The end of October and it's blazingly hot. More like August weather. Autumn is going out in style. Sophie catches up on her beauty sleep in the shade of the courtyard.
The Old Farmer spends his morning stringing up multi-coloured Christmas lights round his gutters. Broken bulbs are carefully replaced - but not necessarily with the original colour. He has bought a job lot of greeny blue replacement bulbs at the discount store. I'd guesstimate that this years lighting will have a 35% 'blue' theme.
At dawn the PONs meet their first hedgehog of the winter behind the barn. This is a 'vocal' experience.
Angus checks out Bobs nose and wonders aloud why he never learns. Bob looks back as if to say " Because I'm a dog and I enjoy life ".
After the excitement of his pre-breakfast adventure Bob settles on the doorstep and joins his sister in a nap.
A walk down to the stream under cloudless skies. Kingfishers, fireflies, swarms of lady birds and large flocks of argumentative bull finches out and about this morning. Angus likes the bull finches. They have a bravado to them that makes it clear this is their home.The presence of a human and two scurrying PONs does nothing to disturb their grubbing.
On our return the chateau gardeners dog comes to chat to Bob and Sophie.
She then disappears back up the hill to join her master at work on the topiary in the side garden. The German billionaire came out and shook my hand on Wednesday morning. He was wearing a red boiler suit and a bilious pea green polo shirt. 'The Font' thinks this might be a hugely expensive style statement. Angus thinks it more likely he's been restoring one of his, ever expanding, collection of vintage cars.
The piper plays. The old fellows don't quite remember all the words but they know the chorus - ' Better loved you cannot be '. Not a bad choice of song for old comrades in arms. For a few minutes they're teenagers again. How out of time to think they sang this song about Bonnie Prince Charlie in the stifling heat of Guadalcanal in 1945. Virginian and Tennessean Scots Irish. Sons and grandsons stand behind their wheel chairs. Wives, daughters and grand daughters ( and possibly some great grand daughters ) stand facing them. An honour guard salutes and pays a final debt of gratitude. The old men weep. Chinese tourists look on. Life's full circle. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=482C-WQsk4o
12 comments:
One has to concede that the German billionaire's chateau is a mighty fine looking building. Just a shame his taste in clothing does not quite match up...
The German billionaire's chateau looks like it wouldn't need air conditioning in summer.
The sailors are very touching.
Hari OM
Did he never hear that 'red and green ought ne'er to be seen, lest it be on an Irish queen'...? YAM xx
Hard to believe the Old Farmer has been up on a ladder installing lights after having recovered from a broken hip this summer. Your description of the memorial scene had me blinking back a tear or two.
I love the eclectic mix from hedgehogs to billionaires to war heroes ��
Tell that to a beautiful bunch of red roses with their leaves.
Nature has a way of outing the 'ne'er to be seen' combinations.
Perhaps the German billionaire is colour blind? But really, why should he care two hoots what the rest of us think ! I feel that the Chateau gardens are a tad over manicured, but then I prefer the natural look. Even the gardener's dog looks groomed to perfection !
Another lovely photo of Bob's beautiful country. Still very hot here too, deep blue sky and deeper blue Med.
Babycakes said it for me. A wonderful post today!
Perhaps the German billionaire is anticipating the Christmas season in his choice of colors. Don't tell him about the slide show possibilities.
How many of those old sailors ever thought they would live past Guadalcanal much less into the 21st century? Very moving.
Very fine pictures and descriptions. The gardener's dog looks very friendly; I hope they enjoyed the chat.
An especially nice picture of Bob, too who looks well recovered from his hedgehog encounter.
He's also been on his lawn tractor giving the grass a once over.
And the warm weather means that the bugs are out in force. We have mosquitoes in the garden - something we rarely have up here on the wind swept ridge.
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