I do hope you are all still there, way out there across the miles and continents?
I always get to this point in the year and try to decide, do I like Autumn best...or Spring? Not a hope of deciding outright, but I still spare a thought each year. The birds outside are singing beautifully today, did I simply not hear them before this September morning? Were they there yesterday or was it that I simply hadn't tuned in enough? Tuning out sometimes has to be a necessity when you have M.E. when even the sound of a cup being placed upon a table sounds as loud as a clap of thunder.
My son was married during the Bank holiday just gone, they had a wonderful day in spite of the clouds and rain threatening, and I managed to be there after several unexpected episodes designed to throw spanners and clogs in the works. The burglar alarm started to blare just as we were getting dressed, which was definitely odd....it was switched off! So by the time that was sorted out we were over half an hour late setting off to the venue. Then we got lost. Twice. When we finally found our way to the entrance of the stately-mansion and found a parking place it was spot-on the time for the wedding to begin, at which point I was faced with a very long steep driveway to climb. A drive that must have been a 1 in 8 incline and stepped. I got almost half way up and my legs refused to do any more. By this time I was more than mildly distressed as you can imagine. My husband telephoned the cavalry. Two daughters dressed to the nines arrived one either side to yank (crank...more like!) me up the rest of the drive. Thankfully the bride, as is the custom was delayed and I fortified with a brandy was safely placed in my seat for the ceremony which went off without a hitch and was liberally sprinkled with tears all round.
Painting held in The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
