We are supposed to be poised on the brink of Spring, but every time we think that it is just about to arrive, we get another blast of icy wind and flurries of snow from the direction of the Cevenne Mountains. Take today for instance. At 11am we were actually thinking of sitting out in the courtyard and having lunch, and by 1.30 it was snowing. As the Americans would say - "Go figure".
Each morning we open up the heavy wooden shutters and take a look at the thermometer on the terrace, and occasionally we are rewarded with numbers nudging up towards double digits. Our farming days in Africa had instilled the habit of being up early and going to bed early, but nowadays with the luxury of semi-retirement and a postman who only appears at 10am, we tend to be a bit slow getting going in the morning. I also have the additional luxury of Free to Air tv from UK and this means that my evening viewing is one hour ahead of the English timetable, so I find that bedtime has been moved from 10.30 to 11.30.
I'm quite sure that once the warmer days establish themselves, we will revert to outdoor living and the tv will be less of an entertainment, but for the time being, it is lovely being able to catch up with old favourites and get used to new programmes. Despite having upwards of 500 channels in USA, I would still hunt for the English re-runs.
It has also occurred to me that for the first time in a long time, I am actually in the same time zone (or only an hour out) from family and friends in England and with pals in South Africa. My children in Australia are still a frustrating 12 hours ahead, but we have learned that breakfast chats for me are supper time chats for them. Thank heavens for Skype and cameras on the computer as I can see my five lovely grandchildren and see how fast they are all growing, and be brought up to date with all sorts of interesting bits of news about school, play and favourite things. The little boys have been excited at the sight of so many helicopters, fire engines and general excitement while my gentle grandaughter has been packing up toys and clothing to give away to friends who have lost so much.
