The North Wind and the Sun

At the risk of being a blogging cliche and an English cliche, I am going to talk about the weather.  Well, what else do you start a chat with, particularly after being AWOL for 8 months?! 

Summer is almost upon us and we have finally had our taste of the warmer days to come.  Tarpaulin has been removed from our outdoor furniture and the flannel bed linen has been relegated to the airing cupboard in the bathroom, hopefully not to be shaken out until at least October.

This evening as we were walking the dog through the village I noticed how warm the sun still was when the wind died down.  The wind, however, was especially chilly and made the evening feel cold.  

Whenever we have very warm sun and cold wind I am always reminded of my lovely old headmaster at junior school and the stories that he would sometimes read in assembly for a special treat.  One of my favourites was an Aesop's fable, "The North Wind and the Sun".  

You will have heard the story, basically with the moral that force is less effective than gentler methods of persuasion.  I always think of the sun and the wind arguing, and the traveller whose coat they were trying to remove.  Of course, the sun has a smiling, serene, face and the wind has puffed out cheeks and angry eyebrows.  Then my mind wanders to Mr McNulty at the front of the school hall and the yellow papers containing the collection of short stories that he would unfold at the end of an assembly.  I never tired of hearing those stories.  I don't think any of us did.  We children would cheer when he brought out those yellow papers.  I daydream about sitting cross-legged on the highly polished parquet flooring in the main hall and the dust motes that could be seen as the sun streamed in through the tall, narrow, windows.  I would pick at the scabs on my knees, prod the bruises on my legs, smooth my cotton skirt and fiddle with the lace trimming my ankle socks.  All whilst blissfully listening to my beloved headteacher read from those exciting yellow papers.

I am a sentimental girl, it's true, but summer evenings make me especially nostalgic about my childhood and those gorgeously long summer days.  

I love living in the countryside at this time of year - baby birds, cow parsley and early morning farm traffic all make me feel so joyful and peaceful.  And that's all I really need at the moment; joy and peace.

Thanks for popping by.  Have a lovely week.

Nicki 

x

PS I am sorry for the lack of photos.  I have put off blogging for the last few months due to lack of suitable photographs.  I don't carry a camera around with me and I'm often too caught up in what I'm doing to actually take a photo of it anyway, especially one good enough for a page on the actual world wide web. So I just decided to go for it and waffle a bit.  Sans photos.  Figured you'll forgive me, because you're a nice bunch.  I do, after all, blog mostly for myself and I can cope with mental imagery when I read back through my posts.  I have made a little pact with myself, though, to make my  DSLR more accessible and I will pop it in my bag more often to capture some of the lovely moments I am blessed with in my life.  

Wish I'd had my camera when Drew accidentally skidded across the caravan's wet verandah in the rain last week.  Nearly wee'd myself laughing.   

Walking Weather

We made the most of the weather yesterday and set off for a good, brisk, walk across the fields with the dog.  We were out nearly three hours and saw just two other people, each with their dog.  (Until we walked past the village pub and every single table outside was occupied.  Spring is a-coming!)

I wanted to take a photo of the garden which is behind the pub on the right of this photo,
but there were too many people!  It felt intrusive.

I love watching our dog so happy to be free, sniffing in the fields.  Seeing her great big smile and the little bunny hops she does through the grass make me feel all squishy inside.  As we walked, Drew and I chatted about nothing in particular (and squabbled good-naturedly about the right path to take through the fields).  Perfect quality time together.

As soon as we got home we plonked ourselves on the swing seat in the garden - first time this year!  I took off my socks and boots and wiggled my toes in the fresh air.  That first cup of coffee and a sit down is such bliss when you come back from a good walk.

We spent the rest of the day reading - I have found it difficult to concentrate on anything lately so was thrilled to download a book on my Kindle yesterday that really absorbed me.  I started it at 3pm and didn't put it down until I finished (at 1am).  It was just chick lit, nothing high-brow, but it had a bit more substance than the usual girl-meets-boy novel.  It is called Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes if you fancy reading it.  I particularly liked the ending; it could have disappointed but I was happy with the way it all wound up.  I've now downloaded a couple more of Jo Jo's books. Think that I've found a new author to read - love that.

I know that I need to show you my little envelopes (little bit worried I may have built it up a bit too much - prepare for an anti-climax) but I am going to finish up by asking for some advice.  I haven't been sleeping properly for the last few weeks.  I don't think I'm worried about anything, I just have a lot on my mind - mostly just things I need to do.  What is your top tip for a good night's sleep?  A bottle of wine usually knocks me out but I can't have a hangover at work! ;-)

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Nicki 

x

PS - our forthcoming holiday is a little trip to Center Parcs. BEYOND excited. Have never been before but am looking forward to lots of fresh air and naps.  The best thing, by far, is the fact that my niece will be there too so I get a whole week with my favourite little girl!  Will love being Auntie Nicki and Uncle Drew (pronounced, by her, as Ju) for the week.  She loves messing around with my crafty stuff so I'm off to Hobbycraft at the weekend to buy a big stash of coloured papers, glitter and paints to take with me for any rainy afternoons indoors.  Can't. Wait.

'Wedged in a window' and other stories

It is so nice to finally have time to blog, although I admit that given my frame of mind over the past couple of weeks it's probably a good thing for everyone that I haven't had time.   I've been a right Moaning Minnie (as Mum would say).  If I was a cartoon, there would have been a little black raincloud above my head for the past two weeks.  Nothing has felt right.  We haven't been eating properly, I haven't kept on top of any household chores.   I haven't been baking or making.  We have spent our evenings eating chocolate and/or fast food, downing sherry and/or wine and watching a lot of TV, trying to ignore the smelly damp bombsite that has been our house.

It was only the dining room floor that needed work but it turned our little world upside down.  A particular low point, for me, was when we were forced to enter the house last Saturday by clambering through the living room window using a stepladder, carefully negotiating the three rosebushes below. (The dining room floor wasn't dry as quickly as expected and we couldn't use the front door).  I, having opted for what I considered to be the most ladylike way to climb into the window*, swiftly became wedged at an awkward angle.  One leg in, one leg out.  Like the hokey cokey but less fun and atop a step ladder.  Embarrassingly, I had to back my way out of the window and down the stepladder so that my stepson and husband could climb back out of the living room to help me get in.  It was like a real-life Professor Layton puzzle, though far less dignified given that we live on a main road.  Not my finest moment.  I dealt with it in a very British way, however, and managed a chirpy 'hello' and brisk little wave to the passing neighbour walking her dog.   She called a jolly 'hello' back and, in a similarly typical British fashion, did not mention the fact that I was wedged in the window, seemingly all alone.

Thankfully, the work is almost finished (just the edging and a threshold-thingy to fit) and our furniture delivery is imminent (maybe this week, I'm told).  Yay!

So things are slowly being put back in their proper place and I am looking forward to having a dining table again.  The room is much warmer now that it has a proper floor and I am pleased with the way it is taking shape.

Having to vacate the house for long periods of time has had its plus points, of course.  The dog has enjoyed a lot of walks through the village, for one thing.  I remembered to take my phone last weekend to get a few photos.  

We walk this way every single day and I like to pick out reference points where I can watch the seasons changing.

The horse often trots over to say hello, but then retreats when he realises that the poo bag we are invariably carrying definitely does not contain snacks.)

 

There have also been enforced shopping trips.  Ahem.  I have treated myself to a few new clothes.  This gorgeous oversized top from Topshop will look fab with my new leather leggings, some scary heels and messy hair.

I ♥ it. 

It's ever-so-slightly sheer but will be fine either with [attractive] flesh-coloured underwear or a black vest underneath.  (I can't tell you how cool I feel, owning a pair of leather leggings.  They are seriously amazing and I feel a bit Joan Jett in them.)

I've also bought loads of stuff from Joules.  Goodies for me, the husband, my niece and a little thank you present for my sis.  Three gorgeous dresses that I'm looking forward to wearing:

All of these are very flattering on, I'm so pleased with them.  They show off my legs (which are OK) and hide my cake-loving tummy.  Bonus.   They all look a treat with leggings, tights or skinny jeans.  I have also bought a sweater with ducks on, a floral shirt, the big chunky cardi in one of my previous posts and some amazing 'muck boots' which I'm beyond thrilled with.  I have to tell myself every single day that I am NOT jealous of my sister's job.  (I am.)

I have made a new make-up discovery, bought a few pieces of vintage china and stocked up on yarn to get me through the long cold (penniless, now) Autumn nights.   I'll save it all for another day because we're all off to Bedfordshire** now.

Night.

Nicki 

x

* There is not a ladylike way to climb through a window.
** A Bridget Jones term meaning 'bed'.

From cold to cosy and loving every minute

My legs ache.  My bum aches.  But it was worth it.

We're just back from a long weekend in the Peak District.  We stayed in an uber-comfortable cottage with a couple of friends of ours and had the most lovely time.  We did a huge walk every day, up hill and down dale, making sure we were back by dusk for showers and snoozes, wine and music (Madeleine Peyroux, Roberta Flack, Hafdis Huld... just gorgeous) before heading to the pub - next door! - for dinner.  It was A Perfect Weekend.  Exhausting but relaxing all at the same time.  

 

There is a lot I love about walking and I particularly like being out in the cold.  What I like most is the way that a long walk enhances everything for me: a flask of coffee by a frosty stream seems such a treat and a ham salad baguette tastes delicious when it's eaten at the top of a huge hill I've just huffed, puffed and grumbled my way up!  When I get back, a hot shower feels like actual hydro-therapy and a 5pm snooze is the very height of luxury.  

We have made a pact to walk more.  The dog was particularly interested in this news.

To top off our perfect weekend, we came home to the two wood-burning stoves we had fitted on Monday and hadn't been able to use yet.   We were dying to get home and light those babies! 

So here I am, sitting in my living room beside my new best friend.  I look over at her dreamily every twenty minutes or so and want to cover my husband with kisses for splashing out on this most fabulous thing for us. Our lovely little freezing-cold stone cottage is finally, properly, warm!

I'm going to top up my bucket of tea and start a flat crochet circle again, for extra practice.