Standing about in the Park in Hexham went well, with earnest junior Resister engaging with Naturopath to add depth to the learning at primary school ... mature female Resisters take him seriously too, which pleases him since he is a serious young boy, possibly about 50 years old in his own mind, but still willing to learn more. Lunch at a cafe run by a serious man from Madeira, Joao, speaking English at least as well as native speakers and reluctant to amuse those trying to speak Portuguese, closes the chapter, apart from a daring trip round Waitrose with two old folk with no masks, a thing considered normal only a year or so ago.
Monday was a day for the old folks to test their National Trust membership again, since pre-booking is required in the New Normal era imposed worldwide as the neo-fascists continue their Common Purpose mission to knock off whole swathes of humans considered surplus to requirements. Eugenics. The booking requirement is dodged thanks to common sense at the entrance, then things go surreal as coffee is sought and all sorts of madness unfolds when the Resistance to compliance with rules making no sense requires the two old folks to play roles of carer and old blogger with mental health. The Trust supervisor kindly obeys the Disability Discrimination Act and old normal is restored. An attempt to visit the interior of the House is prevented by staff with masks insisting on Trust members wearing them too. Since the Sun is shining we resist the temptation to cause more trouble and set off for a walk uphill. More trouble ensues anyway, as the Patient and Carer are separated and the House staff mobilise to locate the missing carer as the mad one paces anxiously and looking worried. Ten minutes or so later the carer turns up having wandered off, raising the question of who is the patient and who the carer. At this point the House prefect apologises for the mask issue and says mental health meant exemption from rules and we could go inside after all! By this time the outside was more appealing, so we took the scenic drive without restrictions and a ice cream by the lake. A nearby adventure playground, ideal for children advised it was closed for no good reason ... but that's another mad restriction requiring complaints from visitors with children. God help us. As a teenager, surveying the world half a century or more ago, it was clear there were serious issues out there and if the world of war and poverty was sane, then I'd better opt for insane ... funny how things turn out.
Tuesday was yesterday and plans developed for an adventure starting Friday, heading South once more for a couple of weeks perhaps as cold spring turns warmer and midsummer approaches.
A birthday party for a younger grandson of the carer who lost her patient at Cragside was held at a nearby Italian restaurant owned by Albanians. Let's just say a party of eight, including two young boys, two parents and four old folks all talking at once was challenging. I like a challenge.
Wednesday today dawns damp, though some Sun is forecast for later. Anyway the legs are still working, the feet are itching and Nature is calling me home. As for the rest of the day ... let's see.
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