A telephone call

Dear travelling lady 1 Thanks for your post. I had been wondering if there was a break in communications. Perhaps you had already gone to Kerala. Perhaps you had been locked out of the quarters. Or you may have gone on a walkabout. All such speculation has been suppressed. Communications have been re-established. 2 I have just telephoned Kathleen O'Callaghan. I was looking for plaudits for NN (enhanced). (Maybe I should just join the conspiracy of silence.) So I gave the news about Jim. And about you. Then, it was time to pass the parcel to Kathleen. She told me that she had been suffering from two hairline breaks in .... . She had developed a tremor (in her arm, maybe) and had to complete a daily exercise plan. She then spoke about her elder daughter, Catherine. She has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, it seemed a good idea to close the conversation. But I reminded myself of the merits of News from the Family a couple of times a year. It's in my mind to look for an opportunity of a day-return visit to Beverley. Not now. 3 Ah, the assignment. It occupied me yesterday. When I went to bed, the assignment had not been completed. I took the morning off. I went to the station to say hello to the sturdy cyclists. I then went to Mass in St Peter's, where I enjoyed the feeling of it all. The interlude concluded. Back to the assignment. The end was in sight. Yes, I concluded the assignment, tidied it, let it be for a while. Then I had to relearn the way of submitting an assignment through the electronic system. Yes, I had to relearn. I had to take care because the system allows just the one submission. I did take care, I did key the submission button. I received an acknowledgement. Tomorrow will be an assignment-free day. 4.1 And what about the assignment? It prompted me to read pages in the big fat book. I am more familiar with the book than I was. I have also read and used material about A Catholic Modernity. I'm glad I read that article as it has introduced to a way of thinking about the relationship between state-power and Catholicism. And about the assumed identity in, say, the nineteenth century and Christian missionary endeavours. Yes, there's a lot going on. It's not easy, but it's worthwhile. So I have been at ease during the week. 5 There will be more reading to accomplish during this week. I will read a chapter of Taylor. I also have my copy of Max Hastings' Catastrophe. However, I will begin the day tomorrow with a visit to Haulcon and - perhaps - a visit to CP. 6 Keep sending the news. I have the 200-pupil school in mind. I wondered about the funding and about the number of teachers. The able expatriate was a one-time Naval attache, I gather. He is evidently a good egg. Ah, I wondered who were the pupils. 6.1 And I wonder how the local media handled the stories of rape and incineration. Continue to look about and to record. There'll be much to listen to when, in due course, you return to this village. Lots of love Stayathome