Saturday, and so of course, it’s raining in England: “cats and dogs”, according to my sources. But here it’s still hot and very dry, and the children have returned after a shorter-than-expected stay in Waterloo, where they took in a water park and a museum, among other things. Jackson and Oliver also went for a couple of 6am walks together, which is nice.
Our Thursday meal was excellent – an Italian restaurant on King Street – and featured a superb sour apple cocktail, as well as top-notch rack of lamb. More or less fell into bed when we got home, but I had a very bad night with plenty of acid threats, and woke up feeling pretty lousy. But things soon improved, even though the girls departed fairly early for a Toronto shopping spree. This turned out well, as Dot bought some very nice clothes. Meanwhile Roger and I went to the local golf club, Gleneagles, and took a bucket of balls each on to the driving range. I hit some surprisingly good shots, 150 yards and more, with a variety of clubs, including a driver and (my favourite) a 5-wood. Some nice pitches too, but of course some rubbish as well. If you can do it right once, why can’t you always do it right? My very first shot (a 3-iron) was a zinger. No, not a singer: Pearl’s a singer.
Afterwards we spent about an hour on the putting green, and I did reasonably well at that too. Much better than usual, anyway. Following evening meal, outside as always, we toyed with going into the pool, but after much hesitation, making of apricot tarts etc, decided to watch Inception. Very clever film, though I would have enjoyed it more if my left eye hadn’t been burning all the way through. Not sure why. Too much sun? Spraying for insects? Some kind of pollen? Anyway I slept much better, and it had practically gone when I got up this morning and took an early dip in the pool, while it was shady and quiet. Then, after a Lighthouse Cafè breakfast by the pool, the children returned – and eventually found us.
I have finished Nocturnes, and it was superb. Made me want to write short stories again. I am now reading a thriller Dot bought for me in Bolton.