Hi

I am writing to let you know that I am here

I was about halfway here when I thought

That I would like to write you a letter, tonight

It is a good place, Lavender Barn that is

For, as yet, I haven’t been out into the town

I have been writing, so from that point of view

The retreat is meeting its purpose square on

Whether the writing will be any good, or

Whether you will care for it, well only time will tell

Of course there is a resonance with our Norfolk trip

To see the pink-footed geese in the dawn frost

That was a good trip wasn’t it; do you remember

Maggi Hambling’s sculpture on the beach

You and your friend trying on hats

You must have been in that shop for a full hour

And I am pretty sure that you didn’t buy anything

Talking of shopping, I am going to Norfolk Lavender

Possibly for breakfast, tomorrow, if the weather holds

Though I have a vague recollection of being disappointed

During our last visit there, but I can’t quite recall why

I have two beds to choose from, but both will feel empty

Without you

All my love

Christopher

xxx

Settling In

I have had my bath

And my cottage pie

Already I am in my pyjamas

And dressing gown

(Bought especially for the trip)

I am comfortable

Though the early excitement is fading

But this place is a good choice

I say to myself

(I say that often)

I have not meditated yet

But I will do

Probably sat on a dining chair

By the window, with the curtains drawn

(It needs to be a calm place)

First I have the urge to write a letter

Is it too soon

No, it is not too soon, get on with it

Stop procrastinating

(Procrastination is my number one skill)

I don’t sit at the dining table

To write the letter

That would infer formality

Instead, I am on the rattan settee

And I do gaze into the warming wood-burner

Sites

There are a few places in which to write

I will, for sure, try them all

The rattan set

Of two armchairs and a settee

Faces the fireplace

That might well be

My early morning and late evening

Writing place

The two mock-leather Tub chairs

With their own side table

That may become a favourite

Certainly for writing

With a pot of coffee

And a slice of cake

The dining area seems quite formal

With six modern straight back chairs

But it is by the French window

So maybe a place for editing

With a computer on the table

A breeze at my back, from the freely open door

The stairs are adorned

With a metal sculpture

Of pink-footed geese in flight

For certain I will sit here, and imagine

Those dawn RSPB visitations we made

Further down the coast

Landed

This is an Italian tile

And wood floor kind of establishment

With lots of exposed brickwork

It is capable of holding six people

But I am on my own

I like it that way, I can spread out

The lavender is not here

It is in the next village along

Heacham - home to Norfolk Lavender

Not Keynsham spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M

The home of Horace Batchelor

If you know him you have heard him

Back to the barn

With its substantial feature fireplace

Complete with log-burner

And the double-turn, hand crafted

Oak staircase which is fully open

To the vaulted ceiling above

On into the kitchen

With its impressive double cooker

Housed in a mock chimney

Yes, Christopher

A good choice

Now for the roll top bath

 

Outward Bound

It is eighty miles, just about

To Dersingham

A steady Sunday afternoon drive

Check-in is from four PM

Boston, unusually

Is quiet and easily navigated

There appears to be little or no

Police presence thus far

I think to shop at Sainsbury’s Kings Lynn

But change my mind, no, not today

Instead to press on; turn up the stereo

I pull into Lavender Barn at four-fifteen

Apparently, so my host tells me

We are on the flight path of the pink-footed geese

Also close by there is the Sandringham Estate

Although it was closed last time I called

Now that the courtesies

And the bonhomie are over

I can make a pot of tea

Then run a bath

For one must be adequately prepared

If one is to write productively

And that is the intention

For these few days in Norfolk