Here we are in London, for a day spent unpacking, tidying and chatting with the GF’s mother. The house has seen certain improvement, including a new stove and an upstairs toilet that is not a relic from the fifties with a wooden seat and a chain that, when pulled, would cause the entire house to […]
Adding up
Moving out seems to be a rather expensive proposition. Getting all the air conditioners serviced, getting the curtains cleaned, getting a professional end-of-tenancy cleaning, cancelling the internet, shipping away our belongings; it’s all adding up. And that’s leaving aside the minor optional extras such as repairing a hinge or replacing the filter cartridge for the […]
Golden sparrow
A couple of fairly busy days at work, so consequentially little to write about. Today I finally managed to complete and send what I had hoped to – an education report that I think is not too shabby, a presentation based on the report, and some academic editing. And some press materials for which the […]
Two fires
In London a fire in a tower block inhabited by refugees killed perhaps a hundred. In Bahawalpur a fire at an overturned oil tanker killed perhaps two hundred poor rural people who came to collect the fuel. In both cases there is a breakdown of state and society’s responsibilities towards its weakest. Neither administration or […]
Heroes and terrorists
A white man drove a van over Muslims leaving a mosque after prayers in London. It has been declared a terrorist attack, along the lines of other lone wolf attacks committed by Muslims in recent months, which is encouraging. I feel churlish in noting that the narrative about the attack has coalesced not around the […]
Temple stay
The Gentleman Friend enjoyed the temple stay more than I did, but largely because I have little affinity to anything meditative or spiritual. We had a small room, unfurnished, with a blanket on the floor to sleep on, and had surprisingly comfortable nights. As seems to be universal in South Korea the shower was spectacularly […]
Last day
I leave in the morning. Went for lunch to Rok, a Scandinavian restaurant, where the soused mackerel and aebleskiver were exemplary but the rest ranged from decent to peculiar. The latter was a curiously tough beef sirloin and we couldn’t work out whether it was deliberately so or just a poor joint. Then another look […]
Shopping
Had my first excursion yesterday, going to Soho and Covent Garden to buy a few things. The most important was a birthday present for my nephew, which I bought though slightly unsatisfactory. The second was a pair of walking sandals, which I didn’t find. I have had the same type of Teva sandals for over […]
Day after
There is general exhaustion and relief that that, at least, is all over. Today work began again, for both the Gentleman Friend and myself. I took to it more easily: redoing someone else’s work on an annual report (I’d written it in earlier years, but couldn’t this year), and completing a deprivation analysis. Tonight we […]
Funeral
The funeral is over. There was no hot water, so my shower was icy cold on a grey rainy day. I went to the church where I helped to greet those who came, monitored and paid off the trumpeter. Then followed the coffin. Then sat through the service. Then accompanied the family to the crematorium. […]