On Monday, Mr Z and I went to Calcot Spa for a nice dinner and an overnight stay. We didn't get away for our 20th anniversary in the summer, because he wasn't very well, so it was good to finally mark that with something just the two of us. The hotel even provided a half bottle of champagne and some chocolates. The meal was fabulous. There were two spa areas - one with a steam room and an outdoor hot tub, the other with saunas with a view and outdoor cold plunges. I might have looked up the cost of joining but probably need to admit that 40 minutes' drive is not really close enough.
Then, on Friday, I went to London for the weekend. I saw Christine Baranski in Hay Fever - Richard E Grant also starred and I had to marvel at my timing, choosing to see this on the same night as the Traitors finale. It was a very funny play and I had booked myself a superb seat, very close to the front, so I could see everything really well. I thought Baranski was exceptional. My favourite line, which I must try to find occasions to use, was, 'Absolute agony I wish I were dead' which was delivered exactly thus, with no punctuation. I decided that Wyndham's Theatre had repainted its safety curtain to feature Christine Baranski, which a later Google confirmed to be true.
I walked from the theatre to the station over Waterloo Bridge and London was looking delightfully spooky for the night.
Then I spent Saturday with the niblings, including some trick or treating, and had dinner with Sib. Then a bit more nibling time this morning, during which Lara and I had a good go on the dance mat I bought her about two years ago - glad to see that has survived. All in all, a nice weekend to end the holiday. I'm looking forward to the next visit, which will happen at the end of this term - a nice book end.
I continued to knit the accordion scarf which, it turns out, is actually called the infinity shawl. I got muddled because it's called accordion stitch, which is basically all stockinette but you change the 'right' side every four rows. I'm onto colour six of ten now. Torn between being very bored of it and not wanting to pick it up, and wanting it to be done so I can see (a) what happens to the yarn when I soak it, as it is Wee Yarns miniballs and they are...I forget. I want to say, spun in oil. They have lanolin still in them. They need a good soak to bloom properly. So anyway, yes, that and (b) how big the shawl will be. I think I am about 100m short of the required yarn but I think it will be wearable anyway.
I do also keep thinking about what I might knit next, once I've finished this. Too many choices, as always. Currently I fancy a stripey jumper with the copper-flecked 4-ply I bought atWonderwool, but we'll see what the muse calls for when I eventually finish this shawl.
I have been watching East of Eden this week, which I have enjoyed a lot - so much that I want to spoil it by reading the book synopsis. Or the book. I think it's exciting that Florence Pugh executive produced and starred - I am inferring that this is a character she was very keen to play. And what a character! Obvs it's not over yet but I am not sure I would agree that Steinbeck can write women accurately. Compellingly, though. I also finished off Celebrity Traitors, I didn't quite manage to avoid spoilers but it didn't really ruin the tension of the final, thankfully.
I finally finished reading Maggie O'Farrell's Land. I had to pause reading it for a bit because there was a hint of something to happen that I really did not want to happen (to these made up characters) and I couldn't face being right; I pretty much was and ended up crying on public transport as I finished it on the coach to London. It was such beautiful writing, as was The Marriage Portrait that I read last year; I suppose it should be Hamnet next. But I went back to the 3rd in the My Brilliant Friend quartet and now that I'm home, I should pick up my library book again...it is good but not gripping. I've resolved it must go back to the library at next renewal, whether I've finished it or not.
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