I should be more careful in what I wish for. Okay so it hasn’t snowed but the sweaters are most definitely out of the closet. Having basked in 25 degrees and blazing sunshine on my birthday at the beginning of last week, by Friday it had dropped 10+ degrees and with that came the wind and rain. A lot of it. I did get a bit worried that the huge oak tree might collapse onto the pool such was its dramatic swaying, instead the darn thing scattered even more acorns across the deck and beyond. Denis tells me pigs are very fond of these fruits so I shall have a word with Abraham who has a few on his allotment, should keep their tummies full for the next six months. At least we have been able to plant my presents as the soil no longer resembles concrete, the apricot tree now stands proudly in a corner of the back garden and a rather lovely bush that likes to dangle is angled over the ramparts of the front wall. A close friend of mine recently sent me a picture of her new puppy that she had been given for her birthday, I sent her back pictures of my tree.
It was just as well that the weather turned when it did as I had my second and last dental operation on Wednesday. I’m glad all is over and done with in that department now, save the 6 month wait for the actual teeth, as I had forgotten how painful the one before was. Darling Denis insisted on accompanying me to the clinic in Toulouse, I think I made his day in letting him drive my car home even if we missed the turning off the autoroute because we were talking too much. Thankfully, what with the howling gales and downpours, he has managed to avoid my sour post-op mood and hamster face. No hard foods, no exercise and no alcohol do not make for a cheerful Sophi. Sherman of course, has taken his caring duties very seriously to the point where I woke up this morning with his head against my sore cheek promptly whacking it in the process as I got up. I would just like to say a huge thank you to my wonderful mother-in-law, Jenny, for brightening up my gloom by sending me all three Richard Osman books. Brilliantly written and the best pick-me-up.
The timing of the above could have been better as I wasn’t able to spend as much of the week with my cousin Robert and his family as I would have liked. The last time I saw them, Yogi Bear was a mere cub and Edward and Alice, their children, were practically still in nappies. And now they are teenagers and very nice ones at that. Considering Neo can be dodgy at the best of times around strangers, he took to Alice immediately which helped as she was staying in my spare room along with most of my woofers. I have learnt to accept that there is no loyalty in any of my canines when it comes to guests’ beds.
So now as the clocks have gone back and Autumn moves forward, the bird feeders full and the trees nearly bare apart from my orange tree which is bending over with juicy delights, I’ve managed to get the woofers to pose for their annual Christmas photo. And all facing the right way around, almost. Our seasonal cards have been designed and ordered, the one thing I still have to get done in the UK as the French don’t really do over the top Noel stuff. I ought to start looking for battery-operated lights soon as we aren’t allow to blow the electric grid this year what with the energy crisis and all. Mind you, with all this weird weather – it’s blue skies and sun again today, I really should get Max the chauffagiste to get a move on and put in the solar panels he’s been promising – we could go fairy light mad on those…..
“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house” (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
Widow plus woofs 