I think I shall call this picture Stalks. I took it up on what I believe is known as the Old Library Park, about 50 yards away up the hill. There’s some kind of campaign going on to improve the area: we’ve been asked for suggestions. The poppies may indicate that the locals are trying to grown opium, or they may be natural. I didn’t mention them. In my opinion the Old Library Park is vastly improved by having Oliver and Amy in it, but I didn’t mention that either.

Yesterday and today have both been very warm, and I feel pretty tired after having been out in it. Last evening we picked up Stephanie and went to Claxton Opera, about 8-10 miles along country lanes. As I may have mentioned before, the theatre is actually in a house, and this year they are putting on The Threepenny Opera. At first I thought I was going to be disappointed, but it got going after about 20 minutes and turned out to be quite successful. Oddly, they split it into two, with about an hour and a half before the interval and less than half an hour after. There was the usual minor irritation of having to wait for a minibus afterwards, but we got talking to Hereward and Diana Cooke.

Pretty exhausted after we got home, but still didn’t sleep particularly well. Nonetheless we went into the city this morning to buy a couple of things and pay in a cheque, staying on for an early lunch at Caffee Italia. Flaked out on the bed after getting home, but made the mistake of putting a video on – Enemy of the State – which proved to be so compulsive I didn’t doze off as I had intended. Halfway through Liz D called for a cup of tea, and now Dot has gone to Sainsbury’s in anticipation of the Coomes’ visit on Sunday.