A quick update

I've been here since Wed morning and I'm having a wonderful time. It really couldn't be better. On the way back from the airport we drove around the bits of Johhanesburg where Malcolm had lived as a child and gone to school and university. I took lots of pictures but I haven't had a chance to look at them yet. Yesterday, Eric (Malcolm's brother) and I did the sights of Pretoria and had lunch at his club. Today, we three went to a wildlife park and patted lion cubs and fed giraffe (they have rough tongues). Later we went into the wild bit and saw a male lion with his pride. They were lounging on the grass until he got up and nudged one of his wives who did her wifely duty. He was right on top of her having a go. Apparently you don't see this very often so I felt priviledged. I also got some pictures, I think. After the wildlife park we went to the Cradle of Mankind. This was a superb display of our origins complete with skulls and bones, etc. It was beautifully done and a real pleasure for all of us as Eric and Colleen had not been before. Then We came home and here I am.

Off to South Africa

I'm leaving to catch the bus to the airport in about 1/2 hour. I will arrive in Johannesburg tomorrow morning. Malcolm's brother Eric and his wife are picking me up. What an adventure. I'm not bringing a laptop with me but I think they have a computer and internet so I will try to update. At the very least I shall Twitter.

A sad week

I spent most of the day yesterday regretting that I hadn't gone to my brother's funeral. At 3:30 (10:30 in Toronto and the time of the funeral mass) I decided to take a walk to the local church to have a sit down and my own little remembrance. I tried two churches and both were locked up tight. I wonder if god was telling me something. I haven't believed in a personal god for 45 years - maybe I'm getting my comeuppance. I went back home and carried on with the preparations for my dinner party. Well before the death I had organized for some of my friends to come for a meal and I stayed with this plan. I'm glad I did because we had a great time. There were nine of us clustered around my excellent square tables. Today I'm clearing up and getting ready to go off to Brighton for a couple of days. I want to see A,S & H before I go to South Africa on Tuesday.

Spring has sprung

This is my magnolia tree in all its glory.

A bad week

As I said in my last entry, I had a great day in London on Saturday with Chloe. On Monday I had a call from my sister in Canada to tell me that my brother George had died in the night. Apparently he went to bed on Easter night and never woke up. He had some minor health problems but nothing urgent so it was a huge shock for all of us. Because of my imminent trip to South Africa, I did not feel that I could go to the funeral in Toronto. Luckily, Daniel is going so he will represent the family. If you look at Jane's blog (chairitable), she has a couple of pictures of George when he was much younger. The one of him running down the road was taken at Malcolm's and my wedding in 1971. God we're old. It is a very sad business to lose a brother. He is the first of our generation to go.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Hi Everyone - what a treat I had on Saturday. Chloe and I went to London to see Priscilla. It was fabulous. I saw the film many years ago and loved it. Well, the stage production is better. The costumes are marvellous and the speed and skill of the costume changes is amazing. Now I want Darcy and Joe to come to England so I can go to see it again. Actually, anyone will do so if you are coming to England this summer, let me know and I will get us tickets for the show.

Time for an Update

Here is my garden







The good feelings generated by a weekend at Earnley lasted well into the next week. Then I had Ian Hacking to stay for a day and a half and it all fell apart again. He didn’t do anything dreadful. Quite the contrary, I think he was trying to be nice. It could well be that I am the one who is difficult. Whatever! Anyway, I found myself weeping and feeling miserable until I spoke to KD on Wednesday. She is so wonderful. I’m trying to change my default mode from dejected and despondent to jolly and positive. I’ve been the former just about all of my life so there is work to do. I wish it were as simple as changing the default mode on a computer; especially when it flashes a warning which states that ‘pressing this button will delete everything that has gone before’. Wouldn’t it be great if I could delete the past three years? I think it is called senile dementia. If I do get it, I will praise the day when someone says, “Malcolm Pike”, and I say, “Whose that then?” See what I’m doing? I’m slipping into my easy default. STOP, I say. Look out the window at your beautiful garden and put a smile on your face. I’m going to The Playhouse tonight to see The Crucible. A friend of mine is in it. Actually, it’s Judith who is a combination friend/gardener. My garden wouldn’t look nearly as good if it weren’t for her.