MONDAY, APRIL 22
I opened the door to fresh morning air and off old Depp charged acting like a puppy. He ran across the lawn, around the hedge, under the iron fence and into the grassy field. His black, fluffy tail wagging — no looking back as I chased behind him, thinking that with only two days to go on this house/pet sit this was not a good time to lose the dog. Still I was happy to see him so lively. We have brought a new verve to this old dog — his coat shines, he wags his tail, he responds when called, he runs (a little)!
WINDING DOWN
We are winding down, as Chloe and I discussed on our walk, preparing mentally to move on again. We’ve been planning the next four months of our travels, and feeling that now-familiar sense of strangeness at leaving a place we’ve come to know. We want to get away from this house but the sun and warm weather have greatly improved our days. Still it has been work, unlike other house/pet sits; the days are restricted with three walks at old-dog speed that must be taken near the house and not out exploring.
EAST SUSSEX
The drive to Kent doesn’t feel anything like the luscious, country drives we’ve had through Sussex, West Sussex or south to Brighton — there are more freeways, more traffic and more of the detritus of suburbia — particularly beyond Chartwell.
Lindley’s house is on a suburban street, snuggled tightly between other mid-sized homes of all architectural age and variety. (Lindley is Patrick’s sister. Patrick is a friend from Vancouver.) Her house is a beautiful robin egg blue. Patrick was antsy when we arrived, have been cooped up in the house or garden for the last five days, as he says, “living in a bubble.” A break was much needed.
After passing the car racetrack next door, we drove the lanes through some charming, old villages twisted into the hilly landscape. In Sevenoaks, we stopped for coffee. I mistakenly called it similar to Crawley, and was immediately corrected. “It isn’t anything like Crawley,” said Chloe from the backseat. Of course, she was right. It is much fancier, has nicer shops, more wealth, and fresh foods!
The barbeque chicken and vegan burgers were on the grill when we returned for the English Easter. The conversation at dinner covered ideas about popular thinking and technology among other things. With our desert of gluten free fruit pie, we were asked to identify ourselves as a raspberry or a blueberry. Blueberries, we were told, are supportive fruits; raspberries, more dominant. Lindley’s daughter settled on a Pear. Chloe said she was a durrian.
Home for the third and final walk of the day. One more night walk and Depp will be back with his owners again.
