Margaret the queen

It was past 5pm by the time I felt able togo for a walk (24 degrees even then). I walked up to Buxted and the church was open so I went inside and enjoyed the cool and calm. Nobody else was about so I had the place to myself. The church is named for Margaret, who married Malcolm III of Scotland, and this carpet around the font bears her emblems and the marguerite daisy. I’m ambivalent towards her despite her Scottishness - her biography notes that under her influence, “the Celtic tradition was gradually eroded and squeezed out” to above the Highland Line. Hmmm…

This morning I treated my feet to a pedicure. It always feels very indulgent but oh so good. I especially liked the massage part, which has done wonders for the arthritic pain in my mid-foot. It was 4 and a half miles to Buxted and back and not a twinge.

In other news, we finished the jigsaw, which is a good thing because I leave here tomorrow…