20May1995

London: 20th May 1995
My dear folks,

Seven p.m. - munching a brown bread (no marge or butter) & cheese (low-fat) sandwich & sipping a glass of mellow Rioja. (I have taken careful note of a study which found that wine drinkers live longer than either non-drinkers or imbibers of other alcoholic drinks.) Mavis lies in the passage. The vet said he was not to go out for a day or two. He doesn't know that & can't understand why I ignore the pantomime of his little sprints for the door each time I move. It's a pleasant evening. Nothing dazzling, but nice enough to leave the patio door ajar.

I've another lazy day to report & I've enjoyed it hugely. I rose late again (nearly finished the book now - and losing enthusiasm for it), missing Jones's first call of the day. After a fiddle about on the computer morning, I took myself off for a stroll around the neighbourhood (missing Jones's second call about (her brother-in-law) Ced having his pocket picked at the gypsy market & losing the car keys. Was that all? And have you obtained a replacement set?)

I stopped off at a cafe half-way to buy a loaf of my favourite thick-cut brown bread. On an impulse, I also bought a slab of chocolate (never mind the size) which I munched contentedly on the way home, stopping off for 30 mins at the sports ground to watch a cricket match. At home, I settled down in front of the TV to watch the football cup final, only to fall fast asleep for most of it, Mavis equally fast asleep on my lap. Since then I've had a word with a friend in Jhb, Gary Edwards, who's due over soon, about hotels he might patronise in Paris.

The computer, which never lies, informs me that I have won 195 games of FreeCell & lost 95, a strike rate of 67%. I reckon I've got the hang of the wretched thing now, although I still run into games occasionally which require 4 or 5 restarts before I can figure them out. Worse than the plague!

It's back to work tomorrow. I shall return in good health after one of the most recuperating of weeks (if you will allow the phrase) I can recall. I shall have to do some serious catching up on my region. It's been busy in my absence, with a split rending the ruling Congress Party in India & all kinds of developments in the Far East (known these days as the Asia Pacific region). British news is dominated by the continuing debate over the Nolan Committee report on parliamentary reforms. Conservative Party MPs are fiercely resisting proposals which would see their income from outside activities publicised & the activities themselves restricted. Mr Major, who set up the Nolan Committee himself after a series of embarrassing revelations about MPs' financial sidelines, is now caught between its recommendations & his MPs.

The Lottery will be drawn shortly. If I discover that I have suddenly joined the Millionaires Club you may expect another fax this evening. In fact, I might just fly out to give you the news myself. Aware as I am, however, of the 14m-to-1 chances, I am not counting any lottery chickens. Still, it's something to look forward to each week.