Calm in a mad world

Today felt strangely conventional - and yes: that's an odd way to start a blip, but looking back it was the kind of day people like us might be expected to have. Maybe that includes having sciatica ... (sorry: I'm being a bore.)

We'd been asked out for coffee. This isn't something that happens as often as the person still tied to a work routine might think when considering retirement; often a coffee will arise as a result of something else (as in "D'you want a coffee?" ) but this was set up properly and as 11am approached we could be seen marching resolutely south to the edge of the town to the house of a friend from church who lives high on the hillside above where Sir Harry Lauder's house used to be. (I remember that house when it was a ruinous derelict; they demolished it and built a whole little estate of houses in the grounds.) We sat drinking coffee and chatting about our pasts and the present in church circles, watching a multitude of small birds enjoy his lavishly equipped (for birds!) balcony. Goldfinches, chaffinches, a robin - all their colours specially bright for spring.  And the view from up there was amazing - our friend always gets the photos of the ships coming up river before I do.

The photo above was taken as we walked home, once more in sunshine after a grey spell. As well as the curve of the West Bay, I particularly like the text-book alignment of the rocks below the prom - that's the local stone, all neatly laid out on display. We picked up some flour from the health store, and walked home each cradling a 2kg bag like a baby. 

After that it was the usual strange dinner time - the sun streaming in over the table for the first time since autumn - and a rest before choir, though the news is scarcely restful. We had a full choir (all six of us!) for a change so were able to have all the parts, and we worked hard till after 9pm and walked home under a bright almost-full moon. 

It was the turn of my older grandson to make my grandmotherly breast swell with pride this evening - football this time: his school team had had a 5-0 victory over Robert Gordon College to reach the Independent Schools Cup Final, and Alan played a storm. He'll be pleased after a winter plagued by injury. 

The Orange One seems to have bought a new Tesla - did you see?