So there was I pulling the remaining pins out of one of my ‘Adolphe’ chairs last Sunday afternoon when I got a phone call from Mumo’s hairdresser. I will mention briefly that Chantal works from home and home is St-Hilaire, a couple of minutes from our L’Horte. Anyway, back to the scenario. Mumo had had an accident in her car and could I get over there right away but don’t worry, she’s fine. Naturally, I whizzed over as fast as I could but as I turned up the sharp rise that is their road, I couldn’t see Mumo or her little Toyota. Chantal, who had been waiting for me outside, pointed to the field below the road – Mumo’s car was lying on its side surrounded by firemen and trucks. As we made our way down to the site, I have to point out that I assumed Mumo was in one of the trucks – not as I found out upon arrival, still in the car. Amazingly, unhurt. And after an evening in the emergency bit of Carcassonne hospital, she was carefully retrieved by Denis and I. Whilst a hundred and one things can go through our heads about how and why she ended up sideways in a field, it really doesn’t matter – I’m just thankful that my Mum is okay apart from a few bruises. And I did look up to the stars that night and say thank you to Pop.
As you can imagine after such an active start to the week, I spent the rest of it doing slightly less stressful things, even the phone calls back and forth with the insurance company I had to deal with (and all in French) were dealt with in a very unlike Sophi calm manner. The tedious task of painting the preservative (this word means something totally different in French I found out during a recent conversation by the way)on the pool’s wooden deck is now done and although I accidentally bought a tin that wasn’t ‘no colour’ but ‘teak tint’, it actually looks rather swish. And yes, the winter cover is now on and bolted in until next year. It wasn’t the easiest of jobs rolling the bache into place, not just because it’s extremely heavy but also the weather decide to bring one last hit of summer vibes and we were working in full 28 degrees blue sky.
But finally the winter wardrobe has been pulled out and the bikinis put into hibernation. Simon has got the fire up and running in the main house and the two of us moved the sofa into a more cosy position so Mumo could relax in her sauna-like salon. Outside definitely has that Autumn nip in the air now and we have even had a bit of rain – not as much as we would like but its a start. The Virginia creeper that blankets the road side of the courtyard is beginning its annual red-leaved extravaganza and the the ground below my terrace is covered in walnuts. All very seasonal if not a little late.
Next week of course, is the dreaded birthday. I’m saving the celebrations for a couple of weeks when my girls, Rene and Sophy, pop over for a wild weekend. I have plans in mind, down at chez Abrahams as long as the weather doesn’t suddenly decide winter cancels out Autumn. Denis and I were over there comme d’habitude to boogie the night away with friends, well one of us was swinging her hips, to an incredible DJ set – my knees are not thanking me this morning. They say you’re as young as you feel which doesn’t bode well, I run with more straps around my joints than a leather-clad dominatrix and my hands ache after pulling out all those tiny pins from the chair. Perhaps I should be joining my incredibly tough Mumo on the sofa curled up in front of that roaring fire – nah, I’ve got too much bop to stop and anyway, its only 9 weeks to Christmas and Denis and I still have to untangle the fairy lights…
“You are only young once but you can stay immature indefinitely” (Ogden Nash)
Widow plus woofs 