If nothing else, I’ll try to keep up with my weekly round ups of life here at Dormouse Towers – of course, this relies on me being able to remember what I did!
Saturday is our day (well, morning) for cleaning up. Mr FD takes The Beast (a washing/vacuuming the floor hybrid) around while I generally tidy and put things away. Then in the afternon, it rained (I think) so we did our own thing. For me, that was tweaking my sermon, and sorting out the Order of Service, watching Silent Witness, and faffing around in my study; for Mr FD it was watching some sporting event.
On Sunday I was down at Church preaching and leading the service. It’s our last service before the “Summer schedule” – we rent the church building from the Eglise Reformée. They have an architecturally remarkable church in the centre of the city. Unfortunately, it’s not very well ventilated (that’s architects for you!) so in the heat of the summer they prefer to migrate to the little cool chapel. So they take the 10.30 slot, and we move to 17.30 in the evening – which isn’t at all convenient for those of us who live some distance away. As many of our congregation go waay for summer, we only have services every other week.

There were quite a lot of people there (for our congregation!) so it was good to share some conversation. We had planned a picnic/barbecue in someone’s garden, but unfortunately it was lashing down with rain, so that was put on hold.
On Monday I had a lesson planned, early-ish, at 8.50. After that, I planned the final lessons at school. I sent them off to the teachers, only to receive news that the damage to the school from the hailstorms last week was so bad that the school is closed until next September. So no school for me on Friday! In the afternoon I set to and ironed my pile of ironing. Mr FD is very good and does his every Sunday morning – he’s always been very disciplined about this. I wait until I run out of clothes, or my ironing pile is so dangerously tall that I can’t put another garment on it!
On Tuesday I had a face to face lesson in Montbrison – this is a 2 hour lesson, between 12.00 and 14.00, but it’s a 45 minute drive there, so it takes up more time than I’m paid for…although I am also getting some money for travel from the company that employs me. I planned tomorrow’s lessons, wrote my shopping list for tomorrow and then set off. I usually buy a sandwich for lunch, and eat half before the lesson and then half afterwards!
After the lesson I had to take the car for its Controle Technique (the French equivalent of MOT test) in Noiretable. After leaving the car at the Test Centre I went for a walk around the countryside. Just a couple of kilometres, but still better than nothing.
Wednesday was my kiné session. Today Jean Claude worked on my sciatica with a massage, which was much more relaxing than balancing on rubber cobblestones, but still was quite painful in its way! I had a break of 2 hours before my first lesson, so I got some of the shopping done at Lidl and had a wander round Noz. I also popped into the sopfa factory shop (clearance sale) but there was nothing suitable. We are keeping our eyes open for a corner unit but the necessary measurements are a bit awkward. We’ll probably go made to measure in the end… After my first lesson I had another hour’s gap so went for another shortish walk. But another 2 km or so on the total – every little helps!
After my second lesson I finished the shopping (cool stuff) and went home. I was very hot by now, so after unpacking I collapsed with a cold drink and a fluffy kitten.
On Thursday I had an online lesson with a new student – he’s very nice with a good level of English. I caught up with some admin work and then had another online lesson. Over lunch, I watched the final of The Great British Sewing Bee (a bit disappointed by the winner) before painting some more pebbles for convention and faffing. I played with Lucky Jim as well. He’s still confined to his play pen when we’re not around, mostly for his own safety, as he hasn’t quite worked out that Bib would probably hurt him if he continues to bounce up on her! He’s always happy to come out.
And here we are on Friday – today I have to make a card for a friend’s wedding. Unfortunately I’m not going…It promises to be a splendid affair. As Guy works in the Houses of Parliament the ceremony is in the chapel there, the wedding breakfast in the Member’s dining room and the evening reception on the Terrace.
Mr FD can’t get the holiday off work, and neither can my friend A who was going to come. I certainly don’t want to go alone, and anyway, with the chaos that is happening at airports now (and I would have had to fly) I think it’s all for the best. But I am a little disappointed… Anyway, I can at least make a card for the happy couple!
Our menus this week have been/will be
Monday | Stuffed peppers – Mexican rice, kidney beans, chicken – avocado & tomato salad |
Tuesday | Chicken & courgette quiche, left over Mexican rice, salad |
Wednesday | Brochettes, salad, tabouleh |
Thursday | Pasta with a red pepper and pesto sauce, mushrooms & lardons |
Friday | Pizza & salad |
Saturday | Chicken & sweet potato curry |
Sunday | Creamy steak fettucine Recipe here |
And at the end of all that, here’s a Sleepy Time Jim