Well, December has been pretty miserable out here at Port 80. We had a quiet weekend at the start of the month and then Matt put his back out, so we ended up not seeing anyone socially since Thanksgiving. What with Matt’s back, neither of us have been feeling very sociable in any case, but it’s been very insular. It doesn’t help that our speakers chose this month to break so we are also without music, which adds to the sombreness.
I have to say though that weather-wise, we’ve really been spoilt. It’s been around 14 degrees and sunny pretty much all month and though it does get cold at night, it rarely freezes. It’s turned cooler and grey today, but it’s still mild for the time of year. The mildness and blue skies have made it feel distinctly un-Christmas like. This feeling has been compounded by the fact that our planned Christmas in the UK has necessarily been cancelled, which is really upsetting.
We are also probably the only people in the world who could manage take down a Christmas tree at this time of year, instead of putting one up. The large pine in our front garden that, as Matt mentioned last week, Lucien cut down recently, was originally a Christmas tree that the ex-owner planted some years back. I think we’ve created an Anti-Christmas. It was obvious that a year so unrelentingly rubbish would end badly: it was just a case of how exactly that would manifest itself. Well, now we know.
Matt does actually appear to be – very slowly – on the mend. He was able to get out of bed in less than 30 seconds this morning which was most impressive given that at his worst, it was more like 5 minutes. It’s great there’s been improvement, but it’s also a little cruel as it’s a case of too little, too late: I still can’t see him making the journey. And even if he did, he’d have a whole week of travelling around, sitting in odd chairs etc. If he suddenly got worse, it would be hellish getting back home again.
He’s been very busy with work, mostly on this urgent project that he started last week. It’s been frustrating, but is well paid. For me, I’ve had very little to do at all on the work front. Suppose it’s normal for the time of year, but it’s not helped my mood any. I had a client meeting on Friday – our hard-up painter client who is very slow at sending me content. We’re a little closer to done now, but it will still be a while before it’s finished. I was hoping she was going to make another part payment, but she wanted to wait until after Christmas. Luckily, I have more non-work activities than usual to occupy me as I’ve taken over Matt’s regular chores while he convalesces. I’ve even operated a chainsaw for the first time, with no resulting injuries or loss of life.
Matt had an x-ray in Thiviers on Tuesday, which was of limited value, and a nurse came over the following day for some blood tests. We’re back to the doc’s this evening to see what’s what, and to ask his opinion about travelling. I’m less than optimistic, despite the recent improvements.
On Saturday, we had a social activity: dinner at our new friends, Mark & Troy’s. They’re the couple who live in the same hamlet we lived in with Mad Sharon. We assumed we’d need to cancel, but as Matt was doing a bit better we decided to go and use it as a test case for him getting out of the house. Along with us were two other couples – two lovely guys from Paris who were down visiting, and an Irish couple who also live in Badaillac. They were nice too, but she literally did not stop talking all evening which made it a bit tedious. The meal itself was very good, even though I forgot to warn them about my dietary issues, but we weren’t on top form so made our excuses and left soon after dessert. Mark and Troy are moving away in the Spring to go and live in the Aude, way down near the Spanish border, so it will have been a short but sweet friendship.
And that’s about all I have for you, so I will end on as happy a note as I can by wishing you all a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah etc and by pointing out that there are a mere twelve days left of this evil, crappy year. There’s a reason to be cheerful.