Publication day!

So finally, we reach 2 June, which is significant not because it is the second day of the third month during which we have been locked down (and basically three months since we did something social (dinner with DA) without the shadow of corona hanging over us) . No, it's because it was publication day for my book. So, I did a twitter thread about the publication, outlining the various actions that I've taken to publicise the book, including a new blog (basically a cut down version of the longer essay I publicised a couple of weeks ago) and a video (ditto). My colleagues have set up a registration page for the online launch later in June, which is basically celebratory, and I'm planning to ensure that it isn't too 'academic' in the sense of being inaccessible. All I need to do now is learn some of the features of zoom, so that I can use breakout rooms at the end of the event, if there is demand for it. I will have to try and set up a dummy meeting with some friends to practice this. I've added an extra of the book.

We walked early this morning before breakfast, when it was already getting a bit humid. It's clouded over as the day went on, and since about 5.30pm it's been drizzly. Not proper rain, and certainly not reaching our balcony. Talking of water, Mr A has now got all the bits for the hose he wanted us to have, so that we can clean the balcony (and I guess it will make watering easier too if I choose to use it). Next we need to warn D below us about our intentions to clean our balcony so that she can clear whatever she needs to clear off her own balcony before we start. One thing I didn't manage to do today was cycle over to Waitrose for a click and collect delivery. JL were a bit late letting me know that it had arrived, and by that time the weather was not looking hopeful.

Tonight we are having a celebratory glass of white wine, and we had a delicious wild mushroom risotto for dinner. I always forget how much I enjoy risotto, and you can definitely count mastering the making of risotto amongst Mr A's various culinary lockdown achievements.

And we have one other thing to look forward to. The car parks in the Pentlands have reopened today. I look forward to us getting out of bed with the sparrows at the weekend to go for a walk. Our horizons gradually widen!