I walked to Singing for Pleasure today for the exercise and the thinking time. Since retiring, it’s still a novelty to have time without lists or ‘must-dos’. I don’t even mind waking in the night anymore as it gives me time to think about the day and is a good time to process whatever is going on.
After Singing, I wandered along to the central city, ending up in the rarified and calming atmosphere of Ballantynes, where I ran into a friend and a friend of a friend.
In need of sustenance before walking home, I stopped in at She Chocolaterie for a raspberry and rose hot chocolate. The new mural/wallpaper reminded me of Portugal, but I guess it’s likely to be Latin America as that is their theme. I worked out that I have treated myself to three hot chocolates here since I retired over 3 years ago – one a year isn’t bad! This time, I felt the need to counteract the richness with a thin slice of toasted sourdough when I got home.
On the way, I stopped in Victoria Square (formerly Market Square) to read an extract from a Fiona Farrell poem, look at the autumn colours and, further on, to admire a large toadstool by the Southern Cross hospital.
In the market square
they trade leaves
for a song,
solid ground
for a fistful
of water
Fiona Farrell, ‘The Deal’, 2015.
Anne-O-tations 