Little kindnesses

During the last week I have been overwhelmed by kindness. Since my husband was rushed into hospital last weekend (was it only a week ago?) I have been showered with support, love and warmth from all over the world. These are some of the kindnesses I am thankful for.

My French neighbours came to say that their teenage son would cut the lawn for me. They insisted that I had an evening meal with them, and it was so nice.

The congregation at Church this morning came almost as one to offer help if needed, to send loving messages to my husband.

Our Vicar who took Holy Communion to the hospital for him.........not always easy in a French hospital.

The mountains of cards that have been sent.

A friend who drove up to Rennes hospital,on the first day, to keep me company for a while, one and a half hours each way.

The Nurses, who air their few words of English and are so pleased to be able to communicate with my husband. They are kind and gentle, helping him to take a few steps, one pretty nurse saying 'Slowly now' and then adding 'I speak good English?'

Online groups who have sent me so many supportive and encouraging messages, letters and e mails.

The people in our local shops, the postman, the local farmer, the neighbours, who all stop me and have a quick word about my husband. An elderly neighbour who twice made the journey up our lane to ask how he was.

So many, many things to be thankful for. Mostly the progress that he is making, little by little.

Good news

Good news today.
My husband is to be transferred back to our local hospital.

Thursday update

Forgive me if I dont go into great detail....I am always reminded that a blog can be read by anyone in the world. Thank you those of you who have e mailed me with messages of support.

Today my husband was visited by the physiotherapist, who specialises in post stroke rehabilitation. He took him for a little walk down the hospital corridor. Huge progress from Sunday, but sad to see how hard it was for him.

It may well be a long haul, but we are so thankful for every small blessing.

Small update

I visit every day. It's an hour and a half's drive, but that doesnt matter, it is a very good hospital.
Today I found that my husband was brighter and better. The operation that they had expected may now not take place as the brain haemorrhage is dispersing spontaneously....helped enormously by the prayers of many.
Thank you all. I will update as I can.

Off line for a while

Due to the fact that my husband was rushed to Hospital last weekend I will be off line for a while.

Creative?

Thank you Melissa for passing on this 'Creative blogger' award, which I dont think I really deserve.

All I do is write bits about life in general, mostly in my garden, not desperately creative, but it's nice to receive the accolade anyway.

As part of this award I have to write six things that make me happy. So resisting the temptation to write 'my garden' six times, I'll have a go.

1. My garden

2. Chopin, piano played gently, with memories of my grandmother and aunt playing together.

3. Comfy arm chair, good book.

4. Tea and toast in bed brought by my lovely husband.

5. Talking with close friends.

6. Moonlight over water.

Those are, of course, some quite superficial things in one's life. There are many other deeper, more spiritual things that create lasting happiness. But that's enough for now.

Busy, busy, busy......(exhausted....)

I'm feeling very virtuous today.
I've caught up with some of the backlog in the garden, cutting, pruning and weeding. The fact that I've only managed to cover a small area doesnt matter. It's a beginning.
I've made six pounds of Blackberry and Apple jelly, which set beautifully and is gleaming dark purply in the jars.
I've made up four big boxes of blackberry and Apple for the freezer, so that I can use it for pies and crumble in the Winter.
I've processed about 20 pounds of our Tomatoes, making them into sauce and coulis for the Winter.
I've reluctantly begun the ironing.
and I've managed to find a few minutes to sit with a cup of coffee and a sandwich on the Terrace.
What a good day!

I've added a photo of a handful of tomatoes. The yellow one weighed just under 2 pounds!

An evening at The Vyne

This beautiful house in Hampshire, one of the National Trust properties, was the setting for an open air theatre evening last week.

The Vyne dates from the 16th Century, and was built for the Lord Chamberlain to Henry VIII. It has a wonderful setting amongst parklands, woods and wetlands. It stayed in the same family, the Chutes, for 350 years, but was given to the National Trust in 1958, and is now cared for by them, and opened to the public.

The Oak Gallery.

Although we did not go inside the house that evening there are rooms I would love to have seen, one of them being the Stone Gallery. There is a Tudor chapel, and other beautifully decorated rooms. One can imagine the gracious family receptions held here, the ladies in their highly fashionable Elizabethan dresses, the men equally well clothed.

The Dining Parlour.

The Stone Gallery.

Our evening was at the outdoor theatre, which is placed at the edge of the lake, so that the audience has a view of the rippling water behind the players, whilst the house stands in its grandeur behind. The play was 'Much Ado About Nothing', a Shakespearean favourite, and the cast was all male. Not that one would have known when the two simpering 'ladies' appeared. It was truly a wonderful evening, set against the slowly darkening sky, wrapped in rugs and coats. People picknicked during the interval, and there was one group who, I'm sure, thought they were at Glyndebourne, so equipped with table, chairs, wine , etc. were they.

The final touch was provided by skeins of Canada geese, who flew gently across the water, silhouetted against the sky, calling out to each other, landing with a ripple further along the water. wonderful.

I'm back!

Have I really been away nearly two weeks? Looking at the amount of washing, clothing, shopping I've brought with me I'm surprised it is only two!
Although food in France is good, there are those little things you can't seem to do without , reminders of back home. So it was off to Waitrose to shop for Marmite (English people will understand), Lapsang tea, Paxo stuffing, Golden syrup, Hob Nob biscuits...............and of course the cool box got filled up with 'proper' English bacon and sausages. Why not?
So now, I'm busy for the next few days, doing the aforesaid washing, but also catching up with the garden harvest. There are pounds of tomatoes frozen for me in my freezer. Pounds of blackberries waiting to be made into jam. Apples are almost ready to come in. Weeds in the flower beds have grown two feet high. Roses need cutting back. It's non stop!

Birthday flowers.

I'll be back soon.

Interlude

If you were watching Television in the 1950s, in Britain, this is what you might have seen in between programmes. There was no easy segue between one programme and the next. You waited.

I (showing my age) remember the kitten, also a potter's wheel, and ,I think, cats playing with knitting.

I wonder if anyone else shares any of these memories of the earlier days of Television?

The Interlude indicates that I'm off for a few days, back to the UK for a birthday celebration. So much to do before we go, pack, iron, pack more, tidy house for house sitters, clean fridge and so on and so on. Probably most wont get done.

A small harvest

Just a few bits from the garden yesterday. The tomatoes have all been made into Tomato sauce and frozen, ready for bolognese in the winter.

Spinach makes the most tasty Tartes, with a little bacon and topped with grated cheese.

Blackberries....well we pick about a pound a day, and into the freezer they go until I have time to make jam.

And I haven't even started on the French beans, the Runner beans, and the tons of potatoes!