51. 4th March 2025. First steps back into the world

 Out and about this morning. Decided then best thing I could do to make myself feel better was actually leave the bloody house. A walk down Brown's Lane, along Copy Lane, up St Oswald's and home - might not feel much but it's the most exercise I've done in a fortnight. 

Feel awake. Feel invigorated. For now.

Met a young woman on Brown's Lane. Asked me for directions to Coy Lane (which I didn't hear because I had my AirPods in) "Where are you going on Copy Lane?" "The dizzy place." Then regaled me with the fact that her fella's ex had attacked her at a bus stop, kicked her (rolled up her trackie leg to show me the bruise, which I hadn't asked for), that she'd been putting up with this stuff since she was 20 (weirdly now 37), that her fella's ex had said he had a baby with her but her fella was young then and hadn't even slept with her. 

She'd been to St Anne's Street to report it, now had to go to Copy Lane to give a statement. "Do you think that's assault?" She asked. "God, I've no idea." 

Really hadn't been looking to be involved in other people's lives this morning. Wished her good luck, went back to my podcast. 

News in from sources, hearing rumours of progress on DD. Which is useful, as I was  going to do a bit of follow up this morning. 

Had to turn down invite to Blood Brothers at The Empire next week (and its 100th birthday celebration) - LFC vs PSG the same night. A Wednesday -Tuesday turn round when I'd assumed it was going to be a Tuesday (this week) to Weds. Pain in the arse scheduling.

For today? Not sure. I finished a first draft of DD yesterday, waiting till it's read and notes given before I do anything else on it. Thought of writing on Vicks Trips today in advance of hearing more, but may just read a play instead. Energy good, feeling positive. 


Points missed above. Her boyfriend wasn't going toe the police station because he had to go away - to Lanzarote. All of a sudden by the sound of it. Not dodgy.

And:

Does all this feel like diary written in February 39 with no reference to the coming storm despite the fact that the seeds were obviously in retrospect?

Trump has ceased all US aid to Ukraine after his and Vance's ambushing of Zelensky in the Oval Office. Watching the leader of the free world bully a man whose country was invaded and is being constantly bombed may be the worst piece of history I've watched live on TV.

Starmer's stepping up as a leader; perhaps this is what takes us back into the EU. Which we desperately need. 

Trump's also announced that he'll pull funding for any college that allows 'illegal' protests to take place place, without saying what that 'illegal' is actually constituted by.

The USA has fallen, it's a Russian asset and its leader is indulging in the fascist playbooks of old. 

Let's see how long it takes for me to be arrested for writing that here, even if nobody's looking. 

Progress on Brief Conversation as well. Things move forward. The worry is that, last time I saw momentum growing in my career they sent a pandemic to derail me. 

It;s either my career or Liverpool's title winning form that's the cause of this, surely? 

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