The never-ending vineyard scarf, my current project, is now 1m long.
Thurs 22. It was one of those crisp, golden days that make you sure that they must mean winter is coming
I’d been moping over the birthday photos of my late mother, which Facebook so helpfully displayed. We decided to go out to lunch instead.
A quick call and we are on our way through Lyminge forest to the Duck at Pett Bottom
Through the forest, and out into the valley through the glorious hamlet of Lynsore Bottom, all Tudor houses, but a place I could never live, though for a while I did have riding lessons there.
The forest is a Site of Special Scientific interest, lots of rare species.
As the valley widened out, we were surprised to see a vineyard growing now on its slopes, although we know the big champagne producers like Taittinger have planted here. We’re on the same chalky terroir as Champagne and the move north is to preserve the character of the wine in the face of global warming.
And so to Pett Bottom and the pub which belonged to Ian Fleming’s aunt Joan. It has a blue plaque to him now.
Inside has been done up and is no longer full of James Bond memorabilia. The shelves are now full of cookery books and odd preserves like bay leaf vinegar.
When I asked what it was for, the waiter told me it was for curry; the chef-owner is South African and loves his curries. Not quite sure about vinegar in curries but never mind.
The food was lovely, copious and tasty. I had a roast loin of pork with apricot purée. (Meat with jam as the French would say).
B and I reminisced, in part about that terrible restaurant south of Caderache, near Aix, where we walked in, made terrified excuses and left. The bar’s inhabitants threw off the menace of a Scandi fascist motorbike club, and we couldn’t get out fast enough. The Duck had a much more welcoming atmosphere.
And so back through Lynsore Bottom and the forest and home to the cats.
Health
B is to have cataract ops, and the only place that can do them quickly is Benenden Hospital, in W Kent. We thought his covid test was Saturday, so we drove all the way there, but it was Sunday and we had to go back, this time in pouring rain. His op was due to be today, but they had an issue with his test (It "leaked"???) and so we'll be back again on Sunday for another test, and for an op at 8:00 next Wednesday. I know that at least he's having the op, when others wait endlessly, but our car will know the way there by itself soon.
Dino is improving slowly but I still have to give him antibiotics by syringe, grrrrr. Thea and I are ok. The cats are both in winter hibernation mode now, but say miaow to other cats on this blog!
