Quiet Sunday

Our neighbours, Kim and Andy, moved house this weekend, leaving their old cottage with its large garden for a brand new home, built with a variety of green, eco-friendly features. Their cottage, across the road from our own, although extremely pretty, was impossible to keep comfortably warm during the winter months. 

They spent all day Saturday moving possessions, and their three greyhound rescue dogs, to the new home and came wearily to supper last night so that we, along with other friends, could say a proper goodbye.

This morning when I looked out of the landing window the hen house had gone and the battery chickens were starting a new life further up the village with the blacksmith's cockerel - I hope it works out all right! (There will be no more presents of free range eggs!)

There was no washing on the line, a sign that always told me when Kim was home and not on a shift at the oncology ward where she works. The garden looked what it now is, very quiet and empty. Oh, how we're going to miss them.

Lyndie, another neighbour, brought me this cheerful spray of freesias (she also brought a range of impressions that kept us all in tucks of laughter!)

This morning I picked the first couple of camellias that have come into bloom. But there is a ferociously cold wind blowing which isn't going to do the opening buds much good at all.