Dependent on the other.

Scottish autumn nights. From the garden we watch the moon rise over the bay. For these evening excursions the two of us now dress like eskimos - four layers is good, five is better. We enjoy a glass of wine with a shaggy sheepdog slumbering at our feet. ( PONs it has to be said make excellent foot warmers ). Sometime, between seven thirty and eight, there's  that magical moment when absolute silence descends , the birds return to roost in the long grass and the deer appear in the fields. If it's calm the sea reflects the moon. The large naval vessel that's been out there for the last three nights has gone. A smaller one has taken its place. It glides slowly backwards and forwards on the horizon between here and Denmark.

This morning Sophie is up early, her energy levels restored after that hour long hare chase. It's supposed to be a bone tingling four degrees but it turns out to be bright and mild. The family diva ignores the village Jack Russells. They get the 'Oafs !' look. She greets the potato farmer like a long lost friend and approaches the two young builders getting ready to work on the doocot roof. Sophie's hopeful the builders may have Jaffa Cakes or at least biscuits. Instead she gets an ear scrunch. Better that than nothing. This morning the 'two word' man in his orange jacket is nowhere to be seen.

We're barely through the gate when the postman arrives. He's brought a parcel from Betty's in Harrogate . Ordered yesterday and delivered this am. How's that for service ? There's nothing quite like their Fondant Fancies .

There's also a fruit cake and ..

... a Lemon and Lime Cake. This is one of those companies that is a joy to do business with. For those who have lived abroad for the better part of twenty years rediscovering these old British family firms is like rediscovering old friends. 'The Font' wonders if we should use Betty's for this years Christmas cake or go back to our old shipper ? : https://collinstreet.com/cryer-creek-fruitcake.  We certainly won't be cooking in the sea shore cottage which has an oven the size of a postage stamp. The kitchen company are talking about getting to work in March but the architect doesn't think work on the extension will take place until next August. One is dependent on the other.

I guess this is Switzerland :https://twitter.com/MerielMyers/status/1579250137909833728