LK and I were charged with drawing a solar system of planets to represent the different sizes of the groups of actors covered in our research. JS would come along later to check our work.
It was a tricky job doing all this in JS’s office, largely because her ‘building’ was, in fact, a series of rickety recycled train carriages that looped around a small circular track at high speed. At one point it was travelling so rapidly that I was thrown from my seat to the floor.
My morning routine was to get up bright and early, walk my bike through the village, then cycle home in the sunshine. One day I journeyed high into the countryside and visited a castle that doubled up as a hotel. The children who lived there were all packed into tiny turret bedrooms so that the paying guests could be offered the best accommodation.
TPR’s latest athletic exploits involved attempted tightrope walking in the park – but I wouldn’t allow him to do this (because it was too dangerous).
KMcL announced that she was buying a cocker spaniel pup just like C.
I couldn’t resist showing off my up-to-the-minute knowledge of dog fashion trends by asking her whether she would be making him a pastry coat.
TPR and I needed somewhere for a short overnight stay in Birmingham. The perfect solution was to invite ourselves round to our old house in Birmingham. We’d done this before – in secret when the new owners had been away.
On this occasion the owners were in residence. They didn’t seem to mind too much that we had come to visit. The husband laid the sofa cushions out on the sitting room floor for us. It was a pity that we had forgotten to bring our bedding.
The house itself hadn’t changed much in recent years. I was particularly pleased, and somewhat surprised, that the open brickwork in the sitting room was still on display.
More astonishing was that the householders were heavily involved in caring for refugees and other homeless people. During the day they welcomed many people to their house, and even provided additional sleeping space for those who needed it on nights when the dormitories in the official shelters were full.
Two overweight female students were selling embroidered handkerchiefs packaged prettily in flat cardboard boxes with clear plastic lids. Stitched into the cloth were the words ‘To commemorate the engagement of Dr Who and Sophie Best’.
This was the perfect gift for my cousin DT’s work colleague G. I immediately bought one to post to Canada.
We travelled the coast by train. Over the course of the journey we came across ancient primitive artwork etched into rocks not far from the shore, and basking sharks playing in the shallow waters.
Later TPR and I enjoyed a first class experience at the airport. How wonderful it was to be looked after by airline staff on a one-to-one basis, away from the rabble of economy.
My toddler cousin (grandson of N and J) was very advanced for his age. I held him on my knee as he spoke eloquently of his varied academic interests. He then expressed interest in the family tree and, in particular, how he was related to me.
I found a large sheet of computer paper and started to write out our relatives’ names. It soon became apparent that this was a pointless exercise because – aged 2 – my toddler cousin could not yet read.
We were always being told that we were bound to know a woman who was being abused and now we knew who it was in our case: the assistant in the corner shop.
She communicated that she needed our help. I asked her to email me the details. She indicated that it was impossible for her to copy down my email address in full view of her husband (and boss). The solution was for me to write it on the cheek of a young female customer instead.
Dreamaticus 