It is a cloudy start, but the outlook is warm and sunny soon. The clouds will burn off. That is what happens a lot at the start of an Aussie day.

Yesterday, I did have lunch at the Hurlingham. The sun was shining, and we sat like frilled neck lizards warming up in the sun. We discussed holidays, books and plays. They are avid theatre goers. Strangely, we avoided politics. Which is what people are discussing a lot at the moment. It looks as if we are going to have another woman Prime Minister. Brill is what I say.

I realised that my pheasant friends were not in favour of dogs at Hurlingham. I thought, that’s bad luck, as where I go, Domino goes. I think they were referring to an incident at tennis on Tuesday morning. I was in the middle of a game, and I realised that Domino had chewed through his lead, and he was helping himself to a bag of dental dog sticks in someone else’s bag. I had no choice but to run off the court and to tie Domino back up, feeling a little worse for munching through so many sticks in one sitting. At least his breath smelt fresh and minty. But when I returned to court, my absence, of all of a few minutes, had not been appreciated by the players.

It’s not only Brexit that divides people. All sorts of issues do. Do you agree to disagree politely, or is it a deal breaker? Do you move politely away? Can a friendship work if they don’t like or tolerate dogs? Especially my dog, Domino. I love it when people stop me and ask about him: “What breed is he?” Or coo over him: “My isn’t that a beautiful coat.” Or address comments directly at him: “Aren’t you a beautiful creature!” Such comments make me feel that the world is well.

After our trip back as a family of four to Oz in early 1998 I felt at peace with the world. The children loved Australia. They could run around like kangaroos! And swim like dolphins! I wanted this to happen over and over again.

Geoff and I decided to go back again at Christmas the same year. Something wonderful had happened. Stan and Bev, my parents, were considering leaving the suburbs of Sydney and relocating to be near my brother’s family  on the stunning Illawarra coastline.

We went at Christmas to help them find a house, a house that would accommodate us all when we visited. We found Cater Street in Coledale. It was perfect. It had a self contained annexe with two bedrooms. It had views of the escarpment and the sea.

 

It looked like I would be hopping across the world regularly from then on. Even if it was a long way to hop.

Today, I am at the Old Rectory getting ready for Geoff’s brother to visit for the weekend. And my first friend from Australia, Anne and her girls. And my daughter, Anna, is coming down too with a friend. Hugo has to stay in London for the big finals weekend at Wimbledon.