the best of times, the worst of times

Summer had eventually managed to tighten it's grip and had started to bless us with some sunny skies and all was looking good . The pool was warm, the garden was flowery, the veg was starting to be picked, everything we could hope for.


Then the bombshell referendum result. A referendum  called for by arrogant and self serving politicians as part of some strange Tory game which they thought they "couldn't lose". The campaign had unleashed a tsunami of fear, hatred and bigotry and no- one it seemed could see the echoes of history being played out. It had all gone badly wrong and no- one could think of anything to do except resign.

For heavens sake the referendum was supposed to be advisory - we should be letting parliament decide now, with a detailed analysis of the divisions in the country before deciding whether there is actually  a "mandate" to leave.



A deep gloom descended. One thing we knew we could never go back now. We had already thought of applying for French Nationality now there was an urgency to get it done. So lists have been made, folders have been bought and we have started on the long road of preparing our applications.



Then bombshell number two. I was overcome with a fever, couldn't eat without being sick and slept for the whole weekend. When I went to the doctors on the Monday she promptly sent me off to hospital as she suspected a heart infection.

I ended up staying two nights (it felt like 2 weeks). Just about every organ in my body was ultrasounded. I slept with bags of ice to bring down the fever. Eventually they have diagnosed a lung infection, gave me antibiotics and let me go home. That was almost a week ago and I am just about starting to have enough strength to stay up all day. All I need now is to regain my appetite so I can enjoy a meal and a glass or two with our visitors this week.

I have been lucky to have pretty good health and have only stayed in hospital 3 times before, twice for the birth of babies and once for an operation on my shoulder. It was quite a challenge to cope with the French hospital feeling so ill but one thing I was pleased about is that my French skills were not found wanting, I'm sure I understood as much that was going on as I would have done in England.

I am blessed with the best of husbands. For over a week now Trevor has done all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, watering, emergency garden tasks, lawn mowing, looking after the animals including Emil who is still manky legged, in between he's managed to remove the old bathroom from the garden to the dump and even fitted in couple of finishing off jobs on the new bathroom there should be some sort of medal. There have been days when he seemed to be on some sort of turbo charge.or over a week now Trevor has done all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, watering, emergency garden tasks, lawn mowing, looking after the animals including Emil who is still manky legged, in between he's managed to remove the old bathroom from the garden to the dump and even fitted in couple of finishing off jobs on the new bathroom there should be some sort of medal.

 He has driven many hundreds of miles over the week. We now have visitors and he has taken them off for a spot of tourism - I didn't risk going as I was afraid I might put a damper on things I want to save my energy  for this evening - it would be nice to feel hungry when we all sit down to eat.

As for the future?      Je suis européen.    aici sén pla