Lazing

The weather forecast promised us a two-day blast of cold wind, not from the Ross Ice Shelf as is usual at this time of year, but from the South Pole itself: a proper freeze. 

Accordingly, me being me, I made plans for a couple of days sheltering indoors (except for the mandatory walk with Bean).

The southerly arrived as forecast, with a roar of strong wind in the trees at 5.30 this morning. But by the time we walked up to the truck at 7am it had completely died down and it felt relatively warm: certainly no frost.

The wind has gusted gently from time to time, but there is no sign of the howling gale I was expecting. And instead of a maximum temperature of 5C we have basked in 10C mid-afternoon.

This meant that our walk this morning was a relatively pleasant one. Okay, I was wrapped up in my wax jacket, fleece beanie and mittens, but only for the first half of the walk. By then I had heated up nicely and arrived home holding the extra clothing and with my jacket unzipped.

Bean spotted a hare ahead of her in one of the paddocks, so she worked up some good heat too. All in all it was a much more pleasant walk than expected. 

Since then we have been in the study with the wonderful potbelly stove keeping us cosy and warm. Indeed I am down to a t-shirt as I type this: I misjudged the wood-burn a bit! 

Bean has been snoozing in prime position, while I have been working my way through the mending pile and selecting some of my surplus veg seeds for a friend in need. 

I think the rest of the afternoon will be spent selecting fabrics for a new patchwork cushion cover. This one will be for me, so that I can store my winter duvet in it over summer and have a comfortable floor cushion.

Several hours in the study allows me to play a selection of my favourite music, for the study also boasts a lovely old fashioned hifi system. It doesn't have a vinyl turntable, but it does plays cassette tapes, of which I have a few. Most of all, I love opening the CD drawer and selecting five to go into the machine. The extra shows the left hand side of the drawer.

Right now I'm listening to R Cajun and the Zydeco Brothers. I bought the CD in 1995-ish during Mayfest in Glasgow at a concert of said band on a boat on the Clyde. Every single one of my CDs has a story and holds memories. 

They would be a good basis for a memoir. One day when I have the time.

Thank you for all the kindness yesterday. You are such generous souls.