In praise of hats

Mother said if I wore this hat
I should be certain to get off with the right sort of chap
Well, look where I am now, on a desert island
With so far as I can see no one at hand
I know what has happened though I suppose Mother wouldn’t see
This hat being so strong has completely run away with me
I had the feeling it was beginning to happen the moment I put it on
What a moment that was as I rose up, I rose up like a flying swan
As strong as a swan too, why see how far my hat has flown me
away
It took us a night to come and then a night and a day
And all the time the swan wing in my hat waved beautifully
Ah, I thought, How this hat becomes me.
First the sea was dark but then it was pale blue
And still the wing beat and we flew and we flew
A night and a day and a night, and by the old right way
Between the sun and the moon we flew until morning day.
It is always early morning here on this peculiar island
The green grass grows into the sea on the dipping land
Am I glad I am here? Yes, well, I am,
It’s nice to be rid of Father, Mother and the young man
There’s just one thing causes me a twinge of pain,
If I take my hat off, shall I find myself home again?
So in this early morning land I always wear my hat
Go home, you see, well I wouldn’t run a risk like that.
My Hat by Stevie Smith 

Another glorious day - 23C today. I'm not sure what I've done. I went into Kilcrohane to deliver some cards, and met all kinds of people including Veronica going over the zebra crossing - she was having a more gentle day after yesterday's excursions. I then went in on to Bantry over the Goat's Path and had to stop and admire the Pieta. I also gazed in amazement at the goings-on below - can you see that enormous lorry navigating a seriously small road way down below? Bantry was heaving - the fine weather, school holidays and market day had brought everyone out and the atmosphere was buzzing - the hat lady was doing a roaring trade.  There were the usual eclectic things to be purchased and some eclectic humans as well - locals will recognise one particularly eccentric and infamous character who was selling his poetry. I went to the former surgery which had been a former chapel and was now reincarnated as a gallery space. It had been completely opened up revealing a lovely stained glass window. I couldn't work out how all the little consulting rooms, waiting rooms etc had fitted in. A good exhibition too.
When I eventually arrived home Himself came out to help me with the shopping - oh! I only seemed to have bought olives, strawberries and yogurt! What were you doing he wondered? I'm not sure but whatever it was I needed a swim on the way home! It was bliss.