Really proud!

 

One posting leads to another!
I'm sure I am wearing those same boots about 16 years ago.

I LOVE THIS PHOTO!

I am clutching a stick used as an arm extension and support and in the other hand probably a sprig of thyme for the cooking pot as we were camping! 

I think even that stone had been used to carry my weight!

I still own the clothing, the top has faded and the shorts are a bit tight!

I had just climbed up and crawled down a dead volcanic 'mountain' in the Auvergne region. 

It had been a major achievement whilst I was recuperating from fibromyalgia. 

My dear friend had patiently re-trained me, as he said he would, to walk again.  I owe him much!  

I know this is a favourite pic of his... and I know he covets it... 

In June 2011 ( ah.. a first anniversary gift of our separation whish I did not wish for)
he sent me a copy which he had taken with his Nickon digital camera.
I don't know why he send it. Maybe it reminded him, like me, of fond times.
I am sure I had a framed version of this but I didn't find it when I sorted photos in the Autumn!
I know I have the original print which was taken with my Canon analogue camera bought so that I could take it to Sri Lanka, the only long distance haul I have ever made. 

It was point and shoot and I bought long lenses for it. I still have it and wondered about taking it out from the attic and re-mastering it! Film of course! 

I am becoming wistful that I would like to travel. I thought I didn't wish to go to S.E. Asia but now I have seen photos of Luang Prabang and the Mekon River I must say that I am slightly jealous of my former partner travelling on a boot string currently in Laos! 

Those Boots

had to be cleaned... I know they could do with more wax on a weekly basis, so will try to do that!
I need to be at a boot camp as cleaning shoes is not a favourite occupation. I think though that shiny or unshiny shoes tell one a lot about the wearer! 
Unfortunately, the right boot had the leather partially cut through by wire on a walk!  They are quite old.. about 18 years...and were broken in on a route march through a Sri Lankan forest, after we had crossed a replica of the Bridge on the River Kwai used in the film of said name. 
NOTE: the real bridge is in Burma http://www.bridgeriverkwai.com/
These boots had to keep marching because if they stopped, the leeches jumped onto the skin.  Mine was fully covered.  My feet wore double lined socks. Those who did not heed instructions, who still wore shorts, screamed as leeches were lanced from their skin with a swift swipe of a knife. Boots with memories of fear and laughter, success and achievement.
Isn't the www interesting because I didn't know this was happening at Kitulgala. Also the river below that bridge was where the group did white water raft riding... just the once.  I didn't wear my boots, but did wet my knickers. We also had to cross the river in a canoe of a tree... balancing whilst we stood in the dug out part!
Would I do that again?  White water riding?
Yes, I think I would, even though in our raft, the leader fell out and it was down to the front two of the six to fish him out of the water whilst I bounced in the bottom of the raft, sobbing in fear, then laughing as I realised it didn't matter what I had done...and when I heard that the leader had fallen out on that particular bounce, I scrambled myself together enough to get back on the edge to balance the raft, and had a whale of a time... even to the end where we floated down the river in our life jackets. Everyone hugged me as I couldn't stop crying and laughing at the same time! For me, it was personal success, achievement and happiness. I had conquered that fear for that moment....ah, nice memories! 
The moral of the tale is that I got back onto the edge of that raft.... and I endured fear and conquered... I should remember that !!!! 

Near an ancient moulin

This local landmark near the river has been cleared of use as a cattle byre and is being made habitable.  It has a dirt track access.  It was covered in ivy in October 2014!  I wish I could find one of the older photos. Must try harder to sort my photos but it is an uphill struggle especially when I keep clicking the camera!

 

As a result of walking into the field and carrying a child across the mud, I created gloopy boots! Now I really do have to clean and treat them nicely after they have dried out!!

Hellebore

I think these are Stinking Hellebore! Two different plants - two pics - but they seem to have different leaf structure.... one has fat leaves, the other thin...

Just appearing in local French woodlands - quite common in the village river valley.

Temperatures

I notice that Blog devices for measuring outdoor temperature are different...
so  e.g. was Preuilly really 8 degrees different from here just a while ago?
Today, my kitchen with no heating is colder than the great outdoors!!!!!!! WHY?
Is it that the stone house phenomenon?...
or that three of the doors link to rooms colder than my salon.. and is therefore reason to have two radiators in that room once I start to 'do up' my kitchen...
I am keeping shutters and curtains closed on the 'barn part of the property' rooms so it is only electric light during the day.  Hat, scarves, thermal underwear have become indoor fashion in the last week but not yet seven upper layers, nor yet the coat.
I am grateful for oak logs...even if I do have to carry them in and ecoem dspondent that the will need stacking again.
I am grateul for my wonderful bed which with four hot water bottles is cosy!
I am keeping buoyant... going for a walk now...to get the grey light!!!!!!!
Addendum:
Have been out for five hours and although the kitchen is still cold the Big Room is 21C (rising to 24C two hours later) and woodburner has been slumbering on three medium sized split logs so 'tis good! Winter fuel essential as is inner fuel. Within the hour of being invited for a walk with three kiddies and three other adults, I'd made:
1. mushroom soup with fish stock... a bit acidic so I melted Valençay cheese in it... nice...
2. mincemeat tart with shop bought sweet shortcrust pastry, jar of ancient supermarket mincemeat, sliced eating apples below strips of pastry to make lattice work... cobbled together like my granny's tarts....   Here it was:

One slice each was more than enough! Very sweet! 

New Year Day's Picnic

It had to be a quick picnic. At midday, I decided it had to be then or never, as it was freezing! Getting the bike out from the store was tricky ... but arm strength has improved and I managed to lift it above two mowers.  Attired for the weather, I grabbed a paper plate, serviettes, tea towel and a picnic of smoked salmon gifted to me by a friend with her fig and anise chutney, two cherry tomatoes, rocket, crackers, two clementines and a posh caramel yoghurt, plus I filled an empty 25cl wine bottle with apricot juice and Armagnac... just to keep me warm!  There was sunshine by the River Gartempe but benches were in shade, so I nestled myself in the fork between trees for the Selfie.  I made myself cycle the circuit instead of returning home by the 15 minute route.  I walked the bike up the hill, past the bull, then saddled to Etranglar and back home.  It was an exhilarating ride but difficult to make breathing regular in such cold weather. It was wonderful to shriek out loud "Yoohoo" when there was no one else out on the high, empty agricultural plain.  I worked up quite a sweat in the glorious sunshine and cold air.  It was a lovely first day of the year.   I love these kind of picnics!

 

 

I took first footing gifts to my friends' house - a silver coin, bread, salt, alcohol, oak instead of coal for good luck, financial prosperity, food, warmth and good cheer but in fact I was the second person to have arrived that day.  After a family walk to the river and back, we had Christmas Pudding with my gifts of Armagnac and Cremant d'Alsace.   There was just a little red Chinon 2003 left which I tasted...mmmm. Following that were oysters... I ate two... they make the forehead feel funny!  Later, bread and Stilton cheese and Brebis. Nice!  Back home I ate the miniature yule log that I had bought on the Ile de Re and started to listen to War and Peace!

Two pics to start the year!

Low water at La remerle mill

Tide way out...