Like the trees in Larkin’s poem, we are beginning afresh.
Quite a few years ago I had a pen-friend in Saskatchewan and she used to refer to ‘green up’. In her corner of the world there was snow for many months and then – suddenly it seemed – green up. I often think of her and that phrase at this time of year. Continue reading “Green Up”
“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” Henry David Thoreau
We are expecting our first visitors shortly. This fact focuses the mind: two guest rooms are required. One didn’t take long at all; the other meant I needed to unpack my books, which meant B needed to secure the bookcases, which couldn’t be done until the broadband connection was moved. Continue reading “White tea and Walking books”
The view from here is dank, dismal and dripping. … the valley is poised to pull out its summertime splendour but that won’t be happening today.
Harri pulled me from sleep this morning. Her persistence finally overcoming my resistance, I left the warmth of B and the duvet and climbed upstairs. I knew from the light – or lack of it – that it must be wet outside and it is. It’s raining. Continue reading “The View from Here: rain, pongs, and problems solved”
…what I’ve created works perfectly. I love it!
Before we moved I tried to persuade B to dispose of some of our furniture, which in my opinion would obviously not work in the new house. Nothing expensive or meaningful: things we had agreed we would replace anyway and/or bargains collected from charity shops. It seemed silly to go the trouble of transporting them but B said no, we should take the lot and if it wasn’t needed we would dispose of it later. How wise he was and how wrong I was Continue reading “Homemaking at Highfield: mixing, matching and making do”
The view from here is magical, mysterious and multi-coloured
Today has been a touch frustrating. We still have no phone line and the mobile signal is not great. The internet is so intermittent that it seems to dominate everything as we monitor it in order to catch it when we have the chance. It has taken all day on and off to research and source a fridge/freezer and I still haven’t been able to contact the company and check delivery. It occurs to me with our access issues that I should check what size vehicle they will deliver in. And we’ve both been tired. I’ve still achieved a reasonable amount but it feels like a wasted day somehow. Perhaps because of the early morning highlights: maybe everything had to be downhill after that… (Apart from our driveway of course 😉 ) Continue reading “The View from Here: wuthering and rainbows”
The view from here was monochrome and sparkling…
Today is allegedly to be our only day of sunshine for quite some time. I really wanted to make use of that sunshine. The removal guys arrived nice and early with the rest of our belongings that hadn’t fitted on the lorry last week. The additional payment after our mistake over access was agreed amicably with smiles and handshakes all round. I even got a hug and a kiss! Continue reading “The View from Here: Lansallos Cove”
The view from here is picture-postcard pretty: tangles of tiny lanes …
After a few hours’ work yesterday, exhaustion set in. We were both tired, an understandable reaction perhaps, after the intensity of recent days. The rain continued and we settled into a comfortable slump for the rest of the day. I dozed on the sofa; I dozed in the bath; I dozed in front of the tv. And still I slept deeply when bedtime finally arrived. Much-needed rest.
This morning I woke late – after B; and had my first cup of tea brought to me in bed. Lovely! Energy levels were restored, even if the weather was not. Continue reading “The View from Here: making peace with Dora”
B very gently suggested that he let me out of the car and said he’d come back for me …
This afternoon we ventured abroad, heading for a retail park in Plymouth at B’s request. Such a trip wasn’t quite what my romantic soul had imagined as our first joint expedition from our new home, but of course there are many practicalities to deal with at this time: B needed a different box to get the tv working properly; and we wanted to look at fridge/freezers and dishwashers – very essential kit on my list.
A neighbour called by today to introduce himself: Peter – a local farmer. We can see his farm from our windows. He was welcoming, friendly and helpful. The sort of man you could call upon in a crisis. He mentioned that the road climbing behind us is treacherous in icy weather. A road to avoid when winter approaches. We have arrived here at the most perfect time in the year: wintry weather is highly unlikely now and everything is ready and waiting to burst into life. If ever it stops raining and warms up!
The view from here – from sitting on my sofa – is grey and green and gloomy. And I love it.
Saturday April 2nd
It is 7.15am. I woke a couple of hours ago; I’m sitting here – on our sofa – enjoying my second cup of tea; the silence broken only by the birds on the balcony and Harricat purring. I am ready for what feels like our first proper day in our new lives. And I feel like I’m the luckiest person alive.
A Corner of Cornwall 