Nothing today. I did nothing, at any rate, my laziest day for months. Val was rather more active, + went horse-riding. Twice, in fact. Once in the morning for a lesson, which she was so successful at she was pronounced capable of going out on her own in the afternoon. Not quite on her own actually – she was in company with 4 others, 2 of them beginners like herself. That afternoon was rather a fiasco. The horse she was assigned was absolutely in control, + went where she wanted, how far, + at precisely what speed. So that it condescended to walk a little way, stopped, + refused to be coaxed, bullied, persuaded or forced to go further. I think Val’s confidence would have been severely dented if almost exactly the same thing had not happened to the other 2 learners.
For me, however, a completely empty day. I ate breakfast, lunch + dinner, smoked a chillum or 2, played cards, read, wrote a letter. John Irving’s “The Hotel New Hampshire” is totally engrossing me. It’s a magnificent, hilarious, savage, shocking + warm book – I haven’t read anything even half as good since Biswas.
In the evening we were entertained by a puppet show, which is shown at the Lodge about every other night. We almost didn’t bother to watch it, because of the small entrance fee, but reason prevailed over miserliness. I’m glad it did, tho’, because it was excellent to watch, + a good contrast to the humorous vignettes put on in the folk museum. I don’t know if what we saw was actually a play, but it was more complete + cohesive, as well as having some wonderful little scenes, especially a lashing, whirling swordsman, + a boxer able to lift his own head off.
Having had such a lazy day, very little to comment upon. Wish I could remember the puppet show better, but so be it.
