Monday, December 21, 2009

Digby faces a new day - from behind a tree.


The cold, still, calm weather of the last few days has been replaced by a stiff wind blowing down from the Pyrenees bringing milder air - the temperature must have risen six or seven degrees overnight. With the ice gone, Wilf has been able to resume his 'on guard' position by the front gate ready to bark at the palm tree each time its fronds rustle in the breeze. Digby has propped himself up in the lee of a large plane tree where he can observe all the comings and goings without having to exert himself too much.

The family are at last en route to Toulouse and there is a chance that by midnight tomorrow the logistical nightmare will be behind us. A few problems remain such as cancellation of the Eurostar cross channel trains , snow closed airports in the US , and seasonal chaos at Heathrow. 'The font' stayed at a hotel at Terminal 5 last night and retreated in horror from the restaurant where long lines of stranded Boston and Kennedy bound passengers looked as though they had settled in for the duration.

Christmas garlands to jolly up the front gate were delivered at seven thirty this morning. When I went to hang them up they immediately crumbled into twenty or thirty pieces. The florist had made them out of that strange green water retentive material and had left them to soak overnight .By this morning they had absorbed so much water that they had tripled in weight and lost any torsional strength they might have had .Hang them up and voila watch gravity do its trick. I leapt in the car and took them straight back. My remonstration was met with a Gallic ' c'est la vie' shrug of the shoulders. After a somewhat lengthy conversation they have agreed to make new ones - the inference being that it is entirely my fault .

Still no beds, Fortnum hamper , or DHL present deliveries.

5 comments:

  1. I love that first photo of Digby. The golden light on his fur is gorgeous!

    It must be quite a challenge to adapt to another new culture. Your stories make me chuckle.

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  2. Oh, I feel your holiday stress! Hopefully things start arriving soon, as in, today!

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  3. who do i need to "rough up" to make this go smoother? :)

    all Digby needs now is a chew toy, stuffed animal, and a pillow and he will look just a little more comfy.

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  4. Hey there Mongoose and family
    Just popping by to wish you all a wonderful, warm and happy Christmas...stressfree too? It has been great getting to know you guys a little over the past couple of months. Thanks you for the fun and the interesting blogposts.
    With love from
    YOUR FRIENDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
    ps Don't forget to give the pooches huge hugs and licks from all of us :)

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