Well. I needed this week. Haven’t had such a week for a long time.
Sure I sent some invoices and drew up a very shiny pitch, but mostly I sat in the garden in my blacks talking to the animals.
I don’t know how long it is since I last saw Liz and Luke. It’s kinda weird that I’m living in their house having not seen them. She was in London a couple of weeks ago doing her show at The Finborough and I was busy busy busy too busy. I bought a ticket but ended up not being able to use it. I thought I’d get up on Sunday night but actually it made more sense to get up Monday. So I’m here with their guinea pigs and their friendly cat. She’s only little.
And they’ve got this family house with a massive garden for me to kick around in. I have been putting my feet up. Literally. Letting my heel recover so I can walk next week. I’ve been driving to get my morning coffee and it is just up the road.
Next weekend I’ll have to leave before they get back.
Liz was doing The Odyssey back when we did it in Oxford. That was 2013. I haven’t actually seen a great deal of her since then which is frightening to contemplate.
I don’t think she has any idea how much I needed this break. I can feel myself coming back together in isolation. I spent a formative time in my early twenties kicking around Eyreton. I’d sit in various rooms, maybe go out on a mackerel boat, make fish pie, light a fire, knock about the snooker table… Again now I’m alone in a house that’s too big for me, and it feels strangely normal.
It’s great they trusted me. They sent a few videos. “Here’s how to keep the dishwasher open”. “These are the bins and the days you put them out” – (I missed that so I’m having to be clever with my own rubbish).
Next week I’ll be a bit more active. I couldn’t be much less. But this week was for what I’ve done. Absolute stopping. Achieved. And such a glorious place to do it. And my foot is fine. Bodies are incredible things.
