Page 102 - Through a glass brightly

Had better stop before I go on too long and get controversial. Must go to the allotment and cover the strawberries. Found 6 new strawberries yesterday! The first of the season, and some already pecked by blackbirds.
Love to you Glenda and all dear remarkable old school friends, You’ve started me off thinking again on times past!
Thursday, 28th May
From Val M. at 17.46
Hope you are all still doing alright and looking forward to a little more easing of restrictions in the near future. Yesterday marked the first time I had gone for a long walk with a friend, triggered by the discovery that one of the cafés on the Dartington estate was serving takeaway coffees and teas and cakes in their shady garden. The idea of a cup of coffee made on a proper machine was so appealing I invited a friend - our age - who lives on her own, and because she doesn’t drive and has had pneumonia, was isolating herself very strictly. As she could walk there, she was delighted to accept. And what do I discover, during the course of a beautiful walk along the banks of the Dart, but that my friend, far from pining away in isolation has managed to meet a new man friend! They got chatting while passing each other on a footpath and now meet up for walks frequently. Such a lovely thing to happen.
The main reason for this mail is that I just had an email from the National Theatre and tonight’s streaming at 7pm, available for a week, is a play I really enjoyed when I saw it in London. It’s called This House, is political and satirical and funny - set in the Houses of Parliament and I highly recommend it.
In Totnes there is a shop called Narnia selling - well I’m not sure what but crystals and strange stuff you would never need. Typical of Totnes, they have put up their own take on a ‘Closed because of coronavirus’ notice.
Friday, 29th May
From Janet at 19.00
Val - I have just watched the play from The National Theatre and it is really good. I think there was a production here in Malvern either last year or just before then but we never got there. I do miss not going to the theatre and we went more times here than we have ever done. I was a supporter to the local Malvern Theatre and they sent us all an appeal letter a couple of weeks agosaying they won't get any government funding. Jake (grandson - actor/writer) is doing some sort of sponsorship thing or marathon gaming not sure - for The Globe in London to help raise money for them. Anyway everyone ‘This House’ is worth the watch.
Nice story about your friend's meeting a new man! I am just reading a murder book by Peter James Death at First Sight which is about internet scams of people pretending to be on dating agencies but then starting to beg for money for granny, operations etc. I'm enjoying it. I did have a Canadian penfriend who met her eventual husband from Salford on The Coronation Street chat room - Rod and I went to their English reception a few years back. So it does work out for the good for some!
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