Escape

The forecast was for rain most of the day, so Sa walked down to collect her car whilst I measured up the fireplace and took more photos of things I want to sell/get rid of before the work starts on the flat. When she returned we all headed to the architectural salvage place. I do like the staff there and although there was a lot to choose from Sa&So's good design ideas and understanding of how to renovate/adapt stuff was helpful and I chose a fire surround and one of two inserts ...final decision on which one on Monday.
As we were poking around the store we had a text saying that a friend of theirs who had rather suddenly been taken ill a few months ago had died this morning (not yet 50). Very sad. He'd spent the last couple of years working up here and I'd been out to dinner with him a few times...and he and the family had stayed in my flat when I was in NYC last summer. To think that a year later he's gone is such a shock.
After we'd finished at the salvage shop we decided we needed a breather and some time to think so, given the rain hadn't arrived, we set off for the beach and did a big walk right along the beach from Joppa to the far end of Portobello. It was lovely - warm and pretty sunny so a real surprise given what we'd expected - and a perfect contrast to the heaving streets and crush of people in the city over the last week. We talked as we walked about AD and his family and how they will manage this next difficult period, and about our own plans for the next few years, places to live, family etc etc.
Then we came across a young woman who was shouting although not at anyone in particular before she walked fully clothed into the sea and stood waist deep still shouting and talking. A runner stopped to ask if she needed help but she continued to shout and gesticulate and warned the runner off, who clearly decided her help wasn't welcome and continued with her run. We watched from a distance but as she continued to shout and walk deeper into the sea, then appear to dip down into the water a few times, we decided we needed to get help. Police and an ambulance turned up and managed to get her out of the water and talk to them, and they stayed with her for a long time....they got her to the ambulance we think (we didn't stay nearby) but I hope she got the help she needed. 
As we wandered back along the beach we saw this...partly buried in the sand, a pebble with Yes written on it. An unusual find, we decided to leave it in situ for others to find who might need some positivity.
Back and a quick change before dashing to a welcoming event for new staff (although I arrived late as I had the wrong time in my diary!). Finally as I walked home the promised rain arrived and I was soaked. Changed and since the rain had stopped we headed out for a curry which was very tasty, but then got soaked again as we ran round the corner home. Somehow very large, fat, wet raindrops!
Some quiet time before bed, surfing for door handles and chandeliers....the time for the building work to really start is very nearly upon me!