It promised to be a beautiful Sunday morning. I had just made myself my first cup of ginger & lemon tea (or is that lemon & ginger tea? I'm never quite sure) and put the porridge on the stove.
Then I got sidetracked with "The Story behind Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'" (which you can read online here although I prefer the tactile experience of actually holding the book in my hand and leisurely turning the pages) and didn't re-enter reality until all the wild ducks had assembled in front of the verandah door demanding to be fed and my porridge had burnt itself to the consistency of a solid adobe brick.
Of course, I had read the book before and also watched Gregory Peck's wonderful performance in the movie of the same name. What made me pick up "The Story behind ..." (which is far more interesting than the usual black-and-yellow Cliffs Notes) was the mention of the book in Shaun Bythell's "Seven Kind of People You Find in Bookshops" under the heading "Species: Parentes,Gloriae Cupidi (Aspirational Parents)", and I quote, "... we had a memorable encounter with a truly charming family. The son - who was about seven years old - bought a copy of one of the Harry Potter books, I think (although my memory may well have failed me here), and as he was paying for it, Nick asked him what he was currently reading. He replied, 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Nicky was visible taken aback, and his mother shrugged her shoulders and said, 'He chose it - we didn't think it was suitable, but he insisted.' He is obviously an exceptional child, and they were the least pushy parents I could ever have wished to meet. They don't really fit into this type, but then they don't really fit into any type. I hope to see them again."
And so would I, had I ever met them, just as I wished I had had access to such books when I was his age - although I like to think I'm making up for lost time seventy years later. What I couldn't make up for was the time I had left my porridge unattended which I ate with knife and fork.
In the meantime, a bright and sunny morning has unfolded in all its glory and "Riverbend" is looking its best. I may follow suit by having a shower and a shave before deciding what to do on such a beautiful day.
P.S.
Some action on the river: a huge barge has just anchored across from "Riverbend", probably in readiness for the bridge work going on just around the bend in the river. Who said nothing happens at "Riverbend"?
The barge didn't anchor for long, but then there was more activity ...
