August 6 was Andrew’s 70th birthday, and of course we weren’t there. I did however get in touch with Minster Lodge and arrange for a present to be delivered. They made sure he had a celebration. In Canada it was still warm but breezy, and I walked round Palmer Circle before it started raining at about 3pm. Meanwhile Roger was giving an art lesson to Amy who, by the time they left yesterday, had produced a pretty good still life – unfinished, but well on its way.
I finished About the Size of the Universe and started the book David had given me as a present, The Three-Body Problem – a Chinese sci-fi epic. Am now about a third of the way through. Really original and thought-provoking. Roger thought it might be a detective novel.
On Tuesday Dot and I went with Roger to Bolton, where we withdrew enough cash to pay Barbara for the Niagara tickets. We also paid for the wine and accompanied Roger with the food shopping. Nothing much happened after that, but I went in the pool for the second time and remembered how to swim. I didn’t do it; I just remembered it. Watched an episode of Gilmore Girls that we’d already seen.
Heavy rain yesterday. Barbara decided we were all going to the Mall, but then made the mistake of going to the farm shop, and during her absence we revised her scenario. As a result, following a fried late breakfast Dot, Amy and Sophie went to the Mall with Barbara, and the rest of us stayed here. It cleared up during the afternoon (though there were downpours and flooding in Toronto), and I walked to the mailbox with Roger, David, Chrissy, Oliver and Seth. No phone, and we walked the long way back. I was unexpectedly tired. Talked to David about the future. More rain here later.
In a bizarre twist I received an e-mail from Margaret Blackman, who I used to work with at the BGEA, and who is now Maggie Rome. She was contacting me to see if I was the same person. I assured her I was, but I haven’t heard any more. Earlier I wrote my tenth poem since we came to Canada – about David Coomes and Kristine, called Since You Left. Last night watched Page Eight, a movie by David Hare starring Bill Nighy and Rachel Weisz. Very good. Quite late in bed.