Day Two Hundred and Fifty Six

Miss Pancake 

When I got up it was so early this morning it was nearly dark outside.

Because my friend Sach came in her noisy Jeep to get my friend Niamh, so they could go swimming in the ocean. Oh my goodness me. 

They going to visit their friends who have a cottage beside that ocean. 

But it is far away, so they have to drive for a very long time. Oh my goodness. 

But Sach sent me a picture. 

From inside their car.

After everybody left we went back to bed. But only for a little while.

We only had a very little walk this morning.

Because the smelly smokey air was back again. Oh dear. 

Because lots of the poor trees are still on fire. That is not so nice. 

So after our breakfast Zita and I went to do our rascal ladies work. 

And we were very busy until nearly our lunch time. 

Festis and Furrgus 

We were just about to fan out for the morning’s reconnaissance when young Miss Sach pulled into the driveway to pick up our Niamh.

They and the regular suspects were off to Cape Cod of all places. 

In order to visit the friend who sent the Champagne and doughnuts. 

Apparently they have all taken their bathing suits. 

Well all I can say to that is that I wish them good luck and plenty of rum toddies. 

The Atlantic is no your local swimming pool let me tell you.

I remember when I was commanding the old Tartar, desperately pulling fellows out of the drink during that contretemps with the hun. 

You did not last long in the Western Approaches let me tell you. 

Ahh well, times long gone fortunately. 

In spite of the decidedly foul air we managed to make it to Victories to review the menu.

And a medium sized box of Miss Suzy Q’s doughnuts accompanied us back to the house. 

With Niamh and her friends absent for the weekend we left them on the kitchen counter. 

Taking advantage of the family’s Zoom account we are meeting with Cousin Morag in the next day or so. 

To discuss the pitiful situation and to bring something a dam’d sight more useful than moral support let me tell you. 

Miss Pancake 

I had a very quiet afternoon minding Zita in our own comfy office. 

And when we were all finished our work we went for a little practice walk. 

By the end of our walk I had remembered all my homework. But not at the beginning. Oh well. 

We had an early dinner tonight.

Because we did not have to wait for Niamh to get home.  

We had the used pizza from our together dinner last night. And some from Mexico soup. 

Then it was time to watch our favourite detective program.

Furrgus and Festis 

After an early evening patrol we were very busy getting ourselves ready for tonight’s marathon reading of Ulysses. 

This has been our tradition for at least the last 80 years or so. 

Every Bloomsday whoever of us can get together takes turns reading the masterpiece  - aloud. 

Sometimes this has involved the use of the telephone.

Now as you can well imagine that soon drys out the throat. And we have a solution for that.

The first hundred pages - Sherry. 

The second two hundred pages - Cognac. 

The rest of the 762 pages are accomplished with Scotch. 

Now we are not so dissolute as to just sodden ourselves with drink, so our stash of apple and peach pies will be broken out, to keep the sustenance and sugar levels high. 

And of course this morning’s acquired Miss Suzy Q’s doughnuts. 

Now tradition requires a 12 pm start - Dublin time naturaly

So as soon as Craig and Zita had left the table, we got the map of old Dublin that Doctor Alice brought us, placed the appropriate glasses and decanters within easy reach and commenced. Glasses in hand.