It’s been one of those ‘blink and you miss it’ weeks. Having constant rain for the first few days meant not being able to do much except twiddle one’s fingers which was just as well as I came down with a stinking cold. The whole sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and muscle achy sort. Mind you, it’s funny how times have changed as I did two Covid tests before I concluded that it was just a rhume. The tests were best done anyway as my darling friend, Saba, who had been up here with me on last Friday night, along with her husband and Denis, messaged me to say she was in bed with the real thing – luckily the rest of our little gang all came up negative. And Mumo had her flu jab and Covid stab number 5 on Friday.
Having been dosed up with a wonder drug, Christelle the best pharmacist one could wish for, I am back to full bounce once again. I’m sure everyone around me is thoroughly relieved as I am the world’s worst patient. I get very fidgety and stroppy when I can’t do anything except snuffle and blow. The woofers are feeling the benefits too, not only because Mum is back pootling around the garden but the sun has come out again too. There isn’t a lot to do now apart from pack away any remaining non-weatherproof outdoor furniture and finish the fencing on the top corner wall but I’d rather be outdoors than in. It’s still very mild considering we are a month away from Christmas and the bougainvillea is still blooming marvellously – all good for the soul. Running however, has become an exercise in kicking large lumps of clay off one’s soles – I almost threw my knee out in the process. I shall suffer it though for the sake of Arry, Alice and Sherbs as the thought of running these three down a main road, well no. Whilst they might move in a straight line alongside cars, try adding cats and rabbits to your early morning mindfulness program.
The Book is now finished. I do have to put all the photos into some sort of order but the pen has been put down. Hopefully it’ll be off to find an agent or two in the next few weeks with the help of a couple of my former clients and friends. With that in mind, I’ve started preparing for the second one – so much more fun to write about starting life in this little village and the people who have become an important part of it. Speaking of Rouffiac, Mumo and I went down to the local Christmas market yesterday. Not exactly bustling crowds let’s face it, but it’s always nice to see familiar faces. Denis tells me that the Mayor has decided we will have festive lights over the roads as usual which should add a bit of ho-ho-ho even if we aren’t allowed to fry the electric grid ourselves this year. Instead, I have bought lots of battery-operated bulbs. Not enough to set the houses alight but enough to sparkle up the outside Christmas tree and Papa Noel who Denis is going to put on a sleigh over the newly restored corner wall. Better get started next week I think, December is coming – who knows, it might snow?
“In winter, I plot and plan. In Spring I move” (Henry Rollins)
Widow plus woofs 