26May1996

My dear folks,

A grimy, grey Sunday afternoon with a trail of uprooted estate agents’ signs sprawled across the pavement & a mess of sodden litter proclaiming human indifference to the environment. I nipped up to the cafe for some fresh bread & milk, taking my turn in line behind yucky people in yucky clothes buying yucky cigarettes. There’s a certain depressing realism about Maida Vale on such long weekends as reminds me of the Christmas blues. I was happy to retreat back to the flat to keep an eye on the golf, drop you a line & make final preparations for Portugal.

Thank you mother & Jones for your faxes which were curled up on the floor when I came downstairs at lunchtime. It was a good night, as they go, busyish with events in Burma at dawn as Aung San Suu Kyi stuck up two fingers (or is it one these days) at the military junta. We were also concerned with the continuing army mutiny in the Central African Republic & events similarly distant from your worlds. I put together a package on the American Christian movement known as the Promise Keepers, weird right-wing male reaction to feminism.

Cath, we knew Mandela was in Germany but while his address to parliament was carried on the BBC’s World Services, it didn’t get much domestic coverage. The media here are too full of road rage incidents & crackdowns on football nasties ahead of the European championships. I’m popping an article on multimedia education for children in the post to you, following on your thoughts during your visit.

I had a fax as well from Chris, Barbara’s nephew who is working as a QS in Guyana & is battling wet weather, wicked potholes, mozzies & breakdowns. He’s a long way from anywhere & hasn’t found it easy going, amid machine problems, third world problems & management problems - a reminder, if I needed one, of how brown the grass can be on the other side of the fence. I continue to count my blessings - not the least among them, missing frantic news days on Monday/Tuesday (when I shall be working nights) & Wednesday when, God willing, I’ll be recovering. The Israeli election is going to get wall to wall coverage. God has a bad intervention record where the Jews are concerned - post Old Testament, at least - but I hope He’s backing Peres. Netanyahu just ain’t my cup of tea.

Mum, I didn’t know that Mavis’s letters had crept across the Atlantic but I know he would be pleased to learn that you enjoyed them. He’s getting quite Dr R Sole(ish) if cats can be so allowed. By the way if ever Alan is having troubles with his Internet Service Provider, do let me know so that I can fax you instead of emailing him. I spent the best part of an hour earlier in the week talking to a couple of helplines myself, sorting out problems arising from a corrupted file. Generally speaking, I have been less adventurous on the computer of late than is my wont - largely pressed by time - & it has continued to work hard & behave impeccably. I’d be lost without it. The upgraded microprocessor I installed has speeded up its performance & kept it within grasping distance of the more powerful technology emerging all the time.

When I win the lottery, I’ll buy one that makes even Conal’s look outdated. If ever. Certainly wasn’t last night. Blessings..............T