Sunday 31 May:

Moira and I walked around Greville Smyth Park ‘first thing’ (first thing for Moira, that is!) and then home for coffee in the garden before streamed church. Pentecost Sunday and it was rather lovely to have ‘live’ links with church representatives from Uganda and Peru.

I spent some time writing an email to Sam regarding B.Friend/Zabiullah… essentially saying that I’ve decided to step down, with immediate effect. I’d originally intended to do this after my initial 12 month commitment expired earlier in the year, but decided to hang on so that I could accompany Zabiullah to his Asylum-Seeker Appeal Hearing in Newport. Well, given the ongoing coronavirus situation – and the fact that Moira and I have effectively ruled out using public transport (and Car Club) for the foreseeable future… probably for the remainder of 2020 – it just seems pointless to delay my ‘exit’ further. I’m also very aware that I haven’t been in touch with him as often as I ought to have been (I find it very difficult to make out what he’s saying on the phone). I'll ring him once I've heard back from Sam.

Ruth popped in to collect various things from her studio (and also parcels for posting from us)… she brought the Sunday paper and a lot of her lovely paper hearts (she’s given us one for every day of our lockdown!).

Lots of criticism of the government’s plans to ease ‘lockdown’ (a significant number of its scientific advisors are against it)… and social media is full of pictures of people completely disregarding social-distancing (and group gatherings) ‘rules’. The Prime Minister/government is also coming under huge pressure to sack Cummings… it’s going to be an interesting week at Westminster!

Sketched in the garden after lunch and also read some of my Simon Armitage book.

Also spent a little time thinking about a drawing Ed wants me to do of his house in Stackpool Road (a 10 year anniversary gift for his wife Helen).

Roast pork supper (and I also opened a bottle of Rioja from Naked Wines!).

Image: Came across these two ‘abandoned’ chairs in the middle of a large expanse of grass on our Greville Smyth Park walk this morning (someone’s generous community offering?).