I woke up to a blue sky and sunshine again, but cloud cover returned during the morning. The temperature is set to drop from 12C down to zero in the coming week, due to another stream of arctic air affecting both sides of the North Atlantic. It's a such a disappointment. Yesterday afternoon I went out for a walk without needing a top coat for the first time in four months.
Clare had an early X-ray appointment at UHW and booked a taxi to take her there by eight thirty as I didn't think I could be fully functional to drive her there in rush hour traffic. No matter how well or badly I sleep, it takes me an hour or so to wake up fully. She was lucky enough to get a bus on the way home and was back by nine thirty.
Last night I was thinking about doing something for Lent other than returning to a completely vegan diet. The idea emerged to write a haiku relating to the theme or key scriptural passage of each day. It's a way of meditating on the Word, focusing on its essential meaning and summarising it, in seventeen syllables. It's a more intentional way of writing haiku than spontaneously responding to an observation or idea walking in the park. A strict way of disciplining discursive meditation. I drafted one for Ash Wednesday in bed as I was about to go to sleep, and after reviewing it this morning, wrote another one based on the Gospel for today's Eucharist. This is something to be tackled one day at a time, learning as I go how well I am at sustaining the effort.
I made lunch early as Clare was due to go to an exercise class that started early. I cooked spaghetti with a veggie sauce and soya protein 'mincemeat', which turned out acceptably. Earlier in the week I called the University Optometrists to book my annual eye test, but was kept in a phone queue with no idea of how long I have to wait so I gave up in frustration. After lunch, my afternoon walk took me to the clinic in Cathays, via Blackweir Bridge and Colum Road. Almost all houses in Colum Road are now privately run multi occupancy student accommodation.
A few of the houses look well cared for, but the majority have rubbish strewn ex-front gardens, plus the new generation of sorting and recycling sacks, yet to be used. It looks like an area of slum housing. One house had a skip outside with a brand new blue caddy with jars and bottles spilling out, tossed on top of bricks and soil, already broken. It's even worse at the end of the academic year when occupants vacate their rooms and throw out everything they don't need to take away, including broken furniture and electronics. This must make a bad impression on visitors to the heart of Cardiff's student-land.
Anyway, I booked an eye appointment at the front desk of the Optometry school. The earliest available is the thirty first of March. Thankfully there's no hurry. I walked from there through the civic centre to the Kingsway, and caught a 61 bus from the Holiday Inn. I got off at the stop nearest to Cowbridge Road and walked home from there, as I realised I was nowhere near completing my daily step quota. My legs felt as if I'd done double the distance. I don't know why they should feel so stiff today. It's not as if I over-exerted myself yesterday. Physical tiredness seems to show up randomly. Some days are a real slog, others I have a spring in my step.
After supper I fancied reading something in Spanish. In the absence of a new book, I spent an hour and a half re-reading the first chapter of 'Cronica de una muerte anticipada' by Gabriel García Marqués. It was one of the first Spanish novels I read, very slowly, just about following the narrative but skipping words unless essential to the progress of the story. As I already know what it's about and how it unfolds, I can concentrate on finding the meaning and use of words I don't know. A leisurely was of learning. Then early to bed.
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