Sunday

When we thought there would only be four of us at the markets this morning, we were wrong. We made it to a respectable eight and settled in for a very wonderful couple of hours of coffee and conversation. And so the others would know that they were missed we sent some photographs and texts showing what we were up to. They will just have to guess who was putting the brandy into the tea this morning - something that doesn't usually happen. All I will say is that it is for medicinal purposes.
By the time we were driving home this afternoon the sky was filled with dark black clouds. It was just lucky that the rain held off until we'd gotten home and taken the washing off the line. But it would've been a small price to pay to see those majestic clouds hanging low over the surrounding hills.
S and I agree about one thing when it comes to washing - it's pretty hard to get the winter socks right and to be able to tell black from blue especially under artificial lighting.
I still have a couple of jobs to do today. I don't think one of them will be the changeover of my wardrobe from summer to winter after having seen how long it took S yesterday. She did do an amazing job even though it took most of the day to get it done properly.
It continues to rain here and it's good to know that most of the animals are either inside or undercover. I've just let Pearl in with Emma and S because the thunder and lightning have started and she's scared.
M and Mouse arrived back this evening saying it feels like they've been away for a month. S and I have trips away like that sometimes - I think when it's just so different from what you usually do and you're in the need of a break - or perhaps just when you're truly ''in the moment".
S did a wonderful thing and had made a pot of Hungarian Goulash Soup which we took with us when we picked M and Mouse up from the airport. That way we could have dinner with Mouse rather than just dropping her off and leaving her alone at home. S had thought that she might want to "debrief" after seeing her old friend in Sydney who is losing the fight with age - both physically and mentally. Mouse has known it, from her conversations with CA, but from her own experience with her mother, S knows it is quite different "knowing" something and "seeing" it with your own eyes - I think it was hard for both Mouse and M.
The animals were all glad to see M back - except perhaps for Beasley who seemed a little more scared than pleased - but that's just him. He finally did deign to come in - after chasing some toads in the backyard - and once in, he did seem to settle down. He was the last one in so we went straight into lock-down ... until tomorrow.