Family stomps and meals. Words and books. Transitory art forms.

Yesterday turned into a better day than originally forecast. In fact the rain didn’t arrive here until late in the evening. Which is just as well, as I discovered the two smallest grandchildren’s raincoats still hanging from a hook in the hall this morning. They left quite late yesterday evening  and the rain coats were forgotten in the collection of clutter they brought with them.

Most of the gang arrived in the late morning. The sunshine had provoked Granddaughter Number Two, on a brief visit home from university, to suggest a family walk while the sun was shining. (For the rest of her short visit the forecast is wet and windy.) Grandson Number One was working until 1.00 and planned to join us later. Granddaughter Number One was vague about what time she would finish work but would arrive in time for us all to eat together. 

And so, after the small people, and Granddaughter Number Two, had consumed cheese toasties (in one case a cheese and blackcurrant jam toastie!) we went on a family stomp on our usual route past the millponds and through the trees, stopping off at one point to play Pooh Sticks on the bridge over the stream. This time we did not see any interesting fauna - no frogs or deer yesterday but plenty of blossom 

We returned home in time for Grandson Number One to arrive with his stepfather. Coffee all round - well, except for the small people!

Some time later we all sat down to dinner together, for the first time in ages. Everyone seems to have had commitments, even if those commitments have been a small matter of going on holiday.

A good day all round, with plenty of sunshine. The rain arrived as I went to bed. Today is dull. More rain is forecast but I have washing on the line anyway. 

I have a new word: “tsundoku”. In Japanese, "tsundoku" means collecting books and letting them pile up, not for neglect, but for the joy of knowing they're there, full of untold stories. Perfect for Granddaughter Number Two, as is this cartoon. 

When we used to go every year to Sanxenxo in Galicia, N,W. Spain, where Phil played chess and I walked up and down the beach and along the coast, I would marvel at the skill of the sand sculptors, producing elaborate and transitory works of art on the beach. In Australia, where they have quite a lot of beaches and sand, they have sand Sculpting Championships. The sculptures seem to be much bigger affairs than the ones that appeared on Sanxenxo beach and they have a theme. This year’s was  “The Villains of Storytime”. However, in my opinion they cheat a little, using builders’ sand rather than beach sand as it is easier to mould, and they are produced indoors. Hmmm! Anyway, here is a link to an article about 

I wonder what becomes of the sculptures once the championship is over. Are they allowed to crumble away, reverting to a pile of sand? Or are the winners somehow preserved? Rather like the Fallas of Valencia, where the fantastic “sculptures” made each year are sort of ritually burnt, except for the winners which are preserved in the Museo Fallero. Every year two privileged ninots (those of the figures that make up the Fallas) survive the fire and in the museum you can see all those who were rescued from the flames since 1934.

There you go.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!