We are very fond of doing cryptic crossword puzzles. The Guardian newspaper always produces a really good one to mark each public holiday, and we are deeply engaged with the latest of these. It is a real stinker, and we have only just tumbled to the fact that there is a theme running through many of the clues, namely, Wagner’s Ring cycle. Sadly, this is a segment of the world of opera which neither of us knows well. I count it as some achievement that I have actually been able to name the theme and identify several of the characters.
My wife and I have very different approaches to the task in hand. I am best employed trying to solve the clues, whereas her forte is locating where the answers are to be inserted in the grid. We have often joked that she has been born out of time, and would have fitted in ideally at Bletchley Park, during WWII.* This kind of job can be deeply engaging, and we threw ourselves into it (again) after dinner tonight. Two hours later we have both realised that we are doing our heads in and are in acute need of a break. It is with the most enormous sense of relief that I’m tackling this blog right now. At least in this context words mean what they appear to mean.
Tomorrow morning we set off on holiday, to North Wales. I’m not sure whether we will take this dreadful crossword puzzle with us, to finish there, or whether we quit and look up the on-line solutions before we leave. (I think that I’m hoping that we can settle for the latter.) Both of us feel that we need a good break, and a week in a small cottage on the island of Anglesey seems to be what we both need. I have loaded a box of art materials to take with me, and I’m looking forward eagerly to enjoying some new stimulation. The stay qualifies for the description of a “retreat”. This afternoon we had a ‘phone call from a friend who had called round for tea yesterday, telling us that somebody with whom he has just spent a holiday has notified him that, since their return, he has tested positive for Covid-19 infection. I think that we are supposed to isolate as a result of this contact, but it seems to us that we are likely to be more isolated in Wales than if we stayed at home. So, we leave early tomorrow, as planned.
I have no idea what the quality of communication might be from this cottage, and it is possible that I might manage the occasional post on the blog. It is distinctly possible, however, that you might well not hear from me for another week. If connectivity is good, I do hope that I will be able to report some lively artistic activity. Otherwise, I expect that we will be in touch again after a break of a week.
*This was the secret government base that was devoted to cracking German coded communication.