The Old Farmer is looking tired this morning. He claims not to suffering from pain but then goes on to say he was up half the night with his sore hip. 'The Font' has brought him a five foot wooden staff back from Scotland to help him walk. It has a whistle carved from a deer's antler as a handle. The whistle has a pitch and sound that will rouse the dead. If he falls he can blow it at any time of day or night and the PONs will hear it from across the lane. You can be sure they will then let us know. He finds this gift reassuring.
The ground on the way down to the waterfall is sodden underfoot. It will take a few more weeks of heat to dry it out. The wet weather has brought out an amazing display of wild flowers. Bob and Sophie are too busy hurtling down the hill to notice.
Masses of poppies and the blue flowers that Angus thinks might be wild orchids but must just as easily be weeds.
A morning for talking to Indian men in dark suits about Iran. '' Unilateral withdrawal equals non-compliance with a legally binding UN Security Council resolution " says one. ' This is a rejection of the UN as the guardian of peace and security ' says another huffily. '' Goodness! Isn't the world changing quickly '' thinks Angus.
Angus has tried a new technique on the doors of the book shelves in the dining room. Mix the paint with water and then use a wet brush to apply it. The battleship grey seems several shades less grey than it did before. Angus is unsure whether to paint the side of the shelves the same colour or go brighter or lighter. This is the perfect excuse for inactivity. A yogurt pot on the floor indicates that the family princess has been supervising the painting.
It's the little things in diplomacy that count. On this visit to Russia the German Chancellor gets a handshake and a bouquet of flowers: https://twitter.com/ru_rbc/status/997518533335502850
12 comments:
Your blue flowers are Tassle Hyacinth Leopoldia comosa syn Muscari comosum (Fr. Muscari à toupet). There are no blue flowering species of orchid in France (although they exist elsewhere in the world). Tassle Hyacinth are one of the most beautiful wild flowers of dry calcareous grasslands, especially when they form colonies that make a deep blue haze over the grass.
The tassel hyacinth (thank you, Susan) look like flowers from outer space. Wonders of nature.
My grandmother, and later my parents, wore a pendant with a button to push if they fell or had another emergency. It transmitted an alarm to a central (computer? person?), and help would be sent immediately. But a whistle and alert neighbors is even better. Bravo to the Font for getting a five-foot staff on the airplane!
Hari OM
Am in admiration of the Font's gift to TOF... and feel the need to impress on Angus that 'weeds' are only flowers which a gardener has decided s/he doesn't want in the garden. Yet flowers they remain... YAM xx
British Airways still retains a sense of willing humour.
Looking forward to your taking walks to the waterfall again now that the weather has hopefully turned a corner. I always enjoy the descriptions of what you see along the way.
The Russians welcome of the Chancellor must contrast with what she receives at the White House. And obviously no complaining about Germany's not meeting their NATO defense spending obligations.
P.S. The bookcases look terrific. Lighter/brighter on the sides might help to accent the lovely wallpaper.
Much as we all love them dearly, I do hope that Putin keeps his dog out of the way. I seem to remember Frau Merkel is terrified of them, and he deliberately kept his in the room. Difficult for any of us who visit here to understand her fears. I'm sure she'd fall for Bob and Sophie !
Very thoughtful gift for the old farmer.
The Font strikes again! So thoughtful and so wise to make the PONS part of protecting their extended flock.
When you and Bob chat with Men in Dark Suits do you and Bob also wear Dark Suits?
Angus only wears dark suits when he has to go to NY or London. Chinos, a blue shirt and bare feet are as formal as it gets here.
And kudos to British Airways who decided 'The Font' was not going to bludgeon the flight crew with it.
Agree about the thoughtfulness of 'the Fonts' gift.
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