It’s almost the end of October and I’m still wearing flip flops. And whilst I’m not complaining about the unseasonably warm weather, after all we haven’t had to turn the heating on, I can’t help feeling a little out of balance when it comes to deciding what to wear every morning – I ought to buy more T-shirts. We haven’t had much rain either so I’ve been taking a bottle of water for the dogs with me on the dawn run as the streams and puddles are bone dry. With Callum getting soaked in South Australia and me sweating in France, everything is a bit topsy-turvy me thinks.
On the plus side, we’ve all been ‘making hay while the sun shines’ renovating and repairing external structures. The lovely Lionel has almost finished encasing my huge outdoor glass window with new wood panels and Denis and I finally got my charrues (old farm ploughs) onto the top of the corner wall. Everything is freshly painted and concrete plant bunkers built on the lower part. Okay so the paint turned out to be a little pinker than we thought but bringing the wall back to life has garnered much praise from the village for Denis and I. At least no-one can get lost in Rouffiac, any directions now preceded by “turn left and the pink ramparts” or “just after the pink wall – you can’t miss it”. We did have to get the tractor out to move some of the heavier pieces of iron machinery, me driving it for the first time but only after the work was done – I don’t think Denis trusted me not to drive it over the wall. I really have turned into a country girl even if I made him check the engine for spiders first. And with my birthday looming and the potager now finished, I’m pretty sure any gifts will be of the planting variety. Once upon a time I would have been dreaming of fancy shoes or a night out on the town, now it’s tomatoes and haricot beans. I am having a party though but next door in the big house.
I feel it’s only fitting to end this week’s blog with a tribute to my dear friend and former client, Dame Carmen Callil who passed away earlier this week. I met Carmen over 20 years ago through the late Keith Butt (greatest vet of all time) who warned me that she could be difficult if she decided she didn’t like you. Well, Carmen and I hit it off immediately and it was through her that I fell in love with Border terriers (she had three over the time I knew her). She was also the reason why I got writing. I think Carmen was the first person to read the blog and it was her idea that I write a book based on it. Actually, in her words; “Darling, you must write a book”. Aside from being an incredibly talented author and publisher, Carmen was also passionate about animal welfare and women’s rights. Oh and cricket. If there was something she needed to stand up for, she did, especially when it came to people she loved and politics (although she despised most politicians), she had the most infectious laugh and wicked wit and always told you the truth. Carmen adored France and knew this region well, when I told her I was moving she gave me the biggest hug saying; “simply, divine darling!”. I shall miss not being able to talk to her or send her a message but most of all, I shall miss her wisdom. I wish she had got to read my opus, I’ll definitely have to finish the bloody thing now. Thank you Carmen for all those years of being my champion and for being my friend…….
“I always wanted to change the world, it simply wasn’t good enough” (Dame Carmen Callil)
Widow plus woofs 