We introduce a new character to our story today (today was Sunday, I'm still behind!) – my mother. I don't call her 'Mother', because I'm not Matthew. I actually don't call her anything to her face. My brother Terry and I have this weird thing whereby we can't say certain things to certain people. At that time of our lives when it no longer seemed appropriate to call our parents Mummy and Daddy, we didn't transition smoothly into calling them Mum and Dad because it felt very weird, so we stopped calling them anything at all. We were two very odd children, it's true. When we're talking about our parents now, we call them Denise and Pete. But to their faces, nothing. It's a case of eye contact so they know we're talking to them and so we don't have to say a name. Terry also can't say my name, Linda; to get around this, he calls me Susan. I don't know why.
I think that's possibly the oddest thing I can tell you about myself.
Anyway, Matthew and I met my mum at Williamson Park this afternoon. As soon as we pulled up and saw how many other cars were there, I feared we'd made a bit of an error – it looked very busy indeed. We decided we'd make the best of it and stick to the quiet spots. It's a big park and there are lots of hidey places.
So we went to the Dell and it was fine here. There were two other families, very sensibly spaced. Here's my mum, Denise, hand sanitising like a good 'un. We all did this because we'd brought our own separate non-sharing picnics.
The thing that's different about walking with someone 'new' is that you tend to sit a lot more because there are conversations to be had, especially in such times as these ... although, few of us have seen times like these before. We thought we were going to have to get militant at one point, though, when a group turned up with a disposable barbeque; happily for everyone, they didn't know how to use it, and after they'd panicked at the giant flames and poured their beer over them, they gave up and left. So that was nice.
This was why we were nervous. A lot more people than the last time we were here. We didn't care if we looked ridiculous and we picked our way across some areas in single file – get back! Two metres, people! I think it's past time I made/ordered face masks for the boys and myself.
There were just a couple of people sitting by the bandstand, so we sat here for a good long while, talking about this and that. My mum had lots of stories to share with Matthew about when Terry and I were little and we came to the park. The circle of life, just keeps turning, eh?
See? Holy Jesus, mother of fishmongers! So many people! It was almost like a normal summer day, except that it wasn't because social distancing was being practised by most people. Our two-metre perimeter was not broached, really, and no one got close enough to cough or sneeze on us. I can't comment on anyone else's choices, can I, since I have been outside almost every day since this started? But actually, apart from this area, we did manage to avoid people for the rest of the day.
The gliding steps. Delightful. See that older gentleman in the blue jumper, walking up on the left? He was walking up just so that he could glide back down, imagining himself a princess. I told you, everyone does it.
Actually, we didn't do that today; we went down to the 'lake' to look at the fountain that my mum cut her foot on when she was a wee 'un. Ooooph, it makes a body cringe to hear the tale again in the flesh, as it were.
Matthew here is pretending to be a lion, for reasons he chose not to explain. And why should he? Anyone can be a lion at any time without having to give a reason. But we climbed up onto the rocks here to test the slide, to see if it was still smooth. We didn't do this last time because it was cold and rainy, and actually we just forgot.
Matthew is not being a lion here, but he is pulling a strange face because it's an involuntary reaction he has when a camera is pointed at him; the poor boy can't help it and he will gurn even when told in advance that a photo will be taken. Anyway, the slidey rock was still slidey and smooth and we slid down it several times.
For a little while, we just enjoyed the sun and I took arty photos of flowers because I can do that if I want to. This looked like some kind of wild rose.
Obviously, this is a fuschia. I think these were very popular as house plants when I was small and I saw them everywhere, because I really don't like them now. Just like geraniums – horrible, stinky plants.
I've no idea what this is, but I thought it was very pretty.
After another long sit and a natter, we wandered off again and found the sleeping dragon. I used to tell the boys that that's what this was and that under no circumstances were they to poke it, lest it awaken and eat them! Of course, they would always poke it and then run screaming, with the odd glance over their shoulders to see if it was chasing them. If this just looks like a round rock to you, then you're not paying attention – it's magic, obviously!
Wander, wander, wander. We did more wandering and thought we might have a look over the bridge, which is up these steps.
It's a lovely bridge.
Rewarded for our step-climbing efforts, we saw two squirrels. iPhone camera is not keen at all on zooming, as we've long established, so this was the best I could do. My mum got great close-up shots and made me feel more than ever that I should probably think about buying a proper camera.
And then we turned around and there were a couple of ducks having a rest. Just sitting there, not bothered at all by the crowds of people, quite happy to be photographed and pointed at.
More wandering in the shade of the trees. We talked about trees here, actually, and the fact that Matthew and I still haven't learned many, but also about the fact that trees are among the most wonderful things in the world. If there was a list of the most wonderful things, trees would be near the top.
Up there is a little folly. We discussed this too because we weren't sure if 'folly' was the right word, but we decided that it was, even though the big monument is also a folly.
By this time, considering the heat on Sunday afternoon and the fact that we'd walked three miles around this park – shocker, we thought we'd only done one! – we were rather droopy and tired and it seemed like a good time to head back to our respective cars.
This though, eh? What I love about this park is the diversity of tree life – I don't think there are two of the same trees planted next to each other anywhere in these grounds.
The next day was a non-walking day because I got an injury. This, of course, is a blatant excuse because the injury, as you can see, was on my hand. Our new blender/food processor arrived and I stupidly slammed my hand down onto one of the blades. Stings like a good 'un!
Until tomorrow, which will still be today, which is Wednesday, even though I have just written about Sunday and next I will write about Monday, after which I will go for Wednesday's walk, just to complicate things further.
Thanks for continuing to read, everyone, by the way! I'm surprised you're all still here – shocked, even – but the fact that you are is really why I keep writing these silly posts. If you stay until next year, I'll be able to show you my walks in Japan!
WQ
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