12th December 2025

 

New Book: Life in an English Village – Inexpensive Progress

I once lived in Essex very near to Great Bardfield.  You would think that Essex is the home of showy youngsters according to what you see on television but in actual it fact has many beautiful villages.

So this book interests me it is the time of many painters in the war years.  Some would say an idyllic period of the quiet simple agricultural landscape before the first World War, and then also the hiatus between the wars.  As a paperback it is expensive and I notice it has been out for two years, the nudge comes from 'Inexpensive Progress' which I subscribe to.

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Yesterday I had a panic attack, they do not happen often but suddenly they arrive.  It had been simple enough I had sent an Amazon digital sum of money to my son for Xmas.  He is in his forties but unfortunately has type 1 diabetes which I worry about.  So yesterday I sent an email to him to see that it had arrived, no reply.  Fair enough he is working on his computer said I.  but when late afternoon no reply, I started phoning, again no reply.  Then I began to imagine him unconscious on the floor.  Well the story goes on from there and then yes, the phone rang, 'what's the matter mum?'  The phone is upstairs and I am making lasagne downstairs.  All explained and me feeling foolish - they are still children in our minds for goodness sake and the watch on his wrist keeps him informed of his levels.

The Xmas tree is up, my daughter and Andrew have done their work parties, off for the weekend down to Chittingford, and Lillie back for the holiday.  The next door neighbour came in the other night and was told of the upcoming renovations.  The geese have just flown over, it almost feels springlike.