Artist @ work

Bookshop days are always good days. Young woman arrives to draw butterflies-as-books on window. An old friend, P, turns up to shed a thousand volumes on "How to Be A Better Parent" etc. She has had to expel 18 yo daughter who followed a ghastly path from eating disorders to drugs to nearly burning down the house. After five years, P has reached a limit, needs to protect the siblings.

On a lighter note, I lunched at Eat Tokyo on King St with V who spoke of near-death anaphylactic shock in Baku, complete with pix. Moral: carry an epi-pen & don't get seriously into honey & pollen when overseas. Or ever.

Even when recounting horror - encounters with scary people etc - he makes me roar with laughter & returns me to a remarkable story-telling/listening world. It's about pace & timing. And I have a long list of new must-reads & must-sees.

Final stop: supper with forner colleague & current neighbour, yoga therapist Jenny, who buried her mother in Jan. A beautiful thoughtful quiet sort of evening - garden, sorbet - much listening on both sides. I am lucky to have such friendships.