was attacked, and he peed every few seconds, panting all the time. He relaxed a bit at the National Trust cafe where we enjoyed a proper cream tea, and he drank milk from a paper cup like a big boy. He was slightly better on the way back, but then barked aggressively at a small dog that got a bit too close and we had to apologise and explain to its owners. Oh dear, let this horrible incident not have changed my gentle, friendly little boy.

Disembodied seal

The picture of patience

Hot stone treatment

Yesterday they headed off to Dunwich beach proper for another masochistic swim while I invigilated a Michael Flint exhibition at Snape. I hadn't been expecting visitors when I put my name in this slot, but it was fine. While they spent a small fortune at the Westleton second-hand bookshop on the way home, I had to listen to the John Wilson Orchestra rehearsing their evening concert of Gershwin. I like most of the songs, they are very familiar and singable, but I honestly can't think of much worse than having to listen to the full blast of this orcheatra playing a 2-hour programme of such music. Every visitor who came to see the Flint etchings was happy to overhear their practice, but not me. "We're all different animals" one lovely man said wryly when he saw my expression as he commented rapturously. Yes indeed. Oh yes.