The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Tuesday 13 August 2019

Back in the land of the living!

I've been pretty much offline for a few weeks as I suddenly felt so tired that I wasn't up to doing much of anything at all, what with the heat and the after-effects of all the excitement I suppose. But, I have started taking time to sit and read and I'm delighted as it was something I had missed since giving up work. I have so many books sitting begging to be read so I'm really glad that has kicked in again. It's been really hot too, so slobbing around reading was probably one of the few things I was capable of, to be honest!

So what's new? We still haven't received the website for the wedding photos but it can't be too long now! I can't wait! Oh and I'm thinking the kids will be able to pick up the keys to their new apartment any day now - they must be so excited - I know I am! To that end, I have been slogging away trying to empty so many of the trunks my ex had down in the basement so the kids can take them for the move. So far I have emptied seven huge trunks - and I think I probably have another four or five to go! What the heck my ex thought he needed all those trunks for is beyond me! We didn't need more storage, we needed less stuff! I have a pretty large basement so it was easy to just keep stuffing things down there, forever to be forgotten - or until I ended up going through it all. Just a case in point, a couple of years ago I bought an above-ground inflatable pool because when it gets hot here it gets hot! But I didn't see the point in having an in-ground pool in a place like this. Too much snow and too much work. So I was talking to my neighbour about measuring up the best spot to locate this pool in future (I'm thinking on my terrace rather than on the grass), but when we opened up the huge box that I thought my pool was in I found a shedload of fishing stuff! There was so much stuff, I tell ya, we cudda bought a fishmonger's store with the value of that stuff (and I don't ever recall him catching a single fish)! Still, I guess as long as he got pleasure out of it it was ok, but now I'm left with reels, boxes of bait, the stools and the bloody fishing jacket! I have been slowly going through it all, throwing the rubbish and will take the rest to the charity store if I can't find somebody locally who would like it. But have you any idea how many bloody pockets there are in a fisherman's jacket! What a pain in the butt it has been emptying all that stuff and getting it sorted!

I'm trying to get myself into some kind of routine now where I get some decluttering/ cleaning/scrubbing done every day, work in the garden for a while, maybe some sewing and also trying new recipes. My house has always been "clean enough" but now that I have the time I want to go through it from top to bottom once and for all, starting with my kitchen. It's not much fun to do but so satisfying when it's done, isn't it! All this industry means that for once in my life I have a very slight tan on my arms and my legs are no longer lily white - more like very, milky coffee-coloured - since I live in shorts and t-shirts (all nicely offset by the mozzie bites at the moment, sadly)! Not sure I've seen a bra or a pair of shoes in quite some time either (TMI?) and it's bliss. However, all this energetic output is somewhat dependent on getting a decent night's sleep - which isn't happening too much at the moment. Some bloody dogs from way over the other side of the field shown in my header picture barked all damn night last night! I know all about "living in the country and accepting the noise". I have no problem with that, but this wasn't the farmer's dogs - I know where he lives (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) and it's further away - so I'm pretty certain it was in the houses beyond the field. I'm surprised somebody didn't shoot the bloody things (I can see the farmer doing it), but I'm pretty sure someone will have complained because it goes on all night, most nights and they are big dogs with a loud bark! Anyway, other than that, I'm enjoying trying out new recipes and getting the house and garden into some sort of order, although it's early days as yet. I especially love my beautiful hibiscus bush at the moment, but by god do they drop all over the place!


Actually, right now I'm watching "Escape to the Château", which some of the Brits might know. I love Dick and Angel Strawbridge! He can do anything and she doesn't have an uncreative bone in her body! What's more they work so well together and seem so nice! It's a programme I really love, showing the hard work the Brits who move to France and renovate old homes/châteaux have to put in, but I'm sure their (amazing) experience isn't true for most!

And finally, last Friday I was invited to lunch chez J and M with other former colleagues. I shared an office with J when I first came to Geneva and she and her husband are lovely, she is a fabulous cook and he is a wonderful host. All of us (except her hubbie) having worked at the same place, we naturally talked shop most of the afternoon, but M took it in good stead! When the subject of Brexit inevitably came up, a couple of them teased the cr*p out of those of us who are British only, saying we were gonna get kicked out (we won't!)! But, what was more interesting to me was one of the guys saying that yes, there will probably be a trade deal between the US and the UK, but no it isn't gonna be an easy deal because, in his opinion, the US will insist on three things being included. Maybe not immediately, but included ultimately. And those three things were access to the NHS (the National Health Service) - say what!!!!!!! That has always supposedly been non-negotiable (or at least until it becomes "negotiable", I guess). Two, the US would insist on being able to export "bleach washed poultry" (or whatever you call it), and three, they would also insist on including the exporting of GM food to the UK, which isn't allowed under EU regulations!!!! It's scary stuff but I will be very  interested to see if he proves right!

13 comments:

  1. Glad your getting a tan and letting the girls breathe (you kill me :)). Nothing worse than having to clean out others crap. You'll probably become a minimalist after it's all dealt with

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    1. Yeah, it is a pain in the butt having to clean up after someone else so I could see minimalism (maybe) in the future. And if you see me running around with a cowbell round my neck you'll know why!

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  2. If the Idiot Jerk's administration is involved, you can bet they'll try and shaft the UK.

    I began decluttering a few years ago. I'd rather get rid of the stuff than have someone else who has absolutely no idea why I kept it in the first place.

    And yes, that is a terrible problem with hibiscus... the droppings.

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    1. Sadly, I think my friend will prove right in the end, although I do fear for the NHS. And for my decluttering it is taking so long because there is such a lot of it but I do want to go through everything and donate/reuse what I can rather than just throw it. But it goes to show how much "stuff" we have doesn't it. Oh, and you'll be glad to know the dogs were actually quiet last night - somebody probably shot the owners!

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  3. So, did you ever find your box with the pool in it? LOL

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    1. Ha, yes I did, and it was about one quarter the size of this one. We found the step-ladder, the top cover, the pump and everything, and then I thought "oh bloody hell, all I forgot to buy was the pool", but it was there, just hidden!

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  4. Glad that you have been taking some time to slow down, rest and read. Reading keeps me sane, especially when all the issues with Mom rear their ugly heads.
    Nice that you are getting a tan. I understand about freeing the lady bits, but I am honestly more comfortable when up and about wearing a little support. I have gone to sports bras when I am just knocking about. They feel comfortable and have no bones or stays or underwires.

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    1. If you love to read it's a gift isn't it. Oh and I don't go out "swinging free" - there are limits - but in this heat it is such a liberation (if a not very attractive one).

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  5. I know what you mean about clearing out. We have an attic full of stuff, not all ours, some of it belongs to long grown up children! My eldest son's stuff is the main culprit at the moment as he moved in with us for a short while last year when his landlord decided to sell the flat he was in so all his 'stuff' came here with him. However, when he moved out again, a whole lot of his stuff didn't quite make it to the new place! I've told him I'm packing it all up and sending it to the charity shop if he doesn't collect it by the end of the month and so far he's told me several times, he'll do it soon!
    I think the fear of the US 'deal' is what has ramped up Scotland's bid to become independant and to be honest the way things are now, I hope we get it! The lunatics are now running the asylum!
    I too have had support free days although like you, not for general public viewing! I'm giving up underwiring as a habit and its quite difficult when you're a lady of my 'shapely' size to get non wired ones that don't look like some kind of parachute! No bra and elastic top trousers/shorts are my favoured uniform these days! It's probably the beginning of the end! x

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    1. I can't really criticize my kids for leaving stuff as they haven't left much although skis and boots for 10-year-olds are gonna be the next things to go (they're 27 and 32 years old) but we did the same to our parents I suppose. No, most of the crap downstairs is my ex-husband's who upped and left France in 5 days without emptying his 3-bedroomed rental farmhouse!!! And now it's up to me to get rid of whatever the kids don't want. And you know, when Scotland had the referendum, although it wouldn't have made any difference to me being over here, I was so pleased that they decided to stay. Now? Good luck to you, is all I can say. And hey, no bra and elastic-topped trousers - oh my goodness, I have visions of my ex mother-in-law (never my mom) and I think I'm turning into her. Oh well, at least our knees are warm right?

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  6. +Why should we have access to NIH? I will watch my chicken being before I eat that kind of chicken. I never wear a bra> It worked until I just went flat. There is not much to hang or swing about. I have worn elastic wist pants for years. I have to ahave give and not because I am fat, which I am. I do not know why UK has to allow in GM food. I hate it myself.

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    1. Re the NHS look at what a hot potato medical care is in the US. There is BIG money in it and they have already stated (or intimated) that they want a piece of that pie. In fact ol Cheeto himself said just that when he was in the UK a couple of months ago - and then had to retract pretty quickly. And of course the UK doesn't have to allow either bleached chicken or GM food into the UK - but money talks doesn't it. The only way round it if it happens is to vote with your wallet and let that stuff rot on the shelves!

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