The old river in its broad reach rested unruffled at the decline of day, after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks, spread out in the tranquil dignity of a water way leading to the uttermost ends of the earth.

Joseph Conrad – Heart of Darkness

This is the message Georg and Maria, quoting Beethoven, sent to me:

Die Hoffnung nährt mich, sie nährt ja die halbe Welt, und ich habe sie mein Lebtag zur Nachbarin gehabt, was wäre sonst aus mir geworden?

Which translates into English as:

Hope nourishes me, it nourishes indeed half the world, and I have had it as my neighbour for all my life, what otherwise would have become of me?

How appropriate a message for us all to hold onto at this challenging time.

Picture of the River Mersey at dusk ©Bobby Seal