I really tried hard to pack a few days ahead of our
impending flight on Wednesday. That was the plan anyway. But the weather only
allowed for a smattering of hard slog in the garden and I must stress that it
was very hard to prioritize all my tasks and finish them all. So packing was
continually put off. When I dragged my sorry bottom, middle and upper body back
into the cottage I wasn’t able to do more than make dinner and sit down
afterwards. Thus I continued to put off the dreaded job, always the least interesting
and the most challenging for me. But eventually it was the night before the
trip and so I finally finished the impossible at 3 a.m. and crawled into bed
for my 3 hour sleep.
So this time I erred by bringing far more than I needed (yet
again), unless I want to change every day for the cows in the lower paddock
below and I don’t. That meant that when I finally got to their house I had
unpacking to do so I could find what I needed when I needed it. Ah. This seemed
like work and indeed it was.
In jest I again stated to anyone who would listen (not
many) that I planned on recording a video to show people how NOT to pack.
I am, by now, a complete expert on that very thing. But once here I was quite
overwhelmed by the constant hospitality offered unsolicited like the many
artistically created coffees with distinctive fern on top in creamy splendor
(or a heart), along with the sheer beauty of their extensive property that was
all coming into full bloom, or had just done its dash and was fading away. Compared
to our little nest on the lowlands of a valley otherwise called the downs, like
in ups and downs, this house is on a plateau of sorts and has an all
encompassing view of the pointy green hills, covered in grassland at the moment
and the endless skies in every direction directly above their wooded and
paddocked areas. It is eye candy as they say. Wow. What a thrill to be here in
such garden splendor and with a few farm animals no less. So when I think about
my grandson’s early life here I smile deeply and wonder what it must feel like
to him to be in such an inspiring place, with a dog, two cats and six chickens
that he still insists on carrying to and fro. This is so idyllic for any
childhood. What a lucky little guy he is to be here and have this to roam in…so
unfettered and free.
And my girl has been putting a few choice meals together as she so often can do from whatever she has at hand, mixed well with whatever baking she also does in the spare time that she doesn’t really have. She really is a domestic goddess and what comes out of her kitchen and her gardens that she plants is spectacular and served up with so much love and attention to detail, we’re charmed out of our socks. We needed a rest and a respite from our own lives and we sure are getting that here. Time seems so unimportant at the moment. It just is and we just are. Life is good.