Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_poppy]

Just a brief message to let you know I arrived here at Abbots Bromley in good form last evening and have had a packed first day... and evening. Quite a lot of old friends gathered here, and a snug little pub down the village where we've devoted ourselves to catching up with one another.

It was lovely to see you yesterday, my dear, and reassuring. I doubt you feel it yet yourself, but the records you're keeping do show things levelling out. Incrementally. Two suggestions based on the patterns I see there: first, that your dream content seems less distressi more positive the more regular your dietary intake; second, I suspect that there's more than coincidence linking the walking you'd done Friday and Saturday to yesterday's fairer outlook. Mind you, I'm not at all overlooking the likelihood that you rose to the occasion of my being there and that after my departure you may have sagged rather. I hope that on the whole you found my being there beneficial.

If so, I'd quite like to repeat the pleasure (because I do very much enjoy your company) at the weekend--would Sunday suit?

Comments

[alt_sinistra]

Sunday, please, yes.

You're very restful, Poppy. Knowing the things to say and also the things that won't do any good to say.

I do feel so helpless just after walking, it's so tiring still, and I'm not even trying to go far. But I think you're right, that it helps more later. Dad's coming tonight, and I'll ask him to walk with me. Easier than trying to talk.

I am trying with the food, really. Canny - that's the elf here - keeps trying different things, and some of them work. Different little finger sandwiches, yesterday.

Oh. I'm maybe a fifth into that book you left, Wattle and Daub. I wasn't at all sure I'd like it - you know what I think about divination and seers. But this Phoebe, she's very clever, and not at all dithery or vague or foolish.

[alt_poppy]

Walking with your father is a fine strategy for extending your distance, as you will undoubtedly be buoyed by his presence and will be led to think of other things than your energy reserves. At the same time, I quite see your point that walking might offer spontaneous topics for conversation rather than those deeply felt things on both your minds that are, nonetheless, better left unspoken.

Do you have a wildflower guide for Cornwall? I think I recall your saying you've a birding book. Do let me know if you'd like anything along those lines. I'd be happy to bring you anything you'd enjoy.

I'm pleased, by the way, if the novel I brought is entertaining. As I told you, I found the author intriguing--and not at all dithery, vague, or foolish herself, and I'd say that the protagonist is rather meant to reflect her own ways of thinking. Fortunately, she seems to avoid most of the usual excesses of that sort of self-projection--though I admit I read very quickly once I'd had the thought of passing it along to you.

What do you think of the sister and brother? Rather better developed than I'd expected, those two characters. And so distinct. In what they notice, as well as in their motivating interests. I'd have expected the young woman to be the sentimental one, for instance--about the family tragedy, you know--and she's not at all, is she?

I gather there are other stories in Ibb Godden's cauldron. She said her publisher is interested but that it depends what success this first book finds. I suppose that means I really ought to have bought you your own separate copy. Well. If you decide it's enjoyable, perhaps we could go in on buying copies for Pomona and Irma. (It's always amusing to hear Irma's view of popular novels, because, of course, she cannot help but read whatever's put before her spectacles, and yet she's such a critic of light fiction! I shouldn't tease her, but it is amusing!)

Must dash so I'm not late to today's opening session. I hope the morning is as lovely there as here. You have such a nice spot for enjoying a cup of tea and watching the birds. Or for watching the cats watch the birds!

[alt_sinistra]

Quite, on Dad. He loves me, and he was really quite fond of Raz, and - well. The words just don't work right. He and I've always been more about quietly doing things together, more than talking.

I don't have a wildflower guide, no (and you know I'm horrible with plants), but I'd give it a try, if you have one you like.

A friend - we'd a habit of long walks together, some years ago - took me up to walk on Bodmin Moor last week, and we're going to try that again on Thursday. (Cantus Deverill - about half his family's in your line of work, as healers, and you might remember his brother Darius, who was the YPL Healer representative I actually liked.)

The novel, yes. She avoids that thing so many people do writing young adults, making them stupid or just following, rather than having opinions but not always experience handling some things, doesn't she? At least so far. And I do like the sister's practicality, and that bit where she elbows her brother when he's about to give things away.

She has a rather nice hand - the author, I mean - with dialogue, too. That part when they're trying to talk Phoebe into helping, and Phoebe keeps putting them off, I could hear just her tone of voice, dry and clear and not giving way. And that scene in the first solicitor's office, where he just is treating them like idiots.

I do think Pomona and Irma would enjoy it, though for different reasons. And Mum and my sister Sage, actually. Happy to put in an order at Flourish and Blotts, and really, the money's not a problem on my end. The one thing that isn't right now

What's your opening session on? Oh, and Storm said, his note today, that he of course remembers Peverell Smythe (they were the same year, though not the same house, of course), and it's nice to hear they're doing doing so well for themselves.