Lockdown Diary - Thursday 26th November 2020

Not much planned for today, at least not until the early evening, other than work.

One thing I have to organise is getting two forms of identity certified. Not that keen on going to the main Post Office, so I'm going to call 'our' solicitors.

A quick check on the web site shows that their offices are closed, but on the principle of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained', I call anyway.  My luck is in! There is one solicitor in the office and she says she can certify my documents as long as I come over in the next 30 minutes.  Quick change, find the documents, grab the car keys, mask and money (she wants cash) and off I drive.

On arrival at the solicitors I ring the bell and wait outside.  First the receptionist comes out to enquire WTF I'm doing there, which wasn't easy to explain while wearing a mask and being drowned out by a man wielding an industrial hedge trimmer on the bushes in the car park directly opposite the front door.  She then fetched the solicitor, who came out wearing a mask, checked what I wanted certifying (not me...yet), I briefly moved back to a safe distance (having not lit the blue touch paper) and removed my mask to prove I was the man in the passport photograph (as opposed to the man in the iron mask).  She then went back inside whilst I stood around doing an interpretation of a brass monkey - it was still remarkably cold, considering it was now about 11:30. What seemed like an eternity later, but probably less than 10 minutes, she returned clutching the signed copies, my originals and a receipt. We had a brief chat about why she was in the office, during which I forgot the cold, as she was rather personable, even in a mask.

I thanked her for her help and then headed back home and to work.

Work continued until around quarter to six p.m. when the carers arrived for the final visit of the day and I started getting myself organised for tonight's Zoom call with the Idler and star guest, the renowned Italian physicist, Carlo Rovelli.

Another hour of my life well spent: Carlo Rovelli turns out to be not only a great science writer, but an amazingly good speaker on a wide range of subjects.  He is speaking from Canada (London, Ontario) and, though English is not his first language, he speaks well and engagingly. His conversation not only touches on quantum theory, but also philosophy, the arts and science, the pandemic and politics.

After that, dinner, the end of 'Truth Seekers', a bit of tidying, then upstairs for eventual sleep.

Back in 1986 a mate and I saw The Residents live at the Hammersmith Palais.  I can't remember if they performed this number, but it's one of my favourites: 'Diskomo' in edited form from the excellent four-CD compilation, '80 Aching Orphans' (if you're interested to delve into their music, this wouldn't be a bad place to start!) 

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