5May1996

My dear folks,

Today’s accompaniment if Dvorak’s New World Symphony. It follows Handel’s Fireworks Music - both suitable for a Sunday, don’t you think? A modest vodka & coke is lending its own flavour to the evening. How’s your day going? Mine started late. I woke at five, staggered to the bathroom - if only 12 hour bladders were available - went back to sleep & woke again at nine to find Mavis had joined me - went back to sleep & finally awoke, still feeling zonked, at ten. Then I arose & enjoyed a delicious breakfast of fresh toasted rolls & coffee & felt much better.

Gradually my day has come together. The washing’s done. Various letters are in the post; the vet wrote to Mavis reminding him that it was time for his annual check up & Mavis wrote back suggesting the vet should give a lethal injection to the dog who was disrupting his visits to the basement flat. Happily, both dog & neighbours are away at present & Mavis has been able to resume his daily visits & his habit of eating Poopoo (the basement cat’s) food. Since Poopoo is equally fat but only half the size, all he can do is hiss is displeasure - which doesn’t bother Mavis a bit.

I’ve clipped the dead wood from the creeper over the patio door and painted out the rust on the braai. I’ve faxed Trish to wish her a happy 40th birthday & subsequently spoken to her. She’s hoping to come to London for a few days with Iris on a visit that will bridge Bernie’s & Cath’s visits. That would be rather nice. And I’ve booked for Riverdance! Do you know about Riverdance. It’s the show I’ve twice seen bits of on TV and I’m crazy about them - much better Erica than old Jon Bovi. I bought their CD a few weeks back & I was thrilled - on picking up a “what’s on” pamphlet today for Cathy & Anita’s visit - to find that they’ll be performing in London at the time.

After checking with Cath, I started phoning booking agencies & had a devil of a job getting tickets. It turned out that the only night for which 3 tickets were available during the Gohdes visit was the opening night - on Saturday 18 May - and I’ve booked them Cath. Good thing we didn’t hang around. I then went hunting on the Internet for some info about the show & found plenty. Cath, I’ll fax over a few after this to whet your appetite. Anybody else who’s interested, let me know!

Thank you Jones for your fax. I’m sorry you had such a battle getting through. I noticed the bleeps when I checked the answerphone. I have ordered a second line from BT - to be installed next Thursday - & I’ll put the fax on that - something I hope will eradicate your problems. I’ll give you details of the new number shortly. I went down to Waterstones today & ordered a copy of the Portugal/Spain road map which they say they will have waiting for me on Tuesday. Monday’s a public holiday. I also popped into Marks & Sparks to try their microwavables & had the most delicious chicken in naatjie sauce for lunch. They called it something much fancier, but that’s what it was & it was very good. Thank heavens for microwave ovens.

If Kevin Gray can do the strimming before I get there, by all means get him in. If not, I should have plenty of time myself. And if you can get the microwave oven down to the repairers before I come down, good & well. If not, it can wait. I’ll bring the little birthday calendar down when I come. I’ve transferred all the meaningful dates to my computer calendar. Over lunch, I watched the second half of the San Marino Grand Prix - another Damon Hill victory - & emailed a suitably sympathetic note to Alan on Villeneuve’s bad luck.

Blessings ever.
T