It was absolutely freezing when I arrived ten days ago - lots of snow and temps scarcely getting past zero.
Just after I arrived I went with Christy for her 12 week scan - all is well and my #3 grandchild is due on August 23 - a week after Andy returns from a month in South America so we all hope s/he won't arrive 2 weeks early like Pelagia. I had never been to an antenatal scan before - i was quite emotional watching this tiny person with a beating heart moving about and sucking his/her thumb.
The past week has been milder with some days as warm as 8 degrees. And it has been fine and we have been outdoors a lot in spite of the temps. Last week we spent in Dorset in a cottage at Corfe Castle with good friends of Christy and Andy's, Chris and Gabby and their dog Rufus. We had a great time. Long walks everyday, mostly along the coast which is spectacular. It was hard to believe that it was just 18 months ago that Phil and I were walking the same coast paths.
Chris and Christy are both gourmet cooks so we needed the long walks to work off our dinners. On Friday we had lunch at Hugh Fearnley-Witingstalls River Cottage Canteen in Axminster - I am a fan of the ABC TV series from River Cottage which focuses on sustainable seasonal food. The meal was fabulous. Interesting menu, beautifully cooked and presented in a professional but relexed atmosphere. All six of us really enjoyed it.
It is so good to be here. It gives me time to put aside for a time some of the burdens of last year and the mountain of tasks still to be done. Pelagia is a delight. A very happy easy child and very funny.
This afternoon we went to look at the new house. It should be a really nice home for them with a good size garden. They are unlikely to move in while I am here But a least I can help sort stuff and pack some boxes.
It's my birthday today and I've had a lovely day. This time last year Eleanor put on a wonderful champagne afternoon tea for us all in Phil's hospital room in Sydney - what a lot has happened in a year.
I want to add some photos to this blog but I haven't yet worked out how to do it on my iPad. No doubt it will be quite easy but ....... So watch this space for pictures later.
