Welcome to Litsy!

Reflections on a long life. Would be easy to dismiss as curmudgeonly scribbling. Even with an active mind, the world is smaller at 90. But the perspective! She reflects on the state of world affairs, recognizing that in her lifetime Britain passed from being a world power to secondary. What does that mean for her identity as a Briton, an identity formed when she was young? She often remembers her cat Ibsen in her thought diary and misses him.

I have never before in my life kept a diary of my thoughts, and here at the start of my tenth decade, having for the moment nothing much else to write, I am having a go at it.

#firstlinefridays

In 2017, at the age of 91, Jan Morris writes a daily diary of her thoughts for the first time. They range from cats to politicians, memories of army days (as James) and reporting Sir Edmund Hillary‘s climbing of Everest, to zoos, salad, sunshine, exercise and national anthems. Her nostalgia for the Great in GB can be a little uncomfortable at times, but is tempered with warmth and humour. Probably better to dip into than to read straight through.

Drizzly mizzly walk back from the gym this morning, past some interesting-shaped houses. #litsywalkers

Still listening to Jan Morris, and although her thoughts are individually quite amusing, I suspect this would be a better book to dip in and out of than attempt to read all the way through. (I‘m getting a little bored 😐)

Also, has anyone had issues with the #borrowbox app? Occasionally mine just stops. It appears to be playing, but no sound...

Just a short #audiowalk today, listening to Jan Morris. But I did find a glorious yellow tree in full bloom, just round the corner. We‘d been wondering why someone in the carpark was brushing yellow dust off the roof of his car this morning. #litsywalkers

Off to try and get my brain working now!

A Monday poem (on a Thursday) from Jan Morris.

Walked back from the gym - 1.3 miles - and actual blue sky. Cut through the grounds of the council offices on the way back. #litsywalkers @kaye

This is quite an unusual book. At the age of 93, writer & traveller Jan Morris commits to writing a diary. But rather than events or daily life, she writes about a thought that occurs to her each day, whether it be the effect of sunshine on tourists (and herself) or That Melody she has going round in her head. It‘s making me smile. And I imagine, if you were doing a daily writing project, her riffs and meanders would make good company/inspiration.

“Aaah, what the sun can do.”

I‘ve been a bit of a mess since the start of the year, so have decided that this is the week I attempt to get back to fully-functioning human. Step 1 - out to see the sunrise. Scuppered by low cloud, but that dot on the horizon? That‘s sun!

1.6 miles- not bad before breakfast. & Jan Morris‘s meanderings in my ears, including her exercise regime (1000 paces up the lane & back, rain or shine - she‘s 93). #litsywalkers