Last week in Twyford for a while…

 Saturday 3rd September

So another thing Bonnie wants to do, is help you open and close the curtains by her chair. As you do this, she helps by  jumping up and down, trying to bite the curtains. This is allowed! The curtains have over her lifetime suffered as a result, but it’s her way of helping with the housework.

The Evening routine is fun too, at four pm she will pester you for a game of throw the ball and fetch with one of those chucker things. She has actually pestered me much earlier than this. She chases the ball at tremendous speed, running back with it and dropping it at my feet. I then throw it again. After about ten goes, she won’t drop it, as she knows she is only allowed about this number of throws. After she has calmed down a bit, her dinner is served, at which point, the ball is hidden from view. I have also noticed she watches the tv, when lying next to me. I am sure of this, because a cat appeared on the screen last night, her ears pricked up and she growled. The program with the cat on it was about Gorbachev

On Bonnies walk this morning, we met a guy and his lovely Labrador on a field. I thought I recognised him from the TRHA store and I was  right. He was eighty six, walks along the river at Henley three times a week, plays tennis and golf. Amazing! In the afternoon Carol popped round to say goodbye as she will be away next week and brought me a cake. Below are all the lovely cards I received.

I visited a Spanish couple today and we have agreed I will be looking after their cat, in fact house sitting her, starting the last week in July ending just before a dog sit already booked. So that’s leaving just three weeks of my two months time back in the UK not  booked during my July and August UK holiday.

Sunday 4th

So I am going to the TRHA store today, just to say goodbye, it’s funny, as this week will all be about the last time moments, which will feel a bit strange. When I get home Tuesday morning, there is some arranging to do, to meet people who were not at the party. I have given a lot of the dog cake away, Bonnie had a bit yesterday. The hoops that were part of the agility course have been given to my neighbour, for his grandchildren and the Ukrainian kids who are living with him. I listened to the F1 race Sunday and cleaned the chickens out. They had a bit of celery that was in the fridge. We actually got four eggs today, maybe I am feeding them too much. Unfortunately Simba the cat has gone awol, but he does do this from time to time I am told. My admin job for today is to fill in the health insurance form. Why do they leave so little room to write anything! So I forgot to post the link to the party photos. They are here. The good news is that Simba has now returned, his owner thinks he had a big bit of prey like a rabbit and was sleeping it off!

Monday 5th

We had a lot of heavy rain last night, I heard it on the skylight. This morning the fields and landscape are hidden by a cotton wool covering of mist. The horses are faint shadows eating the grass, growing back at last. The chickens have laid two eggs so far, still warm to the touch. Simba came in after being out last night, but there  are plenty of places he could shelter in. Today we went to Dinton pastures with Jane  and Sunny, then went to the Bell. At home our broken fence panels have been replaced and I have set up get togethers with a few friends, more to be arranged. 

I was thinking about my ideas of studying metrology and astronomy in Greece, I could buy a telescope and a weather station straight away, but I think I should prove my interest in these subjects first using my own senses and what I can find on the internet first. The house doesn’t have an address as such it will be,  Hora, Serifos Cyclades, Greece, 84005. A similar situation exists on Sifnos. I have sent a dummy test letter,  let’s see how long it takes to arrive! Amazon.uk don’t deliver of course, Mike and Hazel use Amazon.de. Stuff gets left at the post office where you pick up your post.

Tuesday 6th

I found this live webcam today, it’s of the port of Serifos. I was looking for a webcam I could have on the roof of the house, I need to see how that can be done, as it would need to be wireless. This morning after leaving the animals with their newly returned owner, I met a neighbour of mine who has lived in her house, from the day it was built. I have sent off my medical insurance which enhances the cover I would get in Greece. This is one of the prerequisites I need to live there. As I am at home I can start getting the two cases ready with my worldly belongings! I have had an email from the estate agents saying Septembers rent has been received by the landlord and that there are multiple sets of towels and bedding in the house. In the afternoon I met another neighbour, again someone who has lived in the house from the time it was built. Sadly these people are gradually leaving and new families are moving in. But that renewal!

Wednesday 7th

So Hazel was right the medical insurance guy works very fast, I have my cover back already. My neighbour I saw yesterday afternoon is coming on Saturday night at Burattas which is great. It was lovely to see her, at the end she told me the beautiful Oak box by me,  made for her husbands ashes has them now inside. I did not mind them being next to me at all, he would love to see me chatting to his wife. This morning, the car went for its mot, and I fitted a new extractor fan in the bathroom. Last night the bread maker made its last loaf for now, I use it for my lunch sandwiches. Hopefully on Serifos, I will see the bread made in my local bread shop soon! I still keep waking up at five in the morning, then having trouble to get back to sleep. I wonder what will happen when I get to Greece. If it’s the same time or it then becomes five am Greek time.. Between showers, I walked to the allotment and picked a few things. I met Edie, a dog I used to walk and one of the owners daughters and had a nice chat with her. She is off to Bristol university this autumn.  On the way back I did my last litter pick along Stanlake lane. Later on I went to visit my friend Sue, her husband and her lovely dog Pimms who is a Jug ( Pug/Jack Russell  cross) The car was back when I returned, it got through its mot after a bit of remedial work.

Thursday 8th

So today, is another last time moment. For a long time I have been a dog and owner taxi service for a lady and her lovely dog Sunny. I drive them to a nearby park and while they have a nice walk I go shopping. So  I have a few more things to buy to take to Hazel when I see her and for the house. I have a few more jobs in the garden to ready  it for the winter, it’s looking a lot better after all the rain. So as I walked into the shopping area, I saw an employee of Lidl apprehend a youth, school uniform on, clearly having stolen something  from the store. He was cursing and the rest of it, but the deed is done, no point complaining now chum! I had a coffee at Jane’s and a look at a book she has created with photos of her family and genealogy information for her son, what a wonderful thing to do. I pruned the summer raspberries at the allotment and had to shelter under a nearby porch a few times while the heavens opened and thunder rumbled.

Friday 9th

Well last nights news was very sad, but the Queen lived an amazing life, and performed her role amazingly well. She was also lucky that she died peacefully with her children around her. So did a bit of gardening work at a friends, trimming his shrubs with a hedge trimmer. Gave the car a good hoover out, it it now looks a lot better. I have  date to go to Syros to meet the policeman to present my five year permit application. This is actually good because if they refuse the application because of missing paperwork etc, I have time under the Schengen ninety day rule to stay in Greece and remedy this. If the interview was in October I would have to return to the UK and return the following year in January. Another last time thing, it’s the last meal I will cook here until we come back in the spring to rent the house out. Nothing spectacular, just Linda McCartney vegetarian pie and chips, with peas. Here is a I love Twyford Mat I got from a friend.

Saturday 10th

So the day of the TRHA Autumn show. Early in the morning we setup Loddon hall for the entries in the various classes. These then arrive later on, judging happens and it’s open to the general public in the afternoon. It’s fair to say that over the years the entrees have changed,  and the classes we now have reflect that change in dynamics. There are teas and cakes available, let’s hope it doesn’t rain as people like to sit outside. It finishes after four and it all needs clearing down.  In the evening, it’s the goodbye meal  at Burattas. Early start tomorrow…