Heading across the pond in a few days, to do a short residency at Colgate U, upstate NY, where Karin Coonrod and I will do more exploration on Gertrude Stein (I’ve been writing for it since I got back from the island), after which I hope to have a week in NYC to see a few friends, try and do some recording of the new opera, and pick up my cat! Meanwhile we have a full house in Cotherstone: my sis is back from menorca, having closed up for the winter, and will hopefully stay here with mum while I’m in NY (I’ve also put carers in place); and best of all, my good friend and longtime collaborator Joan Schirle is here for a few days en route to visit friends in the south of france (that’s a friendly detour for you…). It’s always great to have friends from over the pond come and see me here in my new temporary life… helps me feel slightly less of a split personality… and with outside eyes around, I see how fortunate I am… took her on some good walks, and introduced her to the silver swan at the Bowes Museum – the inspiration for Peter Carey’s latest novel, The Chemistry of Tears…