thus does horsemouth (the split-tongued spirit) speak in code

'sat up late writing some blank verse in honour of daisy.' - kilvert, diaries, on this day in 1872.

phew. so the visit from mum's friends is done (it was good  to hear laughter in the house). 

horsemouth has survived again

oh dear the grand scheme of things has had contact with the world of reality and (once again) it looks difficult and problematic and as if the grand scheme of things may not survive. the costs are in and (as usual) they are higher than envisaged. cloth may have to be cut differently or a whole new route to the summit of K2 attempted. 

thus does horsemouth (the split-tongued spirit) speak in code.

'do you want to learn about rainwater harvesting?' asks an advert in horsemouth's feed. 

horsemouth looks out of the window at the falling rain and laughs. 

yes he does want to learn about rainwater harvesting (thanks for asking). 

'... in the time we went through together.' 

it is strange to think practicalities was written in 1987, that it is already nearly 40 years old, and yet it feels timeless.