Beautifully written in adequate lightness and humour, Clare!

Firstly, take care of your one cricket: the Chinese consider crickets as happiness carriers; in the past, maybe even today in small villages, they had it in a cage or flask and walked with it as a companion to ease long trips on foot.

Here, at Spring and Summer, there are not one; they come in clouds, settle in trees and bushes, scream in a deafening noise.

Spring should have begun, but with the uncertainty of the seasons, did not yet here.

You helped me to better feel happy.

Ex townie, I am now living in a small city lost on the Mantiqueira Mountains, Minas Gerais, Brazil. I wake up at the parakeet's fussy outcry within my house and neighbouring trees; now I, instead of irritated, I get out of bed infused with its joy and energy. Only after the multiple flocks goes wherever I do not know, one can hear the beautiful trills of the various and coloured birds.

Even with slight colour blindness, I marvel that can see all the ones my eyes cones distinguish.

I work and write till late at night, early wee hours; when I do to bed, Computer, and smartphone out… I SEEEP!

But, your fourth suggestion aggravated my anguish: I am writing a new book, wrote and rewrote the draft, and cannot find the path I need to finish it. I will, I hope.

Silence? Besides the parakeets by morning and late afternoon, deafening silence.

I do love to connect with others; back in Sao Paulo, I had, besides family, a lot of friends and acquaintances. Here, large geographic area, ridiculously small population, I made friends with neighbours not too distant, mailman, owner, and employees of the “Mall” (a small supermarket, furniture, appliances, and a bar). I connect and talk to my dogs.

Again, congratulations and gratitude.