Eventually I got in the car. Two hours only this time back down to the woods. Last time traffic pushed it to almost six.
Now here I am in the peace and quiet. It is very odd being here without Lou. I keep almost saying things to her before I remember she’s back in Brighton with Tessy.
The cat mum is more a friend of Lou than of mine. I was pleased and surprised when I was asked to do this. When I first came down Lou jumped in with me and we had the first few days here together. It was lovely nesting here. It rained pretty much constantly so we stayed in and caught quick walks in the windows. It helped give me the ease I sometimes can’t find when I’m in somebody else’s home. It takes me ages to let myself cook in an unfamiliar kitchen, usually. In digs I’ll often blow way too much of my fee on takeaways rather than risk someone who loses their shit if you cook eggs in the fish pan or whatever. Here I’m already in the habit of cooking. I feel comfortable using the pots.
When I rolled in this evening the first thing I did after checking the cats was make dinner, and now I’m just remembering the quiet and contemplating an early bed.
The cats, of course, are fine. They’ve had someone else looking after them the last few days and really, with access to the outside world, they’d both probably manage if nobody was here. It’s nice for them to have company though. Someone to bring dead mice to. Someone to put down easy food and easy water and stroke them while talking nonsense.
Hopefully I’ll be able to settle here now until she’s back, and get some writing done. There’s plenty of stuff backed up and this peaceful place feels like a possibility at getting it squared off. I’ve got my iPad and Steamdeck and Kindle with me so it’s not like I won’t have the option of distraction. But with structured days next week I should get back home with less hanging over me.
AlBarclay 