the essentials of happiness

Working hard, as Mr H and I, like so many, tend always to do (tinctured as ever with talk of the illusive work/life balance) can leave the heart pacing relentlessly, one grows tardy. Going away shifted the attention for us. While there is nothing sparse about our lives, a visit such as this one served to remind us of other things. I admit one could form a habit for such a life. Our friends live in an 1848 year old farm in Bergerac, France, and this last weekend typified aptly a wonderful approach to life.

Following years of correspondence, this was our very first visit. I made a faint, rather squeaky exclamation at the sight of the luminous, peaceful blue above a rural piece of French heaven, their heaven

Misty standing guard

It is sometimes said that the grand essentials of happiness are:

something to do,

something to love,

and something to hope for...

Their home is beautiful certainly, yet what drew me most was not the extent of what they have, but in the fewness of their wants

log piles foraged from the woods

These are 'cow shoes'!

Misty                        Thomas

Thomas, when first met, spread voluptuously upon the rug, then rose and bowed himself, shooting half-opened condescending eyes at us

Misty

"Time, surely, for a walk...?" 

Rosalind         Cherry          Biggles 

Boris

Biggles

 ... with a remarkably loud, varied tempo of honks! (we know... it was our alarm clock!)

Josh

Misty finally got her way, and a walk it was...

Misty plus cats, Cas and Ino - far right - names derived from 'Casino' the supermarket car park where they were found as abandoned kittens

.. the cats accompanied us for 2 miles

One of a number of intimate moments between Biggles and me (he may forget what I said, but he hopefully he will never forget how I made him feel!)

a kind of donkey heaven (mud bathing)

Cas

We may not all have long tails but what we have can be perfectly formed and needs to be showcased! (Cas was born with this little specimen)

Ino

Following Mr W to feed the donkeys

... and to clean their teeth (oh yes), but should you ever be placed to smell their breath (well I don't know, you might!)... rest assured it smells sweet, of hay, it is a natural, light and pleasant sort smell. Really!

... cleaned out and pressed tar into their hooves (to protect against rot)

... Mr H and Mrs W collecting logs - the vehicle in the distance is being driven by Mr W, and is dragging the log out on a rope (here it got lodged against a tree, a bit of a nightmare when you have 20 to do - and they all get stuck one way or another)

Bernadou

Mrs W and me shopping at the local market...

A French heaven