Change afoot

This afternoon I fly to Toulouse, hoping to spend my last four nights as a home-owner in Lagrasse.  The experience has been wonderful, but all things come to their term.  The countryside around the village is lovely, and I have enjoyed many fine walks there and thereabouts.  I never tire of the views of the Pyrenees, particularly when they have snow on them.  We have made many good friends in the region, and shall miss the regular contacts.  But I'm sure we'll be back from time to time - without feeling obliged to go back, and without the millstone of responsibility for a medieval pile, the long drive and all those stairs. 

It occurred to me yesterday to measure my 'cabin' bag.  In height it is 1cm bigger than the maximum allowed, and although it was tempting to take a chance, I decided instead, partly in view of the fact that it's starting to fall apart, to get a new bag.  My word, the prices!  I eventually went for a lightweight and relatively inexpensive number since it isn't going to get a huge amount of use.  My long weekend kit fits easily, leaving space for the small amount of bed linen I have to bring home.

Have you been to see Paddington 2 yet?  If not, do.  Utter tosh, and rather sentimental, but carried off very successfully by a sparkling cast.  We loved it.  Oh, and take a handkerchief.  And do not leap up when the titles start turning: the postscript is a delight.

Yesterday I finished off the job of sewing in the new cushion for my old armchair.  Martyn very sportingly tells me that he can't tell the hand sewn seams from the machined ones, so I guess I haven't entirely lost my touch.  But an hour or so joining four thicknesses of heavy cloth with thick yarn and a curved needle is not something I aim to repeat, given the consequent protest from the arthritic mitts.  I dare say that the money I've spent on new springs and the cushion would have gone a long way towards a serviceable IKEA replacement, but it wouldn't be the same, would it?

We entertained at the weekend, serving our guests amuse-bouche of bruschette, little chouriço croissants and palmiers of prosciutto and (separately) gravadlax.  We'd made a sort of boeuf bourgignon in the slow cooker, using shin and skirt from Tidebrook Manor Farm.  I have a lot of time for these relatively cheap, tough cuts, since they respond well to long, slow cooking.  We raided the fridge for vegetables to heave into the pot - onions, courgettes, celery, swede, carrots and a red pepper - and added tomatoes and Fortnums' worst tempranillo.  Martyn made a suitable heap of mashed potatoes to go with it, and a pudding of raspberry pavlovas.  He'd also baked scones for afternoon tea - he has a far better touch with scones than I do - so all in all we had about a week's ration in a day.  Oh well, it isn't that often.  Just as well, really, since we find we just can't handle big eats the way we once could.

The weather has been good enough to allow a spot of gardening, and not so wet that one sinks into the grass.  Much as we love the iris sibirica when it's in flower, the flowering season is all too brief, and the end of the growing season leaves great clumps of straggly brown foliage.  It is now in the composting bin, along with phlox, sedum, montbretia and a few miles of brambles.  An early job when I get back from France will be the autumn clean of the lawnmower, though I might use it to hoover up some more leaves before that.  The wind has fortunately been brisk and westerly of late, so next door have got most of their own oak leaves for once.  Our willow, however, has carpeted the top of the garden.  I might have mentioned that we had the cherry tree hacked back a week or so ago, but not before it had started shedding, hence a mucky half hour cleaning gutters.  Why do I always decide on such tasks when I've just put on a clean pair of jeans?

Now, back to the check lists.  Yes, I've packed the door keys, the euros, the télépéage badge, the i-charger and an adaptor, the pills, the toothbrush and the razor.  And an old towel that can be jettisoned.  Check, check again.  And there'll still be something I've forgotten.