It’s around 9.00am and I’m still in my dressing gown … I know, it’s a slow start. No work today and the sun’s not shining. In fact it’s looking grey-sky out there, even – say it softly – almost autumnal. No, we’re due a few more summery days surely? A blast of Indian Summer?
I’m not ready to dig out the hot water bottle and warm jim-jams yet. I’m not ready to throw the sandals to the back of the wardrobe and encase my feet in socks and boots. Don’t get me wrong, Autumn’s a beautiful season, all that mist and mellow fruitfulness and gathering blackberries, staining fingers purple in the process. But I want a few more blasts of heat before that sets in.
So what’ve I got up to lately?
Work and the down to earth business of ‘earning a living’. More of that another time.
Reading (not as much as I ought or intend to). I can recommend Margaret Attwood’s ‘Year of the Flood’, a terrific book by a writer still capable of captivating flights of fancy. I’m re-discovering my love of Barbara Pym books too. Such sly humour and those timid spinsters and assorted parish ladies.
Seeing the odd film – ‘Diary of a Teenage Girl’ – funny and sweet and wonderfully honest.
Watching some telly – okay, I’m going to admit a sneaking fondness for Emmerdale. I know, I know … Bake Off’s back on too, and Ripper Street. Yay!
Inept allotment keeping – I must be the only person who can’t grow courgettes to save her life. Why? They grow like topsy on other peoples plots. Oh well, at least the strawberry plants were productive. There’s nothing like eating sun-warmed berries the second after you’ve picked up. Mmmm ….
Right, time to get showered and dressed, sort laundry, hoover (much to the cat’s disgust as she hates the noisy vacuum), continue with painting the bathroom (milky-coffee coloured walls, to be paired with orange towels. It’ll be like bathing in a Terry’s Chocolate Orange) and send a little prayer or two upwards … just a few more sunny days. Please!
I’m not ready to dig out the hot water bottle and warm jim-jams yet. I’m not ready to throw the sandals to the back of the wardrobe and encase my feet in socks and boots. Don’t get me wrong, Autumn’s a beautiful season, all that mist and mellow fruitfulness and gathering blackberries, staining fingers purple in the process. But I want a few more blasts of heat before that sets in.
So what’ve I got up to lately?
Work and the down to earth business of ‘earning a living’. More of that another time.
Reading (not as much as I ought or intend to). I can recommend Margaret Attwood’s ‘Year of the Flood’, a terrific book by a writer still capable of captivating flights of fancy. I’m re-discovering my love of Barbara Pym books too. Such sly humour and those timid spinsters and assorted parish ladies.
Seeing the odd film – ‘Diary of a Teenage Girl’ – funny and sweet and wonderfully honest.
Watching some telly – okay, I’m going to admit a sneaking fondness for Emmerdale. I know, I know … Bake Off’s back on too, and Ripper Street. Yay!
Inept allotment keeping – I must be the only person who can’t grow courgettes to save her life. Why? They grow like topsy on other peoples plots. Oh well, at least the strawberry plants were productive. There’s nothing like eating sun-warmed berries the second after you’ve picked up. Mmmm ….
Right, time to get showered and dressed, sort laundry, hoover (much to the cat’s disgust as she hates the noisy vacuum), continue with painting the bathroom (milky-coffee coloured walls, to be paired with orange towels. It’ll be like bathing in a Terry’s Chocolate Orange) and send a little prayer or two upwards … just a few more sunny days. Please!