Convalescence Day 11

Since my uncontrolled ranting of mid-last-week, I'm feeling only a billion times better. I'm in my nest again, on my hill, up my stairs. This morning I watched a succession of birds (tui, waxeye) leap from the tree in front of my window to bathe themselves on the roof.... I lay in bed and watched them preen.

I've read James Meek's The People's Act of Love, leant to me by Jennifer and Simon during my hospital stay. I'm rating it. Fascinating subject matter and satisfying personality puzzles falling neatly into place before being grossly obvious. Beautifully written.

Keeping in a Russian theme, I've just started reading Katerina: the Russian world of Katherine Mansfield by Joanna Woods.The introduction to the book is written by Vincent O'Sullivan - who also wrote an article about KM in last weeks Listener - which was essentially a preview piece to his release of KM's last volume of letters. Sadly, I only own a copy of the "Selected Letters", very slim given the fact that the collected letters stretch to five volumes.... plenty of time to collect these later, perhaps.

Warmth is achieved by two blankets, a duvet, a sleeping bag, a sheet and two hot water bottles. And a nest created by the manymany pillows. Today I have spent most of the day curled on my armchair, on top of The Bear Fur and wrapped in a crochet Old Ladies' Blanket. There is nothing greater than being curled up warm in a Room of Ones' Own.