The Squatter and I have finally and officially (with all sorts of important paperwork having been filled out...not really) met!
I was in Scotland & Liverpool last week, and took the train down to the South, and ended up spending a lovely weekend at
Squa's, who was the perfect host, and even allowed me to let my inner Grace Kelly loose when we traveled the appropriately lush countryside in his awesome car with the roof down.
We got extremely lucky with the weather, and went all the way up to the Glastonbury Tor! We also visited the local Abbey, where, supposedly, Arthur's tomb was found by monks. Both the Tor and the Abbey are places of power, and you feel it, if you're open to that sort of thing or - especially, like me - writing a book that concerns related themes of magic and mystery and lots of pretty grass.
Squa also took me to see some of the English coast, and introduced me to a drink called port. We talked incessantly for three days and never ran out of things to say to each other, which does, I think, show that not only are we awesome people (if, perhaps, old, dry and dessicated members of the Downs), but that our friendship can exist just as well outside the (green and gorgeous) digital world.
I just want to thank
Squa for his generous hospitality, the use of his couch, the toast in the morning (I am one of those airy, irresponsible people, incapable of making herself breakfast, usually relying on Boyfriend for that sort of thing) and all the conversation - and the tour of his library which, I believe, ought to make any Tolkien fan weep. Or drool. Or something.
Pictures are available from my site for your viewing pleasure!
This is
Squa considering the distance left to the Tor:
http://nataliaantonova.files.wordpre...9/05/d-tor.jpg
The Tor - how it is today up there.
http://nataliaantonova.files.wordpre...tor-proper.jpg
Squa and myself - persuaded by a nice lady to take off our sunglasses and stop playing it cool, so we can actually be
seen:
http://nataliaantonova.files.wordpre...5/me-and-d.jpg
A thoughtful picture of
Squa on Abbey grounds:
http://nataliaantonova.files.wordpre...05/d-abbey.jpg
And, finally, Arthur's possible grave, with
Squa's shadow, a complex metaphor for... something:
http://nataliaantonova.files.wordpre.../05/arthur.jpg
I am back in London now, but I wish I was still down South, surrounded by
Squa's atmosphere of fabulousness.