Lunch and chat at the Barran-Pouleaupot's: Anna Longridge plus Jane and Johnno (Baz). Lovely weather (obviously) and old friends chatting animatedly about the sorts of things old friends chat about... (the Government, WWII, Johnny's music festival "Kew the Music", Jane's trip to China, etc etc, Polo.)
The 'Market' is a funny thing; kinda dominates a lot of thinking at the back of people's minds: more Vampire Calamari anyone?
It is inescapable for the time being, in that we have no alternative and stuff needs to keep sort of happening: but the love of money is a dangerous and terrible thing, even makes old friends get cross with each other (not in the instance above though: swift defuseage of that thought please!) Guess all forms of greed are cupiditastic: even greed for pomp and power and paternal influence and respect.
Radix malorum est cupiditas
(Evil stems from greed: I think I've used this tag before somewhere on the site. Don't have a lot of choice with my limited Latin! Sorry Dr Pratt. Mea maxima culpa...)
Good sermon on Sunday from The Rev. N.G. about friendship: if you want to make friends, show an interest in the other person. Secret of good conversation is the right questions. Like that. Not sure that all the friends I have ever made I would want to always keep - nor have I, nor have I been kept by - but Joyce writes about friendship for a reason and a season and a lifetime. Hear, hear.
I seem to remember hugging a tree with a friend called Marguerita, at a student party in about 1991 and thinking that life didn't get much better. (It has.)
One wants as ones friend, someone who gets you: who you are not frightened they are going to belittle or dismiss that which is important to you and to which one's being is intimately connected. One wants honesty. And one also wants kindness. In the end kindness is an honesty that takes everything into account, including one's feelings. Mercy, if you like, which triumphs over judgement.
'By mercy, mercy's yours.'
'The highest form of wisdom is kindness.'
Off on Monday morn, monastically early, to France, with Aviary to her Mum's house, plus Lulu and Charlie the ex-Monk and Al Verey and Noah (woof! woof!) First holiday abroad for 4 years, and while Amalfi would be lovely too (I suppose), Brittany will certainly do very nicely for the time being. Rare treat! Pray God it's a good trip and we are all still speaking three days later (well not Noah that is... be quite nice if he stays fairly quiet throughout!)
Molto grazie!
No comments:
Post a Comment