Real reality = Love

Saturday 5th September, 2020.

A sunny day, as defined by my new Scottish antennae. That means one actually sees a little bit of blue sky and just occasionally a sunbeam appears between the massive cloud cover. I managed a walk this morning. Yet I noted my courgette plants are suffering as the sun rise is later and the angle of the sun gets lower and therefor they have shorter bursts of it. It gets darker earlier also. Winter approaches. I feel we have skipped from winter to winter with little Inbetween.

However an old friend and his wife have been up here for a break. I have seen them three times and they have enjoyed their holiday. The breathtaking views alone have renewed them. Everybody seems to be a photographer these days and they have sent me stunning views from the highlands. Scotland is beautiful and beauty is invigorating.

I met them to say farewell. I walked to the village to get a newspaper....why, O why do I bother except for the Crossword.  It is filled with opinion, often nasty, and with gossip and slander, as I read it.

Then on to the library for a few returns and some ordered McCall Smiths. Usual ritual of masks, gel and names.

Finally on to a lovely restaurant on the Tay. Again the new ritual with a policy of sitting one metre apart. Scottish breakfast including haggis and local black pudding. A discussion of the salacious and potent power of gossip, the incredible desire of people to know 'the dirt' and the sheer nastiness of many especially the media. It is so hard to trust anyone and any institution to  the point where society is crumbling. I find it in myself...I do not trust politicians, I do not trust the media, I do not trust the Internet, I do not trust in general and am ashamed of it being the case.

Of course I have friends and trust them but that trust has been broken at times and it is hard to pursue and enact the infinity of forgiveness. Yet forgiveness, turning the other cheek, trusting and ever being hopeful and positive is the only base for a stable society. If one is betrayed then start again...and again and again.

My friends are heading for Perth to 'buy gin' and then to scour all places for smoked salmon. 'Are you taking haggis also' I asked. They looked shocked!

I walked back from our farewell breakfast...a little of me dies at every farewell yet that death shows me the gratitude I have for the living of friendship.

Now to hoover the house. It makes me get back to reality although I believe real reality is love.