Helen's feeling reflective

Well we have had a diverse weather month. Drought and flood, roasted and chilled, blown and stagnated all in the space of a few days. Just in case any of my weather bores are reading we had 112mm from the week of rain and 41 degrees centigrade was our highest temperature. 

It has also been a pretty diverse activity few weeks for me as well. The annual round of piano, ballet and theatre performances with number 3 child for a touch of culture, a drinks and aperos evening, a completed dossier for naturalisation for Emily, an attempt to find the administrative zone in the house, the standard everyday fair of running the butchery, a touch of bale rolling for a bit of muscle workout, playing with the new piglets and getting to know our new piggies very kindly given to us by some very dear pig farming friends of ours after 3 of our were stolen earlier in the year, some attic clearance to try and make some space to do a few renovations, and, other than the markets, a few escapades into the countryside for a delivery run or 2. 

Often when I am driving through the French countryside I forget that I am at work, surrounded by all the beautiful Chateaux, wooded hills, stream-snaked valleys, delapidated stone built semi-abandoned hamlets and gorgeously renovated houses. Just like ours will be one day :)

We will be having a few visitors over during the summer period, thus far all of whom will arrive from Zimbabwe. I am wondering whether I should add any details to that list Gavin has or whether he might suffer from brain overload and internally combust.  We could be in for an interesting day tomorrow with a bit of sheep dosing and paddock moving, which usually includes a touch of hair loss on Gavins part, followed by a little market preparation,........ so I won't mention the list until Friday...

I will be heading to Holland again in a few days to watch the World Championship Sheepdog Trials with Zimbabwe friends, and then to drive the long trip home with Patrick. I seem to have done a lot of driving recently fetching or delivering precious items like cars, children and bacon ;) I know the next few weeks are going to zoom past before I am ready now that the children are on holiday. I have to savour every moment with them these days they are either growing up too fast or have done it already in a blink of an eye....
Note to self: Don't forget to sit and drink that sundowner in the evening when everyone is here.....
See you all soon
Helen