A Cat, a Man and Two Women

A Cat, a Man and Two Women By Jun'ichiro Tanizaki Translated by Paul McCarthy, book cover.

by Jun’ichiro Tanizaki Translated by Paul McCarthy

A Cat, a Man and Two Women By Jun'ichiro Tanizaki Translated by Paul McCarthy, book cover.
Fiction, Japanese Literature

“Considering all I’ve sacrificed, is it too much to ask for one little cat in return?”

Shinako has been ousted from her marriage by her husband Shozo and his younger lover Fukuko. She’s lost everything: her home, status, and respectability. Yet the only thing she longs for is Lily, the elegant tortoiseshell cat she shared with her husband. As Shinako pleads for Lily’s return, Shozo’s reluctance to part with the cat reveals his true affections, and the lengths he’ll go to hold onto the one he loves most.

A small masterpiece, A Cat, a Man, and Two Women is a novel about loneliness, love, and companionship of the most unexpected kind. In this story of Japanese society and manners, Tanizaki gives us a perfectly-formed oddball comedy, and a love triangle in which the only real rival is feline.

from www.goodreads.com

 

The National Arts & Culture Review

New York Times Review

The Weekend

The Weekend by Charlotte Wood

The Weekend

by Charlotte Wood

The Weekend by Charlotte Wood
Fiction

Sylvie, Jude, Wendy and Adele have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.

These women couldn’t be more different: Jude, a once-famous restaurateur with a spotless life and a long-standing affair with a married man; Wendy, an acclaimed feminist intellectual; Adele, a former star of the stage, now practically homeless.

Struggling to recall exactly why they’ve remained close all these years, the grieving women gather for one last weekend at Sylvie’s old beach house – not for a celebration of her life, but to clean the place out before it is sold.

But fraying tempers, an elderly dog, unwelcome guests and too much wine collide in a storm that brings long-buried hurts to the surface – a storm that will either remind them of the bond they share, or sweep away their friendship for good.

 

Guardian Review

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22 September 2020 Update

It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:

  • HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
  • FACE – Cover your face in enclosed spaces, especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
  • SPACE – Stay 2 metres apart where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place.

Face Coverings

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  • Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law (from 24 September).
  • Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.

Meeting with others

1. Social distancing

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When with people you do not live with, you should also avoid: physical contact; being close and face-to-face; and shouting or singing close to them. You should also avoid crowded areas with lots of people; and touching things that other people have touched.

Where you cannot stay 2 metres apart you should stay more than 1 metre apart, as well as taking extra steps to stay safe. For example:

  • wear a face covering: on public transport and in many indoor spaces, you must wear a face covering by law, unless you are exempt
  • move outdoors, where it is safer and there is more space
  • if indoors, make sure rooms are well ventilated by keeping windows and doors open

You do not need to socially distance from anyone in your household, meaning the people you live with. You also do not need to socially distance from someone you’re in an established relationship with, or anyone in your legally-permitted support bubble if you are in one.

It may not always be possible or practicable to maintain social distancing when providing care to a young child, or person with a disability or health condition. You should still limit close contact as much as possible when providing these types of care, and take other precautions such as washing hands and opening windows for ventilation.

2. Seeing friends and family

When seeing friends and family you do not live with you should:

  • meet in groups of 6 or less
  • follow social distancing rules when you meet up
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  • meet people outdoors where practical: meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting people indoors because fresh air provides better ventilation

Limits on the number of people you can see socially have changed. When meeting friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) you must not meet in a group of more than 6, indoors or outdoors. This is against the law and the police will have the powers to enforce these legal limits, including to issue fines (fixed penalty notices) of £200, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.

Exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people.

Where a group includes someone covered by such an exception (for example, someone who is working), they are not counted as part of the gatherings limit. This means, for example, a tradesperson can go into a household of six without breaching the limit, if they are there for work.

More information

14 September 2020 Update

People must not meet in groups larger than 6 in England, inside or outside.

23 June 2020 Update

What you can do

  • From 4 July the 2m distancing guidance will change in England. People should keep a distance of “one metre plus” – this means staying one metre apart, while observing precautions to reduce the risk of transmission.
  • Two households of any size will be able to meet indoors or outside. It will be possible to stay overnight.
  • Restaurants and pubs in England will also be allowed to reopen, providing they follow safety guidelines.
  • Holiday accommodation – including hotels, B&Bs, cottages, campsites and caravan parks – can also reopen.
  • Outdoors, people from multiple households can meet in groups of up to six – but two households can meet regardless of size.
  • More outdoor spaces will open if they can do so safely, including outdoor gyms and children’s playgrounds.
  • Hairdressers will be able to reopen, as long as they take precautions.
  • Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries will be able to open, along with funfairs and theme parks, amusement arcades, outdoor skating rinks, social clubs and model villages.
  • Places of worship will be able to open for prayers and services, including weddings with up to 30 guests – subject to social distancing.

You should continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines when you are outside your home, ensuring you are at least one metre away from anyone outside your household.

What you can’t do

  • meet several families inside
  • exercise in an indoor sports court, gym or leisure centre, or go swimming in a public pool

What are the new quarantine rules?

Passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train – including UK nationals – will be asked to provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days. Travellers can be fined £100 for failing to fill in a form with these details.

Surprise visits will be used to check they are following the rules. Those in England could be fined up to £1,000 if they fail to self-isolate.

Passengers should drive their own car to their destination, where possible. If they don’t provide an address, the government will arrange accommodation at the traveller’s expense.

Once at their destination they must not use public transport or taxis. They must not go to work, school, or public areas, or have visitors except for essential support.

They are also not allowed to go out to buy food, or other essentials, where they can rely on others.

People returning from overseas will not be automatically eligible for statutory sick pay unless they meet the required conditions – for example displaying coronavirus symptoms.

Is anywhere exempt from quarantine?

Anyone arriving from the Common Travel Area (CTA) – the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man – will not have to enter quarantine, as long as they have been in the CTA for at least 14 days.

The government has also said it is looking into international travel corridors or “air bridges” to countries with low infection rates and strong healthcare systems. It hopes this could avoid the need for quarantine for travellers between the two.

more information

Royal Wedding Tea Party

Royal Wedding Tea Party 2018

On Saturday 19th May 2018, at 3pm, about 45 residents joined us for a celebration of the royal wedding.
Many thanks to Bill & Anthea for volunteering their garden for the event.

Theatre & Lunch Trip

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Theatre & Lunch Trip to The Watermill in Newbury to see a Midsummer Night’s Dream.

On Saturday 12th May 2018 we went to see the Watermill’s fabulous production, it was a really enjoyable day out. Many thanks must go to Bill for driving us there & back.

VENUE:
Waterill Logo
& Restaurant in Newbury

AGM and Skittles

AGM and Skittles at the Lamb Inn, March

Although fewer of us than usual met at 7pm at The Lamb Inn in Urchfont for Skittles on Friday 23rd March 2018, it remained a lively event with a good level of competition.
The ladies team managed to defeat the fellas in the first round (yeah!), but the second round (individual knock out) saw John see off some tough competition from his male counterparts, to take the prize.

 

Sunday Lunch

Wedhampton Residents Social Group - Sunday Lunch 2019

On Sunday, 19th November, many of us travelled over to The Millstream in Marden for a very enjoyable Sunday Lunch. The food was excellent, the  service prompt and friendly and the company, brilliant, as always!

Wedhampton Residents Social Group - Sunday Lunch 2017
Wedhampton Residents Social Group - Sunday Lunch 2017
Wedhampton Residents Social Group - Sunday Lunch 2017
Wedhampton Residents Social Group - Sunday Lunch 2017

It was a beautiful sunny day and some of us even walked back home across the fields to Wedhampton.

Safari Supper

Wedhampton Residents Social Group - Safari-Supper-2019

Safari Supper

On Saturday, 21st October 2017 at various establishments around Wedhampton, 36 of us met for drinks & canapes at around 6.30pm.
Guests were dressed in their favourite colours, outfits, as characters and one group even had the Sound of Music song ‘My Favourite Things‘ as a theme.

Lots of favourite food was served in many various houses, with guests travelling in pairs and dining in a different house for each course. We all finally met up for coffee, liqueurs, sweet treats and more drinks … and even some dancing to round of a marvellous evening.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens …
Brown paper packages tied up with string …
Bright copper kettles …
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes …

My favourite things ... Safari Supper 2017

 

Safari Supper 2017 - after party

Safari Supper 2017