OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.

— @HaggardHawks

When you are too tired to sleep and too wired up to think straight, music can be an answer. And dancing. Last night, I flossed and brushed my teeth, got into my PJs, put on my favourite Austrian radio station and danced around my bedroom until I felt my body relax, my mind unwind and I just sang and moved along to the music – with only the Lady Cats watching and my shadow laughing.

mde

btfmdn

mde

It was easy to fall asleep after that, but the night was still not entirely restful and it took me a long time to open my eyes in the morning, then to get up and make coffee. I read a bit in bed and then watched the NZ rugby with Glinka. Another exciting match.

After breakfast, I cleaned the kitchen and the bathroom and water-sinned again, indulging in a midday bath, with another coffee and the only novel by Siri Hustvedt I haven’t read yet, her latest, Memories of the Future. I love her work and I cannot believe that it took me so long to get to this one. Many moons ago, she gave me permission to use a quote from one of her books for the epigraph of my novel, Invisible Others. The idea still thrills me.

The pool has started turning green with all this warmth and sunshine, so I cleaned it again and discovered that my Frog Prince got tired of waiting for me to return and got himself a companion.

I always take the frog(s) I find in the wire to safety before cleaning, backwashing, etc. But today, when I turned away, one of them jumped back into the water and ended up in the pool pump filter! Thank goodness I spotted it immediately and rescued the poor thing. I don’t know how they survive the pool chemicals and my constant interference in their lives, but I am always so happy to see them, especially when I know that they are more than one. No more kissing required from me.

I returned to work in the afternoon, but not for too terribly long. I started fading fast and ended up sleeping in the late afternoon until it was time for dinner. A quiet, good day – much needed after the craziness of the last week.

Soup for dinner, entertaining TV for dessert.

Today, one of Karavan Press’s authors made me aware that I dropped the ball in respect of something – not the end of the world, but the potential loss of an opportunity. I apologised for my slackness and got the nicest email in return. Moments like this make me understand how crucial it is to work with decent people. Even when one makes a mistake, there is still hope of fixing things and making the most of an unfortunate situation – together. I am so grateful that the authors I work with are not only wonderful writers, but also such great people – friends.

Siri Hustvedt awaits. Good night.

Be kind. Stay at home. Wear a mask everywhere else.

“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”

— NICD