A RABBIT ON THE FAIRWAY AND OTHER SUMMER OBSERVATIONS

A letter about all kinds of cool stuff, such as cicadas, poetry readings, and the underrated power of a compliment

Dear You,

How are you? Where are you and what are you up to? It’s been a while since I wrote a letter to you – in fact, when did I even write you a letter?! I think there’s much to be said about writing letters, and if I could I’d write this letter by hand and scan it, but when my head is full of stuff – even if it’s just fluff and sillies, my handwriting is so horrendous that sometimes even I can’t decipher what it says. So probably better to type it.

It is CRAZY hot in Spain. I know it’s hot in most parts of Europe at the moment, and has been for a few weeks, but it’s only July 2. Will it be autumn in August? Or will we just keep on rising higher and higher on the temperature see-saw until Mont-Blanc loses its cool and Zermatt throws a temper tantrum like other Swiss mountains have done recently, throwing their glaciers down into villages and forcing everyone to move out? I hope not, but I read that it was above freezing at the top of the Mont Blanc the other day, which is 4’809 metres above sea level. And for all I know, it’s probably still the case.

I’m writing this from the terrace of my house, and I swear to you that even the cicadas sound like they’re panting. I wonder if they have little pink tongues that hang out of their mouths in the heat, like dogs. Meanwhile, there’s a rabbit on the other side of the golf course who is just stuffing himself on the fairway. Or maybe he’s on the rough. Clearly, I don’t play golf! Anyway, he’s there most of the time, getting fatter and fatter. I hope he’s keeping an eye out for the fox. Apparently, there’s a rabbit-gobbling fox on the prowl. Also, there’s a deer running around too. One of the security guards told me he ran straight through our property yesterday evening. I wish I’d seen him; I love deer!

I wrote earlier that I’d been planning on going to Barcelona tomorrow to attend an event at Backstory, the English bookshop on Carrer de Majorca. They’re doing a talk about Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book, Atmosphere, and I wanted to go early and take a copy of my poetry book to give them, to see if they’d take a look at it, and be up for a reading sometime in the autumn. But my intestines have been playing up – as usual! I’ve been feeling a lot better since starting my subcutaneous immunosuppressant injections, but each day is different. On Monday I managed to go to the beach with a girlfriend for a few hours, which was wonderful, but yesterday I was pretty ill, and this morning was meh. And I’m always worried about going and getting sick.

And although I’m sure nerves are part of the problem, when you’ve been mega ill for as long as I have, it’s hard to trust your body again. I’d planned on staying in a hotel, which is expensive, and if I get there and can’t go and am just in the hotel, worrying about whether I’m going to be well enough to drive home again the next day, well I’d rather stay at home. Also, for a poetry reading I’d have to be confident in my intestines too. I’m hoping to do one here, at home, just a small one, later in the summer when more people are here. I guess it would be easier to cancel at the last minute if necessary. Chronic illness really mucks up your life.

Anyway, for a bookshop reading, I guess need to be a little more patient. Which is fine.

What are you reading? I’m listening to Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and I’m really enjoying it, although it’s very sad. It’s so well read, and I do admire Kristen Hannah’s storytelling skills, how easily her story just flows. I listened to her novel about Vietnam, The Women, not long ago, which is also excellent. I’m also reading Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book, Atmosphere, and enjoying that. And lots of poetry, too, Hollie McNish and Vanessa Kisuule. I bought Jonathan Potter’s new book, too but it hasn’t arrived yet.

As for music, I’ve got one of my favourite Spotify playlists on repeat, The Big Green Tape, which is a wonderful mix of huge hits from the 70s and 80s, some 90s too maybe, as this is a big playlist that tends to grow organically! I’m writing a novel set in the late 70s, so the music brings back feelings and memories. And I do love all those songs!

I want to start compiling another poetry book soon. I’ve written so many poems, so I want to read through them and see if there are enough I think are good enough for a book. I haven’t written a poem today; I get the eebie-jeebies when I don’t write one every day, worrying I’ve lost my magic. Maybe one will manifest itself later this evening.

I hope this letter finds you well, and that my news hasn’t put you to sleep! I’m not exactly livin’ la vida loca at the moment… although Cedric and I are going to see Simple Minds at the Cap Roig festival in a couple of weeks (old fogeys like us – and they are far more my music than my husband’s), and then Michael Buble on August 18th at the same place, which will be fun. Jennifer Lopez has a concert in Barcelona on the 15th, and I kind of-sort of know her show manager and guitar player, and I’m sure it will be an amazing show, but I don’t know if my body is up for it yet. Although if it were Ricky Martin (who tours with the same guitarist!) wild horses couldn’t keep me away!

I initially planned on mentioning all the terrible things happening in the world, but I don’t think we need to be reminded, and there are so many people who are far more knowledgeable to write about it. I feel sad just thinking about everything, as well as so helpless and privileged. I hope America finds its way out of fascism, as what’s happening there sets such a terrible example for all the other political a-holes everywhere. As for Gaza, I have no words. And then there’s all the other wars nobody ever mentions because nobody cares…

I saw something nice on someone’s Instagram today. It’s a prompt to pay someone a compliment. Just say something nice to someone, whether it’s someone you know, or a stranger. I often tell strangers I like their shoes, or their coat, or their earrings, and it’s always lovely to see their faces light up. Imagine if everyone paid other people compliments every day, as we walked down the street! Imagine how lovely that would be! Hello, I love your tee-shirt! Hi, that lipstick colour looks great on you! Hello, you have beautiful hair! Shall we try it and see? Come on! Let’s make tomorrow International Compliment Day!

And with that, I am going to pour myself a glass of rosé. Because I feel like it.

Lots of love

Cesca

PS: Let’s make Compliment Day a thing. Compliment a stranger! And pass the idea on to your friends. Your smile might put a spring in someone’s hot, sticky feet!