A Moment of Calm

Outside there is another storm brewing. The wind is picking up and I can hear the pitter-patter of rain against the windows once again. It's been a miserable week, most of which has been spent holed up indoors and cabin fever has set in. It's dark and gloomy and I'm bracing myself for another weekend filled with worry - it's now clear there is a problem with the roof! All the while feeling guilty that there are many in a far worse situation than I. 

Being stuck indoors I have, at least, been productive with my time. The kitchen has seen every cupboard and drawer cleaned and tidied (even under the sink!) and I have sorted another bag to take to the charity shop next week. I'm having a big push to get on top of things, so that I can get on with decorating the house and then see how I feel about staying here.

During a much welcome break in the weather, we were fortunate to get out for a walk in the woods. Not knowing what to expect, we discovered water was overflowing on to the paths and all around was strewn with twigs and branches. Lily was quite happy as, although I made sure she kept well clear of  the fast running water of the stream, there were plenty of puddles for her to splash in and I might have even joined in once or twice. 😊

As we walked, the sky turned a beautiful shade of blue and the feeling of warm sun on my skin, although fleeting, served to remind me that spring is on the way.

Much as I love the sight of snowdrops and daffodils, the one thing I always delight in at this time of year is the arrival of wild garlic in the woods. The vibrant bright green shoots pushing their way up through the woodland floor is a definite sign of the changing seasons. It's a little too early to pick any just yet but I'm sure I won't be having to wait too much longer.

It felt so good to be out in the fresh air and I truly hope we have seen the worst of the weather this winter and make it through the next storm with minimal damage.
J. X

Weathering the Storm

It's been quite a week. I was just beginning to get over my cold when I was hit by the arrival of another virus, which had me laid up over the weekend. I hadn't felt quite right for much of Friday, but couldn't put my finger on what was the matter, thinking that perhaps I was just over tired. Once again it was short-lived although, unsurprisingly, I've spent much of this week feeling wiped out. I'm definitely ready for the half-term break now. Hopefully it will give me the opportunity to get myself feeling well and recovered once again.

Being unwell is not much fun but the arrival of the storm meant we were not going to be having much of that anyway. The wind howling around the house and the rain battering the windows kept me awake much of the night, which was no bad thing, as I was able to notice water dripping through the ceiling and chimney breast! The last time this happened was around seven years ago when there was another really bad storm and rather than being any structural damage it seems to be caused by the rain blowing up and under the eaves, and one of the chimney cowls. Fortunately, there is not much in the way of damage and the damp has already dried out. I was more concerned about the wiring. I was able to isolate the electricity to the upstairs lights until such time the wiring could be checked, and so for a few days we were dependent on the lamps in the bedrooms, which was fine but what would we do about Lily's bath time?
The answer was obvious really. Around the house I have many candles, which have been gifted to me over the years but don't get lit very often, if at all. For once they could actually be useful. Therefore, this week, Lily has been enjoying bubble baths by candlelight, and they have proven to be so popular she would very much like them to continue! 🕯🕯🕯  Perhaps if they are so enjoyable maybe I should try one for myself.
The weather wreaked havoc for several days, during which time I rested, taught Lily to play dominoes and demonstrated how to make (far too much 😆) popcorn. I was relieved when it finally blew over.  Mog had also been unimpressed and had spent her days sat staring out of the cat flap unhappily, venturing out only when absolutely necessary. The sudden quiet came as a bit of a shock, having grown used to the  roar of the wind and the sound of the rain against the windows, not to mention having the constant worry of any flooding or damage, although, as we are forecast another storm this coming weekend, we may need to batten down the hatches once again.
J. X