Clematis

Despite it being a beautiful day, I have been a kitchen slave, preparing food for our visitors coming tomorrow as I don’t want to be slaving away when they are here. Mr C has been cleaning out the van as we’ll need it directly we have taken the visitors to the train on Thursday

The garden has been disappointing. Spinach had gone to seed, grubs have got into the new tatties and slugs have eaten the new salad leaf crop.

When I had finished all the jobs I sat outside and finished the book group book, “Soldier Sailor” by Claire Kilroy. It got rave reviews and was up for prizes. I had a string of adjectives (among the expletives) for how it made me feel, including frightening frustrating ridiculous repetitive unrealistic infuriating Upsetting, boring self-obsessed tedious whiney. It’s about a woman bringing up a baby/ toddler / small boy. She has a husband who works outside the home (she doesn’t) and he takes no part in the childcare. Even 50 years ago when I had my daughters I didn’t know anyone who was remotely like that. I can’t believe young women behave like her now. And she was bringing up her child to be a spoilt demanding brat who’d turn out like her husband and be a hopeless partner for somebody, unless she got a grip and taught him to cook, look after his own clothes and iron etc. You can tell it made me furious.

Carol is coming over, bringing jam jars and collecting some jam, and no doubt having a drink, as it’s warm enough to be outside.

Katy and I are planning to go to V&A (Dundee) to see the kimonos and have lunch. Anyone have any recommendations? The only day we are both free is 3 October. I’m tasked with booking the trains.