Larchingham Palace....

Well, this morning the smell has abated. (If you're unsure of what I am talking about, take a peek at yesterday's post, I'm too annoyed to repeat the story...) I presume the reason for the smell dilution is because we live in a sizeable, draughty house where the sash windows are just about to fall out. This creates a weather system inside the house and allows troublesome odors to dissipate quickly. No need for fancy air fresheners here! Humph!

Last night, after the smokehouse cleared and I escorted, out of the doors and windows, every bit of heat from the house that we'd accumulated since early November, I began to worry about the hubby: (You can never worry enough really. As an aside, all the people I know who worry a lot are slim...... I am fat!) Anyhoo, the snow was getting pretty bad and he'd borrowed my sledge car for the day, leaving us with Dizzy.

The stink from the damp fire was still revolting so I stomped out into the black and white and returned with my wheelbarrow. (I love my wheelbarrow.... roll on Spring.) With Kevlar fire gloves I weight-lifted the entire wrought-iron log basket, still smoking, into the wheelbarrow and raced it out the front door and out into Home Field. The offending logs and coal are now a part of the prep for next year's Bonfire Night Party.

*

Hubby finally made it home. Shaking, he said hello and immediately fixed himself a drink. Bad journey home; it's the last 10 miles that really scuppers us.

He was so traumatised he didn't even register the smoke damage, except to tell me that that particular chimney doesn't have a cowl. The chimney was probably blocked with snow and ice.

After a bath I almost smelled human. I sat with hubby in the kitchen, the children safely tucked up in beds and bedrooms that smelled like lapsang souchong tea,.... but I was warm by the log burner (that doesn't smoke) and I was very comfy too, till my arse, 'scuse the French, fell through the ancient new thrones fireside chairs we've treated ourselves to as a Wedding Anniversary present. Anyhow, it appears that one of the struts holding the springs in place had pinged off. Hubby - mender of the universe - soon had it fixed and my bottom was soon safely on my rightful throne....... just the one cheese scone with a slice of cold ham and a glass of wine beside me. See I'm cutting back already.

So, this morning we just smell vaguely like we live on a charcoal farm..... Delightful.

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North West of London.......

It is always good when friends come to stay, and lately we have had a lovely array of visitors.

This weekend we hosted a pal from London with her wonderful hubby Fen and her two gorgeous children Cate and X. You must know her she writes the brilliant 'Cross the Pond blog.

She chose a good weekend to come, Ludlow has held street markets since the twelfth century and this weekend was no exception, the Ludlow Medievil Christmas Fayre was on too. We browsed stalls selling fresh produce, cheeses, olives, books and  local crafts while rubbing shoulders with wild, chivalrous knights and courtly ladies, soldiers, jesters and medieval musicians as well as menacing minders of King Stephen. All with the backdrop of the Norman Castle.

It was all pretty bizarre, but good.

We visited the yummy cheese shop too. Sadly I'd forgotten to bring a carrier bag, but thank goodness the weather was so chilly, as Miss 'Cross the Pond offered to store the cheese purchases in her handbag. If it had been warmer, her purse could have smelled remarkably like a french pond, so pungent were our cheese- choices! (Fortunately she was still fragrant by home-time, freezing but fragrant) Although cold, the belting sunshine made Ludlow look so pretty.

Fen and Hubby were in heaven too: Two international rugby matches on the TV on Saturday, beer and a thwacking Thanksgiving turkey - theirs was a marriage made in heaven.

It has been super-cold, a severe frost has covered the fields and frozen the water troughs for the horses. Although it's not snow, after our guests departed, Sledge Field was sufficiently frozen to allow the 8yo and the 6yo to sled for the afternoon, until their hands bottoms and knees could take the pain no longer!. It has been so cold in fact, that locally they recorded temperatires of -18 last night. Sadly, one of our chickens passed away last night. Poor thing, she hadn't looked well. Never fear however, Archie and mum are still doing well.

Well I'm off to cook dinner.

Just 7000 words between now and Tuesday midnight and I should complete the NaNoWriMo challenge. Will I do it? 'COURSE I WILL.......

My sledge...the car

Sod's Law:
To recap; as we all know the weather has been pretty bad here since Christmas. The children nearly drove me demented after almost 6 weeks of extended Christmas holidays as we were trapped in sodding Santa's wonderland!!! So we did it, (deep breath) we purchased a bloody 4x4 from the auction in order to ensure we would always be able to escape our rural retreat. Naturally as soon as we did this Spring sprung and I even caught sight of a couple of newby lambs.

Following so far?

As the weather had turned so nice we decided to give the beast, now named 'Dizzy Disco' by the 7yo...to the top banana mechanic cousin. He decreed he would need it for 1 week to fix everything and we delivered it to him last Sunday, approximately 35 miles away.

Therefore it is clearly our fault that the snow returned with a vengeance for half term week, and why it has remained ever since. I ventured out once to buy new school shoes and for a bit of retail therapy at Ikea in Birmingham and was truly scared as I desperately tried to slide home. While we shopped in the city enjoying a cosy 4°, I was blissfully unaware that our neck of the UK had turned into Siberia:

'Hold hands,' I yelled to the children as our 'real' car (not the 4x4) hurtled down a steep incline near Clee Hill. I felt like we were in one of those populated coffins from the winter Olympics, although I had marginally less idea how to control it. We were headed straight for a white van and driver (justice really) who clocked my speed and instantly reversed at top speed with hazard lights flashing. I narrowly missed him by dumping the car in a field entrance. I may have said some rude words and hope desperately that the kids had their TV headphones on high. I was definitely shaking. I am beginning to despise snow.

Finally making it home I had 3 vodkas and decided not to do the ironing (sadly just for that night and not forever more!) I can understand now why people in cold climes drink lots of vodka.....

We got 'Dizzy' back this Sunday and although it's cold, the bloody snow is immediately melting and the sun's come out. I feel powerful knowing that I control the weather for this part of the UK.

The only upside is the beauty of Clee Hill. We went to the snowy summit with some good friends who came to stay this weekend - wow it's stunning, wish you could see it.



Catch up soon
Lou
XX