Day 1–
Am- beautiful day, the sun coming in from all doors and windows is gentle and welcoming. Blissful silence.
Let’s do some washes. I can’t find Paul’s pillow case in his bedroom. Tina said he probably has it in his bag when he shoved all his stuff in it. But a text to Paul tells me he didn’t have one in the first place. Hey? Really?
Coming out of the house, 6 or 8 quails flew off from the roof of the grain room. They have been around for a while, whether it’s on the road next to the farm or in the orchard or in the yard…They have a very distinctive low frrrrrrr, frrrrrrr, wing sound when they take off which requires no doubt a huge amount of muscle power to lift …. They never fly very far as if they lack power.
I finished the coop doors that I started yesterday and hung them. I am so pleased with the 2 little wooden latches that I have sent a video to my friends. I had been on WhatsApp with Geoff a few times, where is the glue, where can I find a chisel?
Back in the house before lunch and a great tit is caught in the living room not knowing how to get out. By opening the remaining doors onto the balcony, it finds his way out easily, which reminds me to change their drinking water out there. Was he just being inquisitive?
I was so busy working on the coop, filling the gaps between the planks that make the walls, that I was late to get the donkeys. It’s only when the sun disappeared behind the hill that I thought omg I need to move my arse!
On my way to get them I met with Natasha and Yuri walking their dogs and Yuri offered to help me with the donks in the evenings. Yes! sure! I can do it by myself but it’s easier being two. We decided to meet daily by the wheely bins at 7pm which is half way for me and for him too. He is such a nice boy.
All the washing is dry and in.
Day 2–
10am- The donks were really great this morning. On a short lead on either side of me they walked so nicely. No pulling, no I want to graze and you can’t stop me, no nonsense…With Geoff as much as with visitors the donkeys have a ball. They know they can do what they want and the resistance will be minimal. It’s great when we meet and stop to chat with passers-by and neighbours, they have a good 20 minutes of uninterrupted munch.
It doesn’t take long for them to know things are different when it’s just me. I explain to them that on my own we cannot do what we normally do when Geoff is with us which is take our time, let them graze here and there, talk about the weather and the day ahead…they seem to understand. Bless them.
Once on the main road I hold them shorter again as a huge farm engine is coming the other way followed by a string of cars. Thanks to the driver of this monster for stopping to let the cars from the other direction pass before getting on its way. So far so good, the donks are a bit nervous but it’s manageable. Then the road is free and silent again until a silly woman who doesn’t understand why a couple of donkeys are using “her” road, decides to use her horn to show her disapproval. Now the donks get such a fright I nearly let them go.
Bichette was on the grass I said to Geoff, I was on the verge and Bijou was on the road. She had no ground for complaints at all! Usually, I walk on the road and I make sure the donkeys are on the road too so that their hooves get used up. Last year I saved myself a visit from the farrier that way. I also think that if we are on the road, cars have to slow down and take notice of us. Just like on a bicycle, take your space.
So far drivers have been sensitive and given us lots of room. People in general love seeing a donkey and slow down, wave, smile, particularly if there are some children in the car. Only very few have been intolerant.
It was nice walking the donks back with Youri. He was calm and trusting and Bichette was so lovely with him. Have you ever led your mum’s pony? No, she died when I was too young, but I feel an affinity with equines. He said he would be back tomorrow.
Good long talk with jane, ending up talking about Gaza, the depth of corruption in our elites regarding pedo-criminality and spirituality. We had very different views but we managed to keep the conversation personal and real and enjoyable. I noticed that only now in my life am I prepared to be me fully. There was always before some king of concessions I made such that I would fit in somehow. It was as if I was worried or scared about what people might think of me if they really knew me.
Day 3-
Am- Another beautiful and warm day here. The donks were so different this morning, messing about with each other all the way to their field. Melody had told me when we first met on the net, as she became my donkey coach some 13 years ago, “donkeys are not dogs and expect different behaviours, each day is a new day.” She also said “with every interaction you have with them they learn something about you.”
Lunch on the balcony.
“If you want peace in the world, then look inside yourself. Are you peaceful? What you are, is what you are contributing to the world. I am listening to a new podcast: Heart Coherence, and it’s talking to me. It resonates in me. Focus on joy. Focus on what makes you happy. “
When I looked inside the back of the bottom cupboard, oh! What is here? Behind some cups and things we hardly ever use, a mouse had made a nest! That was before lunch and I had my job for the afternoon laid out for me. I took out all that we were not using regularly…. had not done that for years. Felt good.
It reminded me of a time when we found a mouse at the bottom of my mum’s bed under the thick pile of blankets and duvets. We had such a laugh with mum. And remembering she had no heating in the winter other than her electric blanket in 9 degrees Celsius. She said she was fine once she was in bed, she never suffered from the cold, ever. Strong woman.
How can one allow oneself to feel peace and joy when there is such suffering and slaughtering of children in Palestine for over a year now?
“…so you may look around at the world right now and we would ask, what do you most want for your beloved Human family and you might say peace. But if you are in chaos, disharmony within yourself, if you are overwhelmed and stressed out, then that is what you are contributing to the collective in that moment.
If when you ask yourself what I most want in any situation… is peace, then when you go within yourself and we say take 3 deep breaths, go from your head into your heart, what does peace feel like, you may say, calm, light, harmonious, free… feel that and then expand in every cell of your body your awareness to that frequency of peace. Align every cell of your body to a state of peace then expend that to one foot around you in every direction….and expend further and further…to every human being on the planet…
You have no idea the ripple effect that your state of being, the frequency of your state of consciousness, how it is contributing to the great awakening that is occurring on your planet at this time….”
From the site: “Every single person on this planet has a soul and that soul is on a journey through different dimensions of consciousness available on earth and you will cause your own suffering when you think you know what another Soul’s journey should be. You are responsible in this moment for the dimension of consciousness that you’re in. The 3rd dimension is the dimension of separation. The basis of this dimension is fear like limitation, fear of things happening to you, fear of being in harm’s way, like of what you need, limitation like not enough money, not enough time, not enough resources, not enough love… As long as you continually focus in the third dimension of separation, that will be your experience.
And then there is the 4th dimension of transformation where you can change your circumstances and conditions. The way out of the 4th dimension into the fifth dimension of pure love where your well-being and your abundance is assured is to go beyond judgement of yourself and others and judgement of circumstances and conditions as right or wrong…” Yes, that does resonate with me.
Geoff had a great day, walking along the beach in Brighton with a bunch of mates, all so happy to be together, having a fish and chips lunch, and back to London tonight.
Here there is a really strong warm wind blowing and all the shutters are securely fastened even though I hear them bang against the outside walls, it is unsettling .
Day 4
Pm. The strong south east wind has slowed down and a few drops of rain fell for a few minutes.
I picked the last of the tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Not a great looking bunch of vegetables but vegetables never the less. I am now going to pick the remaining walnuts from the very top of the trees. I heard the crows’ noise the last couple of mornings and it sounded very much like they were in the orchard. I am hoping they have left us a few.
Very few indeed. There were at least 10 kilos to be had but I was too late. We had friends for a few days last week and I completely forgot to check the orchard for walnuts…
A 3 hour-long conversation with Martin. Lots to share. We are on the same wavelength regarding the state of the world and its understanding, except he goes much further in any direction and I am not able or willing to follow him there yet.
He is fascinated by the power of urine when it comes down to health and had lots of questions. Since he has been trying it and talking to his mates about it, he has found to his surprise, that some of them were already using their own urine but didn’t share about for obvious reasons.
It’s raining now. It lashed all day
Day 6
pm- A day in bed with a banging debilitating headache. Mostly sleeping.
Day 7
Am- back on track. Got the donks to their field in the thick fog. The landscape as a mirror, all silence. The water drops on the fence and on the rosehips. The tic-toc of the clock.
Pm- Going to go for a walk and will stop at Raymonde’s on my way back for a cup of tea. The conversation this morning was so funny. Raymonde’s is deaf as a post which I didn’t know until each of my sentences was transformed such that it made sense in her world, but had nothing to do with what I had just said. When she realised it, we laughed and agreed to meet instead of talking on the phone. She is such a sweet old girl. Nicky met her on some afternoon in the summer to play cards and they enjoyed each other’s company. Raymonde phones her from time to time and leaves messages, but Nicky forgets to call back…
Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight, the night sky was impressive. From the bottom of the Pech de Treilles and behind the long line of trees in the south to Belmont in the north, the sky was blazing. I had not yet seen such a sight here to that magnitude.
Day 8
Pm. Went to see Dom. On my way back there was a 2kgs bag of sweet chestnuts from Serge and Josiane hanging from the gate. Made a delicious chestnut soup.
Day 9
Beautiful day again. Dom had said we’ll have a mild winter and she also said you have 2 days left to plant your broad beans. So I planted 2 rows. Her dog must have found a rotten carcass somewhere in the woods because it vomited all over her place throughout the previous night. She wasn’t pleased and he didn’t get any cuddles from her after that and for the whole day she said. He is an adorable handsome young dog, mixed breed of Australian shepherd and border collie.
Rob came by to get his money. He showed me photos of his two very young kids and it was lovely to hear him praise his girlfriend for being such a good mum. I wanted him to see the new chicken coop. He said I could get some bamboo canes at his mum’s place. That would be great as it is nearby.
I said to Bichette tonight, enjoy the boys’ company girl, Geoff is back tomorrow and you’ll never get so much grazing time with him. Youri really enjoys walking Bichette back to her paddock.
Having never been a Trump supporter before, and far from it, I never thought I would be so invested in the American political scene as I am right now, hoping Trump and his team win. B asked me if I saw that Elon Musk had joined the Trump team campaign. Yes I said, it’s great! He was horrified. But you were never on the far right before! He hung up before I could just say that right or left don’t mean much anymore. Look what Starmer is doing in the UK. Do you really think he cares about ordinary people? Well, neither does the democrat party in the States, unfortunately. It is as if the whole of the “western world” has been taken over by some dark forces working for the devil himself.
I am prepared to be wrong about Trump. I was excited when Obama got in only to be deeply disappointed along with millions of people. I had allowed myself to be lured by his uplifting speeches and policies, as much as his demeanour and his confidence. Thomas Sowell says it all: One of Obama’s great gifts is the ability to say things that are absolutely absurd and make them sound not only plausible but inspiring.
Day 10
Lots of rain again last night but nothing to stop me taking the donks out. I spent most of the day peeling sweet chest nuts. It takes ages, like a few hours to have enough to make a soup for a couple of days if that. Listening to lots of interesting podcast helped.
Geoff’s flight is on time, I checked. I better get ready to go. He is leaving London when I am leaving home.
Being on my own this time around has been most revelling. I didn’t spend much time cooking, I didn’t do much that was on my to do list, and a lot of my time was spent being introspective.
What has become clear to me is that one of my jobs now is to rid myself of the “ I must, I should and I need to …” and with Geoff being back I am going to resume walking daily with him.
It has been good to be on my own for a little while.
La dame aux ânes 