10 – 14 August 2026

Tuesday This morning the park is damp with dew. It’s light relief from the dry crunch the grass has been making recently. A regular I’ve chatted to over the years throws a ball for his rescue dog and the dog races to catch it. Every time I see this man his pace has slowed further. I watch it and feel my heart squeezing. Last week I saw T in a field. He’s started using walking poles and raised them above his head like a Tusken Raider to greet me. “Well you could knock me down with a feather!” He shouted. “Alright?!” It was good to see him. “Remember when we met?” He said. “In the pandemic?” I do, actually. We’ve covered a lot of ground since then. Today I pass FMP and she’s on the phone. I wave hello and carry on with the march. They’re messing with the trains so if you miss the one you want, it’s 30 minutes to the next one. Hop on the bus for the last few stops. When I board, sunshine spotlights the bus driver as he smiles. He’s literally beaming. From the train, sunflowers stand out…