Lockdown Day 61: Cabinet Reshuffle

I should know better than to make suggestions, as TSM does sometimes take them seriously; which meant that we ended up doing a major swap around and re-arranging of our two main reception rooms this afternoon, the central task being to move an enormous glass cabinet between the two. 

You never think these things through. At one point I found myself trying to hold the cabinet up on my knee with it stuck in the doorway whilst literally tearing coats and bicycle helmets off of the coat rack so that we could turn the cumbersome piece of furniture around without it getting wedged. And don’t even get me started on the cables. In this day and age a simple moving matter usually involves the kind of electrical plumbing exercise that telecoms engineers perform in those strange grey boxes by the side of the road. The sheer number of wires becomes quite frightening. 

All this took place between events at the Hay festival. It really was an excellent day and even though we were disappointed not to be physically in Wales, nonetheless it felt as though it had much of the same spirit but without the queues for the toilets.There is also something to be said when finishing a late event at 9:45 at night not to have to find your way across the muddy field, queue to get out of the car park, and navigate the very dark roads between Hay and Painscastle. But at the same time, perversely, you miss it so we will definitely be there, God willing this time next year. Our events today included a history of celebrity, a journalists view from inside the White House, science in an age of Covid, and a reframing of history so that society is not seen through the lens of fear but through the very real experience of humanity and collaboration.

Oh and then there was the rather wonderful Elif Shafak of course. 15 minutes of intellectual celebrity crush. I’m not even a woman but when she uses the word ‘sisterhood’ she says it so beautifully I feel I’m being hugged. TSM just turned to me afterwards and said "she’s lovely isn’t she" and we talked about the ridiculous way she has been treated - or rather bullied - in Turkey.

The new look house looks very nice so on balance I will say that it was all worthwhile even if at the time I was feeling a little downcast. And it’s been a great day of intellectual stimulation and at times real fun. Also at times rather wet, with dramatic hailstones and rather large volumes of water. Even this has its upsides as it meant I didn’t have to water the garden tonight.

Good day.