Hanging on

09Sep10

Anyone who noticed the lengthy absence since my last spot of blogging could be forgiven for thinking that I had, at the very moment the post was published, packed my bags and left for Japan – and neglected to catch a return flight. As it is, I’m very much still here and the holiday is still a distant dream; books have been read, websites have been trawled for info, plans have been made… It’s the Making A Decision and Putting Plans Into Action part where I am – typically – coming unstuck. Once it’s all booked up, it will be hard to keep me quiet about it.

Summer was a bit of a non-event this year. I’m sure there were some gorgeous fun weeks in July, but the happy memories are fading as quickly as the warmth from what little sun we’ve had, as it all turned to grey and gloom in August. The British weather is getting tougher to forgive for these let-downs. I want to stay hopeful for a bright September, but inside, I’m hibernating already. At least my yearly crop of sunflowers weren’t trashed by the wind and rain; it’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and they drank it up.

I need to make time to post more on here, and not only so it doesn’t feel like every post I write is announcing another Death in The Family. But sadly today, after just a day or two of being quiet and subdued, little Dita left us. She was found collapsed in the garden when we came in from work, barely able to lift her head. We had an appointment booked already to see the vet then, but she didn’t even make it to the car with us. It’s like she was hanging on, just waiting for us to come home so we could say our goodbyes. Our flock is down to 5; they don’t seem to miss her, but we really are already.