Friday, 30 October 2015

A SQUALLY DAY

When I awoke this morning to the sound of heavy rain beating upon my bedroom window., my inclination was to snuggle down under my quilt and go back to sleep. Duty called however and so I donned my dressing gown and made my way downstairs to mend the fires, open the curtains and feed the cat. These tasks herald the start of my winter days, along with making the first coffee of the day for the sleeping men folk of the family.

The wind howled in the chimneys and the drummed loudly on the roof f the conservatory, a more miserable and unpromising morning would be hard to imagine. Still the house was warm and cosy, and although outside was darkened by the heavy cloud inside all was bright and cheerful.

The cat Moth revelled in my undivided attention and it was quite a time before I returned to my room to make the coffee. Some time ago we purchased a wonderful machine which boils anything from half a cup to a teapot full of water. Unlike a kettle it does not have to be picked up but dispenses the water directly into the cups, rather like a coffee machine does, and this spares me much pain as in the morning my hands are often more than usually painful.

Enjoying our breakfast while the rain still fell in torrents discussing our plans for the day.
My son would spend his day writing, his new book must be ready in two weeks so he has his nose to the grindstone. Pa had the laundry to do and I had lots of Halloween related business to attend to, and so, with the dishes done we went our separate ways.

As I tidied the guest room and made preparations for a visit from a friend of my son's the cat Twiggy sat in the window, patting the glass from time to time as the wind plastered the panes with small leaves from the silver birch at the bottom of the garden. As soon as I had made the bed and covered it with a warm throw, she left the window and curled up on the guest bed, a favourite roost
when bad weather keeps her indoors.

All at once the rain ceased and the sun shone, the wind dropped and I decide that now was the time for my visit to the shop. As I turned in tot the lane it seemed that the whole village had the same idea and by the time I reached the shop in was packed and a long queue had formed at the till.

Children, on half term holiday took advantage of the lull in the weather to hop out to buy sweets and comics with money given them by their harassed mothers in the hope that in their absence there might be time for a cup of tea and a few moments of much needed relaxation! A forlorn hope as the children seemed intent upon hurrying home before the weather closed in again

By four thirty it was beginning to be dark and although the rain had stopped the ragged clouds which scudded across the evening sky promise plenty more rain overnight.
I love to be out of doors, in fact I need plenty of fresh air if I am to thrive, however there is something almost comforting about days like today. Ones sense of well-being and happiness is accentuated by the awfulness of the weather in contrast with the cosiness within.

We have hunkered down for the night, in my room a scented candle burns in a coloured glass lamp and is casting a rosy glow about the room. My bed awaits and I shall e glad to slip between the sheets and drift of to sleep, while the wind which woke me this morning still howls around the old house

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