The unvarnished TRUTH of life at Le Chateau

Someone has dared criticise my blog. 'You're too damn cheerful' they have said, 'why don't you just tell it how it is sometimes' ?

I lay in the bath having the water as hot and deep as I dared and stared gloomily at the heavy pattering of rain on the fragile window panes. Outside the wind was whipping the trees ferociously and I wondered just how well the enormous line of washing was coping. I could hear the shutters banging in the distance. Nobody had thought to secure them as yesterday we had a heatwave. That's H E A T W A V E. Instead of taking the opportunity to do nothing I had spent a large part of the day shovelling washing in the machine, a non stop process of washing, pegging on line, and careful folding onto Aga, all done (un) cheerfully. Afterwards towards the end of the afternoon I rewarded myself with a lie down on one of the sunbeds where I promptly dozed off in the gorgeous warmth. When I awoke I was in the shade whilst His Lordship basked in the sun. I was pleased (not).

We decided to take part in Earth Hour 2008, this involved everyone sitting by candlelight whilst I struggled to put supper on the table. We then sat by the flickering light and wondered if our supply of candles would last the hour. All around us the lights of the village blazed. To jolly it up a bit (not) we had a debate on badgers. Don't ask.

Up with the lark for our new guests. Now we must be doing something right because this has got to be their 7th or 8th visit to Le Chateau. Everything was ticking over nicely only we had of course gone forward an hour which means we had lost an hour depending on whether you want jolly or gloomy. Still look on the bright side our guest was bringing over a delicious box of the very best Belgian chocolates, and I mean the VERY best, naturally.

Only he wasn't, because he cancelled at the very last minute, only I didn't pick up the message on the computer until I had made every last bed, dusted every last corner and arranged every last flower, lovingly.

Life's a beach ain't it ?

PS. During Earth Hour my last Cadbury's Cream Egg went missing.

PPS. Goes without saying, naturally, that whatever the weather (and lets be honest it's usually divine) visitors to Le Chateau receive only the warmest welcome, with or without a box of Belgian chocolates !!