I seem to have written a post yesterday without any photos. I’ve posted without titles before but this is a new low in memory tricks. So much for speed and progress.

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to maintain the pace but I do have a few more things done and am certainly going to be moving forward at a reasonable rate.  Whether the quality will be good enough is, as usual, a different matter. As is the question of if I am already outdated, and have been overtaken by new fashions in writing haibun. I fear this may be the case. No matter how beautifully I may be able to write (and I still have plenty of improvements to make in that sphere) if I’m not writing what editors have decided the public want to see, I won’t be published. I must  move with the times, or move to writing about medallions, or possibly change the fashion.

Today has been partly taken up with leisurely meals (cereal and toast and conversation at breakfast) and avocado on toast without the conversation (but with much manipulation of patchily under-ripe avocados) at lunch. Julia was playing a CD at lunch. I’m not a fan of the CD she was playing – some fusion jazz/soul/lift music stuff, and I’m not a fan of music as background noise, so I ate, washed up and hid back in the office.

She tracked me down with her list of jobs.

Later she went out for a walk and took these pictures under a bridge. I remember when the bridge wasn’t there. We did cross-country along the lane and I found Roman pottery whilst field walking. All history now – both my youth and the Romans . . .

For tea we had pork steaks with roasted potatoes, carrots, parsnips and leeks, and a few boiled green beans. It was reasonable in terms of health and economy.

And that is my day in retirement – plain food, nostalgia and Julia’s list of jobs. I am now going to do more writing before going to bed.

In the late afternoon, Julia called mr through as she thought there was something odd about the squirrel. It was bald on the tail and climbed to the flat feeding areas on the bird feeding station rather than the feeders – leaping up instead of scampering down the pole.

Then it disappeared under the fence – back to next door where I suspect there is a lot of bird food scattered about. I hate rats, but at least with rats there is no messing. I’m going to give it a chance to relocate, using repellent spray, grease and bricks in the hole. Then I am turning to extreme measures.

This link explains about the venue, though not the pictures. However, the organisers and the council are to be commended for their hard work and ambition. And it’s not often you will hear me praising a council or a modern music event.