Day 2610 High on weed.

7th October 2024

It was the pilgrimage to wales to see my friend Martin. I decided to take the scenic route and cross the old Severn bridge. That decision was the easy part, missing the exit was definitely not in the plan. Now I was going down the wrong road looking for a way to turn round. I drove on for miles eventually ending up at a service station I would have passed if I had gone my usual way. I was now back on the  M4 heading for Newport, but I was in familiar territory.

It takes me two and a half hours to get to Whitney on Wye, then I face several hours of Martin and his dogs. I must have mentioned his two Newfoundlands before, both are the size of small horses with mouths that could easily swallow my head. These are big animals, much too large, and strong from Martin and his wife Liz to handle, but they struggle to keep them under control. Martin’s approach is to shout at them, very loudly. Of course that’s not the best way, the only thing it achieves is ringing in my ears. 

I find a place to sit on a small sofa, a dog then sits next to me, it’s breath warming the side of my face. Liz then bring me a coffee, some welcome refreshments. 

We cover many subjects, including the state of British politics, conflicts in the world, US Presidential election, and most other things Martin has opinions on. I have learned from post confrontations that he had fixed opinions, and to challenge them is at my peril.

Much of out conversations are repetitive, I’ve heard them many times before, most are word for word, but I am tolerant, and respond appropriately.

I was given a wonderful lunch, and the conversations continued well into the afternoon.

Talking is exhausting, and after he had smoked the fifth or sixth “herbal” cigarette, I could see he was getting tired, my cue to make my departure.

By now it was getting dark, now it was another two and a half hours for the return trip.

By the time I unlocked the door of the cottage I had enough. It had been a long day, but I had seen my friend, the purpose of my trip, so I could now relax and prepare myself for another day.