October

The solution in today's cryptic crossword of my favourite newspaper was Tiefpunkt, low point, and if I win the competition, the first prize is a weekend in a spa hotel (two nights incl. dinner and massage) in the Italian Alps. Of course I always enter competitions, handing over my name and address to all the advertisers out there. Last year I won a selection box of vegan whole food snacks, so there's hope. My mother in law was a great one for competitions and she won tons of stuff including coffee makers and waffle irons and hair dryers and an entire tea set for six which she gracefully passed on to us. We still have one saucer from it, which I use to cover the porridge bowl in the microwave.

Anyway, Tiefpunkt, or starting point for all-round improvement as the final clue suggested. I should take this to heart. Last night, I went to a talk and discussion about war and peace and whether there is such a thing as a just peace (spoiler: no) and what are the options (compromise peace, victory peace) and where we are in the coming multipolar world order. It was very depressing and cycling home in the dark with my hands getting very cold did not improve my mood.

I really could do with a weekend in a spa hotel, any spa hotel will do.

Life and mood massively improved when the grandchild read both The Gruffalo and The Jolly Postman to us this morning. 

Also, here are our cabernet mitos grapes, such beauties.

 

  

Geography Lessons

When you've reached the peak,
the summit, the end,
you've come to the limit,
let me tell you gently
that the world is round, my sweet,
and it's all a long walk backwards,
starting from here.

Caroline Bird