Be still for a while

Friday 11th December, 2020

I was somewhat irritated when the front door bell rang at 8.25am. I was awake but like to laze until 9am before getting up. This time I jumped out of bed, put on my dressing gown and hurried down the stairs muttering the 'cursing' psalms. I pulled open the door aggressively. A young long haired man with a mask on was standing there. His face looked mildly surprised at my smart M and S dressing gown and my bare legs and Cathay Pacific slippers. " Sorry, " he muttered, " but I am sure it will be wonderful" and he hurried away leaving a heavy parcel. I am dying of curiosity but for now am leaving the parcel in view wondering grandly what it could be. A new iPad? A box of rich chocolates? A hair trimmer? Some books? Olives and artichoke hearts?

Whatever, I decided to go on a big hike after writing three short letters. So off I set at 13.10. A long walk along the Fife Coastal path toward Tayport and Tentsmuir forest and beaches. I strode out. I loved the view, the trees and even the silence as well as the various birds including snipe, then became conscious of much litter along the path. As ever it infuriated me. I picked up a Tesco plastic bag lying by the path and filled it as I went along. It made me feel self righteous as well as furious with the litter louts. Why?

I arrived at Tayport and was heading to the beach when I passed my usual barbers. No one was in the shop. It had all the usual regulations and rules and even a cheeky note stating that no one had had their hair cut and had Covid! What a selling point. I was a little worried by my shaggy look and my straggly moustache. In I went. The usual lady who owns the whole caboodle was there. She wore all the right PPE stuff and gel was all over the place. I had to wear a mask.

We talked and mainly moaned about Christmas. Why are the five days being allowed? She hated the prospect of the Covid taking off again as her business was already over fifty percent down. Why all the presents? She has two sons and five grand children and one of them on the way. She always has to cook the main meal and there are all' sorts of fads and diets and requests' she muttered. ' This year I have put my foot down and said we are not meeting, we are not buying presents and we will meet on St David's day and I will cook Welsh lamb.' Although second generation Scottish her maternal Grand Mother was from Abergavenny. I muttered in the same vein. She trimmed my hair, then my beard and moustache. It all took about thirty minutes and we both felt restored and released of pent up frustrations. Then the remarkable bombshell: " fifty percent off for being my psychiatrist" she said. " No," I replied, " I should pay fifty percent more for being allowed to moan and groan and traduce all and sundry. It has been not only a hair cut but a catharsis". As I left she said "Come again "!

I caught the bus back all by myself so I felt I had a chauffeur. A great day for I also bought myself a Scotch pie at the reduced rate of 50p not £1.05p. All good.

How strange life is proving to be....so unexpected, so different even if at times also rather irritating.

" We stand in the wake of this chattering and grow airy.

How can anyone say what happens, even if each of us

dips a pen a hundred million times into ink?"

I do so admire Rumi. He keeps me focussed and serene.