Frost

It continues to be frosty and cold. Last night’s temperature dropped to -7, but by  9:30 AM, when we set off for the butcher’s in Horsley, it was -3 C.   Our beautiful garden is bleak with stiff frost.  The fields are white, and  the tops of hedges and branches.  Snow is beautiful and soft.  You… Continue reading Frost

The Season

So we got our lights and heat, but we didn’t need them for the party.  I decked the halls with fir branches, as the wood pigeons ate all the berries on our magnificent holly tree,added  little silver and gold balls and beads, and lots of candles.  The fireplace roared, silver glimmered in the candle light,… Continue reading The Season

Health Care – UK, France, US: Krugman and Me

Health Care Terror  By PAUL KRUGMAN  These days terrorism is the first refuge of scoundrels. So when British authorities announced that a ring of Muslim doctors working for the National Health Service was behind the recent failed bomb plot, we should have known what was coming.  "National healthcare: Breeding ground for terror?" read the on-screen… Continue reading Health Care – UK, France, US: Krugman and Me

RAIN

It  has rained everyday since our return from France, and it was rainy before we left.  Mind you, the weather wasn’t perfect in France when we were there,either,  but as far as I know, France has been spared the destructive downpours and floods which are devastating some towns in Yorkshire. I like rain; like the… Continue reading RAIN

Get a Horse

The sun rises at 4:30 AM these late May days, as we glide, second by second, toward the longest day of the year.  We are going to Cranleigh today to shop for black out curtains for the guest room, so  potential summer guests can sleep past 4:00 AM,  if they  are foolishly sleep addicted.   … Continue reading Get a Horse

Back in Shere

May 16th,2007    The first thing people say to me is how beautifully warm and sunny the month of April was.  Of course, I missed it.  I hope that isn’t all we will get this year, but it doesn’t look promising right now;   I came back a week ago to chilly, rainy weather and gray… Continue reading Back in Shere

Dinner Party

We had our first one hundred-percent Shere-ite dinner party on Saturday.  Eight people were invited, and all of them said yes. They even seemed pleased to be asked.   My first friend here, the thin dog-walker, arrived, looking elegant in wide black trousers and a full-sleeved wrap around blouse, accompanied by my soon-to-be painting pal, the … Continue reading Dinner Party