A bit late this month, a lot going on.
Firstly a huge thank you to all who supported our Book Bonanza, we raised 1,800 euros which is really fabulous, especially as some regulars were unable to make it due to various reasons, one of which being the pesky diversion from Cahors which apparently was very confusing, in fact so confusing, some gave up. I did not realise this was in place (and still is !) or I would have sent out an alternative route. “Went the day well ?”, you bet your bottom dollar it did ! Our statistician, Gaynor, informed us that we sold 45% of the fiction books and 50% of the crime (you blood thirsty lot you !). Of the books which were left, I cherry picked for the next sale, a friend then cherry picked for various charities she supports and I gave six boxes to the second hand book shop in Duravel – says she, shooting herself in the pied !! That has left quite a lot to get rid of as I wish to start from scratch for the next sale, so 90 % of the rest of the books will go for recycling. Next sale 29th March 2025.
Those of you who follow Danielle on Facebook will see that she is almost snowed under with requests to take dogs but there were no adoptions at all in October. I think that is a first. Unfortunately, most of the dogs who come to her come with ‘baggage’, some being given up because the owners have not trained the dogs and seem surprised when cute little puppies grow up to be a big handful and more and more due to family breakdowns. Breaking News – puppies don’t mend dodgy relationships !!
Ernst and I had a nice week with friends down on the south coast in October, sadly the weather was iffy but we maanaged a few warm days and had some great lunches out and great evenings in playing cards on the balcony and quenching our thirst with the local rosé. The drive down however was pain. We used to go to the Nice area where you drive off the motorway and ten minutes later you are at your distination. However, this year we went to the Var and there is another good hour’s drive from the motorway down to the coast.
This is our lovely old Ben boy and I am at the moment on tenterhooks waiting for a call from the vet. Dear Ben is 18 (!) and has been with us for over ten years, being taken in as an ‘oldie’ at eight ! He is the sweetest, most gentle dog who just loves everybody whether they have two legs or four. When Nick came to us as a terrified puppy, I put him in with Ben and he became Ben’s shadow. Ben took care of him (we’ll gloss over the fact that he taught Nick how to dig an escape route under the fence !) and Nick would not even eat if Ben was not near him. Over the years, the positions changed and Nick started to take care of Ben. In later years, when we were on walks, sometimes Ben would get confused and wander off, I only had to say to Nick “where’s Ben, go find Ben” and Nick would run off, run round and round in ever increasing circles until he found him and guided him back to me. Now Ben has gone into a serious decline, not eating and just staring at the water bowl looking confused as if he cannot remember how to drink. Over the weekend I have been drip feeding him water with a syringe and this morning took him to the vet. They have put him on a drip and we can only hope and pray to St. Cadbury that he comes home to us.
I hope you are all enjoying this lovely sunshine and I hope it lasts until my birthday later this week. I was looking forward to a trip to Ikea with a friend (I know how to enjoy myself) but we have had to postpone, so I have decided to accord myself a full reading day. I will not cook or do any housework (I will walk the dogs), I will just read all day and go to the film at Cezac in the evening. Cheers !
Sue x