Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A character.


Much darker in the mornings now. Our first walk of the day delayed until there's the first hint of light in the sky at ten to seven. It's a dreadful day for a walk. Not that the day is dreadful but the weather that accompanies it is. 60 mph winds, 90 degree temperatures and the sort of humidity that brings out the flies. Sinus drying weather. Even Bob is keen to head home after half an hour and a chat with the donkeys.


The wind strips the remaining leaves from the acacia tree. They fall with the density and regularity of a snow shower. A few plane tree leaves drift slowly down and land on the PONs garden table.  The PONs stop what they're doing and come over to investigate.


Sophie glares at the leaves to make sure there is absolutely no misunderstanding as to whose table it is. A girl can never be too careful.


Bob settles down at the front door. Rump inside, nose out. Faced with an oaf of a brother blocking her way to the kitchen Sophie takes remedial action. She screams. Bob feigns clinical hearing loss. The screams increase in volume. Sophie is the sort of dog that might be called a 'character'.


After dinner, when it's relatively cooler, we sit by the pool and watch the passing satellites. Angus comments on how odd it is to have a large empty house to ourselves again. '' Relief '' is the word you're looking for says 'The Font'. The sound of loud and continuous laughter must convince the locals that the 'friends from the North' are mad as hatters. Bob dozes at my feet. Sophie lies on her back and snores. Signs that normal service has been restored.

Whoever dreamt up the name '' the rainbow bridge'' might have been closer to the truth than they knew. An interesting article in the next issue of The Atlantic ( one of the few magazines we subscribe too ). According to Jimo Borjigin, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan, something strange happens in the brains of animals just before they die. Neurochemicals in the brain suddenly surge. While scientists had known that brain neurons continued to fire after a person died, this was different. The neurons were secreting new chemicals and in large amounts. '' Suddenly, all the different regions of the brain become synchronized. The brains showed higher power in different frequency waves, and also what is known as coherence - the electrical activity from different parts of the brain working together ''. The full article, which despite its title isn't at all maudlin, is here : http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/09/what-it-feels-like-to-die/499319/







13 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Important that Sophie sees off all rivals, even inanimate ones, for her table space.

Taste of France said...

This wind! The shutters clacked all night (we have them set à clef, so the night air can cool the house). And the smell of smoke so strong it was almost made me choke. Never heard a firetruck. But the Canadairs have passed twice this morning. The forecast for thunderstorms tomorrow has been downgraded to "rare showers." The birds seem to have left for greener pastures (or forests). Everything is stone dry, dead.

Taste of France said...

I just read the Atlantic piece. Thank you for the link. I was at my parents' bedsides when they died recently, within 3 weeks of each other. My father had incredible dreams that continued into wakefulness, including seeing people who had died and saying he was going on a trip. The staff warned us he was about to die, but he lived three more months. When he did die, his eyes were open, he firmly shook his head to refuse the morphine the nurses had come to administer, and then stopped breathing. My mother had an epileptic seizure and just sort of slipped away over about five days. Dying takes time. It's excruciating to watch.

Julie said...

I wonder what gossip donkeys told Bob?

Swan said...

Are you sure Sophie wasn't checking to mak sure is wasn't something edible ?

10NISNE1 said...

Interesting article!

Emm said...

What a lovely sunrise, although poor donkeys have to stay out in the heat without a cool house for escape.
You must, indeed, be relieved to have an empty house. From the number of place settings at your farewell dinner, it looked as if you were hosting a football team.

Unknown said...

The brother who so obviously delights in blocking the door for his sister might also be called a character. The pictures of them inspecting the leaves are wonderful.

Angus said...

Maybe not a football team but a large % of US college scrum halves.

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

What a perfect picture of the morning sun rise. Serenity.

Coppa's girl said...

Never a dull moment with PON's at the ROF !

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Would like to get my own brain parts synchronized again.

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

I am very sorry for your recent loss of both parents. May the loving memories you shared with them help you through the days ahead.