Home Alone

I'm trying hard to settle into life alone here in the middle of nowhere.  Doing a lot of sorting out, cleaning and I even tackled the laundrette run again.  When I left my washing, it was deserted, but by the time I returned from a visit to the station to find out about a Seniors Railcard [too expensive and demeaning, I'm really not ready for it yet], the laundrette was full of people I did not wish to share a bank holiday afternoon with, nor did I wish them to watch my smalls rotate in the dryer.  Why are laundrettes always so depressing??  Anyway, I lugged the laundry home and set it up in the middle of the lounge so I now have to skirt around it if I want to go anywhere or do anything.

Although the weather was OK I didn't dare light a bonfire as apparently it is a sin worse than most to light up on a Sunday or jour férié.   It was nearly 9 o'clock before the sun went down, wow!

I found it hard to settle down in the caravan and kept making excuses not to go to bed [one more cup of tea etc] but eventually I had to give in!

Life has settled down to a routine of getting up late so that it's warmer, then housework, shopping, administration at the Mairie, gardening, visiting our newly-widowed neighbour to get smoked into incoherence, bonfire-making on the rare occasions it's not raining and firelighting in the lounge when it is.  Food is as fast as it can get, at the moment I can't be bothered to cook for myself.  I have put all my shoes in the car, it's a much better idea as I have to wear wellingtons to get to the car, or even to get to the house,as I gloop through the mud.

The neighbour is very kind and thoughtful but I find it difficult to understand what she's saying as she talks fast and moves her dentures around her mouth at the same time. She's not a woman who takes kindly to criticism or disagreement so I generally nod and agree and that seems to be OK all round.

I haven't gone back to the French dancing class as I have lost a bit of my spark at the moment. But I sometimes light a big fire in the house and have a dance there.

I have been listening a lot to Radio Nostalgie in the car. But I don't think I can take it any longer.  They appear to have a portfolio of approximately 50 records which they play in whatever order they please.  One is by Gilbert O'Sullivan!  Today, with no hint of irony, he played 'Raindrops keep falling on my Head' and I almost crashed the car in fury!

The builder has promised that he will be starting on Saturday.......................we'll see!

My intention to stay off alcohol for a while has hit a very sticky bit!  Thank God for the internet, I can communicate with people, listen to Radio 4 and get a penis enlargement!!!!