dear friend

i justed received your very welcome letter

&

instead of buttons, i have a pencil note

note that i use a pen

&

like my drawings may make mistakes

with drawings that is my intention

to see where it takes me, where it

takes the viewer

&

if no one sees it anyway, never mind

i have never been to grimsby

&

should like to visit one day

when we are allowed out again

i planned to write this sitting at the table

by the window like a lady in a novel yet

find i am on the floor crouching at the

coffee table

plans fail

the meter man came

& he kept his distance on command beautifully

young lad with red hair

&

an angry boil on his neck

this morning i woke to birdsong

opened the window wide to listen

to them rather than the radio

pleasant days despite the underlying anxiety

over family health & wellbeing

most of my erasers are filthy as i use chunks

of charcoal

&

draw back in with the rubber

i do wash them in the machine sometimes you know

as i write i notice more dust over there to be swept

aside later

i glory in four first class stamps left so this will fly

quickly if i post it soon

yes, leaving things alone a while works for me

on my return i may see things more clearly

&

a way to proceed.