Such consternation!!

Well, my dears, such consternation! Barely had I sent my missive to you all than a breakfast debate was had on the merits of Hot Cross Buns versus Easter Biscuits. Well, what can I say, merely to apologise for forgetting to mention the merits of a fine Easter Biscuits. My lady guardians twin sister will atone the longing for a Moores Easter Biscuit when they are unavailable in ones adopted country. These little morsels of spicy joy are stock piled for a visit to be enjoyed at leisure. My male guardian however swears by the merit of a buttery Hot Cross Bun.

Whether you are a biscuit or a bun person, do enjoy your Easter festivities.

Happy Easter, dear friends

My, my, how time does fly, why I have barely drawn breath and Easter is upon us. As I sit contemplating the day with my lady guardian, we can look out upon the estate which is blossoming forth with the damson and apple trees. Such a joyful sight to behold as we sip our morning tea and consider the day. We await the arrival of our male guardian, a little weary from a night of toil but no doubt with some tasty morsel for our delectation. My brother, as you are aware, partook of an early hot cross bun and I must say, I very much anticipate that we shall be enjoying this most delightful of Easter treats very shortly. The ritual celebration of Easter is a delight to behold and certainly has a most enjoyable feast of titbits to tempt one, does it not? 

Whilst my male guardian enjoys a well earned rest, my lady guardian will spend time in her own toil in the kitchen garden with her relatives. You may remember this joint venture embarked upon last year to the benefit of both estates. This weekend heralds the start of work in earnest to bring it all together once more. What a delight to spend one's time producing one's own food, and enjoying the fruits of one's own labour. Why my guardians still partake of onions, potatoes, leeks and purple sprouting from last years endeavours. Quite marvellous.

If the weather is clement then the task of renewing some of the hedging on our own estate will also be commenced. In the words of Hesiod "toil is no source of shame" and a weekend spent thus will invigor and delight, preparing for the fruits of one's own labour as the summer arrives. 

A weekend of blissful toil for one's own delight brings to mind the words of Ruskin "There is no wealth but life" with perhaps with the addendum from Einstein when he said "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." Happy Easter, dear friends, Happy Easter.

Easter cometh......

Why, the first quarter of the year is behind us, dear friends, and Easter is nearly upon us. Spring and Easter, new beginnings, fresh green shoots abound and lighter days.We cast off our winter mantle and go forward towards summer. As one grows older the words "tempus fugit" hold more meaning and sharpens the mind towards enjoying life, for more is behind than in front however robust ones constitution, I speak of course for myself. You may consider this a morbid statement, however, it is merely a recognition of fact and a reminder to ones self to enjoy life every single day. Whilst planning for tomorrow, one often forgets to enjoy today. I do believe however, that my fellow felines and I are a great deal better at this than you, my dear friends, and my human guardians. When the sun shines, we stretch blissfully in its warm caress, lie in comfortable torpor, soaking up the warmth. If it rains, why we find ourselves a snug warm nook in which to nap until more clement weather returns. I am reminded of the great writer, Oscar Wilde, who said " To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

Do not however, dear friends, take this to mean that I live a life of decadence and debauchery, dear me, no. Yes, my guardians and I live comfortably but this is due to their solid, hardworking nature and acceptance of a life of toil to bring these rewards. Many a year has been spent thus to enable the comfortable situation in which we now find ourselves, a fact that I celebrate daily and am truly grateful for. Therefore my bidding to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, as regular readers will acknowledge, is paramount in my recommendations for a happy life.

We will sniff the primroses, gather dew between our toes and watch the sun go down with a heart gladdened by these simple pleasures in our country life. 

In the words of Henry Ward Beecher, "The art of happiness lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things" and if I am not mistaken, I do believe that is the most delightful aroma of an early hot cross bun being toasted! Do excuse me dear friends, duty calls........

May the Lord deliver us, spring cleaning has begun!

There are times, dear friends, in a mans life when the complexity of the female brain is somewhat baffling. Please do believe me when I say that I am not complaining, dear me no, far from it, for I live in quite the best of splendour. No, dear friends, what perplexes my simple male brain is the marked frenzy of activity know as "the spring clean". Take, for example yesterday; it began well with the usual early rising and ablutions of my male guardian before he took the carriage and spent the day in toil. In ones mind, one envisages a gentle, somnambulist type of day, enjoying the spring sunshine and usual routines,  a stroll through the estate, afternoon tea taken in the garden tucked away from the chill spring wind, and an early light supper before retiring for the day. But, dear friends, what was I thinking! Clearly, I had misread that meaningful glint in my lady guardians eye as she sipped her morning tea, mistaking it for goodness knows what, for it is a specific look of intent that settles there. Oh my, the day that ensued. Windows and doors thrown wide, no corner safe from cool caresses of the bracing spring weather that was enjoyed yestermorn, no stone unturned to brush out the last vestiges of the winter months. Cupboards sorted, floors swept, washed and restored, lines of washing cracking in the brisk wind. Why, my coat was quite ruffled. And so it goes on, for today there is no rest on this special day, being Mothering Sunday. I fear that today brings a repeat and must ensure a place of safe haven for myself. I will, of course, once this frenzy is complete, compliment my lady guardian on her housekeeping for we are fortunate gentlemen, are we not, to be the benefactors, residing as we do in warm, clean, fresh and comfortable homes, presided over by our delightful female loved ones, for which in truth, I am truly grateful. A warm and comfortable home, surrounded by those we love, is quite the best one could wish for, is it not? 

Busy bees...

Oh my, what busy bees the dear guardians have been this very week;  hither and thither, why I am quite, quite exhausted by all the activity. Why my dears, my male guardians carriage returned to the carriage makers for a thorough review and some general repairs dealt with, and the small city whence this was undertaken visited by my guardians for some new footwear for my lady guardian. Once their business was concluded, and a light repast enjoyed, they returned home to the estate. 

As is necessary for all of us at times in our lives, a number of health checks were undertaken to ensure our guardians remain in robust health, thankfully reassuring.  The front boundary hedging required a good cut and thus saw my guardians occupied mid week, confirmation of their very good and robust constitutions with a day spent in heavy labour. A large and very satisfying bonfire was enjoyed by both my lady guardian, and her sister, with the debris from both estates; such was the intensity of the fire that my dear guardian did come away a little singed around the edges - do not fear dear friends, no injuries were had, merely the smell of  singed hair that alerted both ladies to the proximity of my guardian to the leaping flames! Nevertheless, a most satisfying time it was and all of the garden debris from both Estates dealt with in one fell swoop. 

A day of rest was also had with the added excitement of a visit to a local establishment to see a "motion picture" one afternoon, such is the joy of technology and the decadence in an afternoon spent thus.  A most delightful afternoon was had enjoying the simple pleasure of losing oneself in fiction and a little tasty morsel or two partaken. Most blissful.
My darling guardians have also enjoyed the pleasure of rising at a later hour, breakfasting in a leisurely fashion, the warmth of a late fire and the joy of a good book (or two!). Sadly, as with most things in life, this leisurely pace comes to an end and the normal routine will return after the morrow. At half past the five O' clock hour every morn, my guardians will rise to go about their usual work and routines along with many other such hardworking souls; the back bone of our society.

Well.....

Dear friends, what a day. The weather has been most inclement, why, it continues as I write this missive. Sadly, this has meant that my lady guardian has spent a large part of the day inside, quite abhorrent for a staunch country dweller such as she is. The rain has brought forth torrents of muddy water from the fields once more, despite a most becoming white frost this morning. Alas, this beauteous state did not linger and was replaced with clouds pouring forth cold, driving rain; such is the Great British weather during these winter months, nothing if not changeable. 

This has meant, however, a fire lit early to warm our home through, nourishing food and warming drinks to maintain the spirits. 

The day began wrapped warm in bed against the cold air, a cup of tea apiece amidst the wrapping paper. A delightful leisurely breakfast, the broadsheets and good coffee. Onwards to supper, home made and all the more delicious for it. What more could one ask? My lady guardian was most happy with her day, delighting in the comfort of our home, spending time appreciating the patina of warmth and charm a home bestows upon its inhabitants, all for the price of a little tender loving care over the years.

A fond Bon anniversarie, my dear lady to you and your twin sister in the Australia's, may you enjoy many more.

Happy Birthday, dear guardian

Happy Birthday to our dear lady guardian for tomorrow. We must not forget, either, her twin sister in the Australias who will be a year older than her twin for a number of hours whilst the earth rotates. Such a gleeful joke to be had when one's family live across the world. We really are quite amused by this little fact. Tempus fugitive indeed, for I know my guardian, largely,  does not feel her age and is at her happiest undertaking some physical activity. "The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there", the opening line of  L.P. Hartley's The Go- between and one so true. Looking back over my lady guardians life, despite her young years, can see changes in all walks of life. Why, the very technology we are using for this epistle was not even invented in the year she was born. My, my, how the world has changed, for better and worse in varying stages. The importance of a life well lived, however long or short, cannot be mistaken. Shakespeare, in his wisdom wrote "All the world's a stage, and the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his act being seven ages". The importance, however, is to enjoy every day, indeed, as no doubt both my guardian and her twin sister will do so on the morrow; thousands of miles apart, bound by family ties and a shared birthday. The joy in knowing a small token of affection and birthday wishes have been sent with love, for each other's delectation, how simply divine, dear friends.

So, to our dear lady guardian's twin sister, we wish you a fond Happy Birthday, dear lady, knowing that you will waken in a few short hours to celebrate ahead of our own beloved guardian. One year older for eight whole hours. I do declare, the hilarity that this simple statement doth cause is quite breathtaking.

Nota bene; we apologise for the lack of imagery but I believe the statement "technical difficulties" is one to be used at such times. We do so hope to resume our normal missives with imagery as soon as possible.