Tim is home and I made him a venison casserole for dinner to welcome him back.  We had crabs for lunch, which was as pleasing to Eloise cat as it was to Tim. The tomatoes finally were dried enough to pot and I need to tidy up the veg garden ready for the winter, while the weather is still fine.  The barrowload of squashes is still out there though, I’m afraid.  Today rather ran away with me.

I think I used to get a lot more done when I was much busier.  I had to be more efficient and crack on with things.  If there isn’t a deadline, there’s no reason to be brisk, even if one isn’t being lazy … and I dearly love to be lazy.  It’s why I had to take on too many things, otherwise I’d have lounged around all the time.

RasPutin, the tomcat, is coming right up to the house nowadays, which he never used to do.  Rose was a bit concerned that he was poorly and needing help, but I think he’s being an opportunist as there’s no sign that he’s unwell.  I suspect he realises the cold nights are coming near and he rather fancies coming into the house when he wants to. And there’s no hope.  I am not having an unneutered tomcat in my house – and I’m not having any other cat either, come to that.  Eloise is quite fond of Rummy, but does not tolerate him coming upstairs, and that’s that.  She’s still very rude to Chip, even in his own house and garden, and she’s afraid of RasPutin.  I spend an inordinate amount of money on the barn cats and that’s quite good enough.  There’s plenty of shelter and, if I knew where he sleeps, I’d put more straw bales to snuggle up among.

In the three hours between Tim texting to say he was leaving Reading and his arrival, I did get quite a lot done.  I went out to buy more bulbs for the sink and, as I would be passing a farm shop, I thought I’d call in.  They’ve a small Jersey herd, so sell jersey milk, cream and butter; also their own honey, lemon curd and pickles, and home-reared meat plus game in season.  I’ve meant to check them out for a while, but finally made it there.  I was surprised to find most of the food, except the milk etc, which was in a cabinet with a coin-operated dispenser, there for anyone to pick up, with an honesty box filled with coins so you could take your change.  It was remarkably trusting.  Anyone could short-change them or add another item to what they bought and it would be almost impossible to prove what they’d done.  I trust there’s no deceit – I wrote in the book what I bought and was able to put in the right money.  Then I went and bought the bulbs and some small cyclamen, and then went on to the place I get chicken food: not for that, this time, but for cat food.  That took me back into Yagnub, where I was able to get greengrocery and fish, and then home.  I tidied up the porch and brought in some garden chairs for the winter, planted up the bulbs and cyclamen, received a wine delivery, and was just nipping upstairs with a different bedside lamp for Tim, because Eloise cat kept knocking his, when I heard his car drive up.  And half an hour later, the chimney sweep arrived and so all chimneys are ready for burning winter few…ew…el.

Not that we need to yet, it’s lovely weather.  Tomorrow, we’re meeting Ronan for lunch in Norwich and then I’m going to the dentist.  Disappointingly, it’s 2.15, but then my tooth isn’t hurting, so I suppose the obvious time isn’t necessary.