Foccacia Bread and Snow

Serves me right for constantly gloating and tormenting you with luscious descriptions of glorious weather and lazy moments basking on my terrace. I've got my comeuppance now, look at the view. What view ? When I awoke in the first split second I thought I saw smoke out of the corner of my eye and had a momentary panic that the house was on fire. I let out my breath slowly and realised I was doing a very realistic impersonation of a kettle on the boil. 'Bloomin' cold in here' I grumbled. 'A healthy bedroom is a cold bedroom' booms His Lordship, he peers at my miserable face just visible beneath the most expensive and expansive duvet that money would allow. 'Are you riddled with cold or lain low with wretched flu' ? 'No I agree and leg it as fast as possible to the bathroom where the warmth of the heated towel rail wraps its welcoming arms around me.

Meanwhile a white world is unfolding before our very eye's as a blizzard swirls and dances its way downwards before settling calmly on the ground. For the umpteenth time I wonder out loud who on earth would borrow my lovely black thermal vest but as usual no-one is prepared to admit their guilt. I've got my suspicions but I daresay it would be impolite to air them in public.

We stride out into the village but no-one seems to share our enthusiasm as we huddle around the mobile butchers van for a bit of Toulouse sausage and keep our distance from the coughing and spluttering pervading the air. 'Good Health and Happiness' our neighbours wish us before retreating behind thick scarves and trundling back home.

His Lordship is at it again with his fancy bread making as is his want whilst I'm behind a camera lens and looking out of the window as is my want. 'Foccacia Bread today' he says. 'Mind you we'll need fresh rosemary out of the garden' and he looks at me whilst continuing to knead the dough. 'Very relaxing this, you should try it, go on'

I punch the round pliable soft pile with a pleasing thwack and feel the elasticity of it beneath my knuckles.

I then gather my snow boots and make my way through the blizzard to locate the fresh rosemary covered in a most delightful lightweight soft white blanket.