Solstice

June 21st, the first day of summer, the day of the solstice, outside it's pouring with rain, the garden is nicely green and there are briar roses in the hedge but it is still very, very wet. Breakfast on a full English with tea, then listen to the news and Melvyn Bragg on Annie Besant, in the hope the rain will ease but it doesn't. Drive to Cherry for ten fifteen, dressed in an Australian stockman's coat, that Leslie gave me and a hat, I also take a golf umbrella against the downpour. The dogs and I just do a toilet walk round the village, it's about a mile in total and they can't go off the lead, but it's the best I can do for them today. The trees and the flowers have a different hue in the rain, a kind of luminosity and presence that is absent in sunlight and even when it's grey and dry. It is poignant, ethereal and quite, quite beautiful. After the walk I drive to the pool, I had intended to run today but don't feel masochistically inclined, so will get wet indoors instead.I have to share a double lane with three other swimmers, but that's OK, I am still easing myself back into exercise after my chest infection. I repeat yesterday's session easy 400's on freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and then 4 x 100m IM's a bit quicker and then 2 x 200m on freestyle and backstroke to finish off. Needless to say my concentration on perfect technique continues, it's not achievable but it's a good focus. My stroke counts hold 13, front crawl, 17, backstroke, 7 1/2 breastroke, 8 1/2 fly. Tomorrow I have Louis from three o'clock until lunchtime Saturday and if the wet weather continues will take him swimming to burn up some energy. After showering and changing eat a scone and tea in the cafe, no lunch today as I have savoury lamb mince slow cooking at home. On my way back to Tickton, call at Morrison's to buy more rye bread but they have sold out so just replenish on English breakfast stock. Back home I meditate for a while and then peel the vegetables and potatoes and put them in the pressure cooker for ten minutes and a late lunch is ready. Savoury mince on mashed potatoes with buttered cabbage and swede and parsnip mash, a good meal for a wet day. I still have quite a bit of mince remaining so add a tin of chopped tomatoes, a little garlic and oregano and put the slow cooker on low. Slow magic will turn it into a nice pasta sauce for tomorrow or Saturday. Sarah texts to say that Alice wants to come as well tomorrow, which is nice but as I have no TV, I hope she doesn't get bored. I use the motivation of visitors to clean up, the house doesn't get dirty when your on your own but a vac through and a mop of the bathroom and kitchen floors doesn't hurt. Afterwards I have a glass of milk and some oaties and listen to the last hour of Mantel's book, which is good but not as enjoyable as "Wolf Hall", largely because the narrator is different and not as good. To bed at midnight.