O Joy !

You might ask what’s changed since yesterday : weatherwise it’s all the same. In fact we’ve had more snow today and the going is getting tougher. 

But, and it’s a major BUT,  there’s been contact with the outside world. The postman called for the first time since last Thursday, bringing me some of the books I ordered last week. He struggled up the 200 metres of the drive on foot (we’ve never actually measured it, but 200 m seems to be the consensus in this house). The podiatrist came too. we spent more time chatting about weather conditions than anything else. She visits many houses in this very rural area and tells a tale or two about the average English person’s fascination with all things weather related. It seems I am an apt pupil.

Comfort food brought pleasure too, mashed potatoes with Cumberland sausages and frozen peas. An excellent lunch, quick and easy to prepare, with enough zing in the sausages to tickle the tastebuds.
The groceries were delivered, which is a major worry off my mind; we were down to the last three portions of Millie’s food, not a comfortable thought.
The lady driver helped us transport the delivery to the house from the road. She too didn’t want to risk the drive but very kindly took hold of a large and heavy plastic box and pulled it up by means of stout string Beloved had tied round the rim.
I was pushing the wheelbarrow and Beloved carried plastic bags filled with lighter stuff.

A lot of dissatisfaction with the status quo - any status quo - for me derives from lack of control over daily life. Frustration overwhelms me and suddenly it feels like the world is 'ganging up on me’. Not a rational reaction at all, I know.

Beloved was becoming quite depressed himself when he saw me turning listless so we had a rummage in the wine racks and he came up with two very elderly bottles, the remnants of a once proud collection. There are other single examples of the noble vintner’s art left from years gone by, but these two will do to begin with. A Chateau des Graviers, cru artisan Margaux from 1999 and a Hering Gewuerztraminer grand cru Kirchberg de Barr from 2002. Both bottles are covered in dust and cobwebs. When we bought them and their fellows they probably cost only half of what they would go for now. We kept them for a special occasion and more or less forgot about them. I am very glad the weather turned me into a moaning minnie.

What I need now is for the snow to settle in for the duration, or at least for as long as there are bottles remaining which need urgent attention. Cheers!