the obituary* comes out. it makes it real now.
i am still too shocked to weep.
*CPY, who in so many ways was larger than life and showed me what collegiality collaboration camaraderie and friendship can be between otherwise unconnected professionals.
sequel-commentary-new book to 84, charing cross street which i must now go read again. written in diary form and in a chatty tone with punches of guileless wit. charming feel-good good-read book much like a slice of almond butter cake with café au lait for tea break, which is to say it is gently heartily satisfying and i must be missing my cakes after three weeks of japanese and chinese fare.
shocking news as we travel.
sudden departure on vacation. my teacher and my friend.
too soon. we meant to catch up soon.
the quickest way to frighten off a group of middle-aged tourists is to give them their money's worth of outdoor tour attractions on a rainy day at 8 degrees celsius after which there is every chance they will decide to cancel the next day's attractions and hare it out of the county on an earlier train.*
this brings to mind c. northcote parkinson's suggestion of an overdose of exhausting air travel as a strategy to persuade the senior civil servant voluntarily retire.
*3 national parks and a cruise then another national park and a museum, in addition to 2 full meals, all in 1 day.
owing to sudden drop in temperature to freezing and our unfamiliarity with the air-conditioner/heater set-up the warmest thing in the hotel room now is the heated toilet seat and it is looking very compelling as a place of repose.
