skies and birkin

it has turned that icy cold again today. many places have flooded again down south from all the recent rain. poor souls. The Borders has lots of snow. it is around 5pm and the sky has gone that translucent blue of twilight, the kind of blue that you cant paint or else people would say you invented it. there is an elderly gent looking in the window of 'the letting shop', there are the obligatory smokers standing outside having their fag. being an ex-smoker, i sympathise, but am glad i dont smoke any more. it is amazingly freeing not to smoke; i was amazed at that feeling at first, like a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders. but i did miss it a lot - mainly because the activity of rolling up was a friendly thing you did that connected you with all sorts of people doing the same, and because its true what they say - smokers are just more interesting people! a survey done a few years ago between art college students and university students discovered that most art students smoke, and most uni students dont! i rest my case. (actually i suspect that it has got more to do with neuroses).(should that be neurosis or neuroses).

there is something in the Guardian about Jane Birkin. i was at school with her many moons ago. she was huge fun. she would not remember this, or me, i dont expect but when she left (before we did) she went about collecting our autographs just in case!! wise lassie except i dont think any of us got famous - but if only i had got hers.. i will never forget her - a tom boy and fearless always laughing. dear birkin -(we called her birkin) - go well. it was an absolutely dreadful school by the way.