A Touch of Scarlet

My Dear Princess and Dear Fellows,

See the pohutukawa I blipped a few weeks back? This is what happens when the flowers die off. And because puhutukawa is so prevalent here, this stuff is EVERYWHERE right now.

It reminds me a bit of that coating of pine-needles on the pavement and the dead trees you get propped up against bins in Edinburgh at this time of year. 

In much the same way, it means that Christmas is over and this makes me sad.

I spent today trying to talk Tanvi up. She is supposed to be working with me at the moment, but she is so down on herself, it can be rather tiring. She gets so stressed and apologetic if she gets even minor things wrong. 

I have tried to convey to her that I don't care. Mainly by saying out loud, "I really don't care." But it seems to have no effect.

Don't get me wrong. She is a very nice lady, but she has no self-confidence at all. It can get a bit wearing and I find myself turning into a children's tv presenter, full of enthusiasm and VIM in order to try and stop her turning into an Eeyore.

This is not my natural state. I don't WANT to be Johnny Ball! Or Floella Benjamin!

Maybe I could be Brian Cant*.

S.

* NOT a typo.