Here at Gamone, it would be an exaggeration to claim that it’s cold… unless, of course, you were to go wandering around on the slopes—Aussie style at this time of the year—dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and thongs. I prefer to be wrapped up constantly, day and night, in garments made out of the fabulous textile known as polar fleece. I believe that the latest stuff I purchased (through the Internet) is made out of recycled plastic bottles.
Meanwhile, I burn a lot of wood, non-stop, almost day and night. Sure, it’s a luxury, but Fitzroy and I lose no sleep fretting about the idea that we might be privileged rural dwellers. I’m too preoccupied by the tasks of cleaning up the stove every morning, and carting in a new supply of firewood. Then I think of nothing more than warming up my toes, while my dog (often in my lap) likes to combine the warmth of my body with the heat hitting his backside. It’s all very calculated, almost scientific.
Utter luxury (in which I’ve never yet indulged) would consist of lighting up simultaneously the closed fireplace at the other end of the living room. I’ll do this (I promise) if one or other of our children—or maybe even me—were to decide to organize, say, a marriage reception here at Gamone in the midst of winter... and if it were truly cold enough, of course, to justify all the flames. In fact, I’m so enchanted by that luxurious idea of utter flaming warmth in my living room that I really must start looking around for a bride. Or maybe my dog might reveal his secret nuptial plans.
Nothing like staring at the flames of a crackling fire! And into the eyes of an adoring dog like Fitzroy.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a Merry Christmas!
For me the summer solstice means that already the days are beginning to shorten and therefore the Sun's rays are slowly diminishing in our backyard garden. We have a 30 ft cliff to our west and an even taller factory conversion to our north!
Sadly, I write "we" from long habit, but Jim, my partner died in October. I've escaped to friends in Hobart. Been here a week and will enjoy the yachts' arriving as well as Taste of Tasmania before I fly out next Saturday.
Dear Annie,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't recall being in direct contact with Jim, I always understood that you were a tightly-knit two-man crew, especially in your journalistic operations. So please accept my condolences. Only yesterday, I happened to be browsing through Australian news about the magic race (and the giant Comanche thing), and a fleeting image of you flashed into my mind... mainly because you're one of the few Australian professional yachting individuals I've ever known. I hope you'll emerge positively from your loss. I guess you shared with me some anguish recently when Badger announced that he was being operated. I no longer correspond directly with him, because we've never really been on the same wavelength. But I'm terrified to hear him telling us that he's thinking about purchasing a firearm. Although I know him so little (and not at all his companion Kate), I'm convinced that he's the kind of fellow who should get the hell out of the USA, as soon as possible, and settle down in a nice sunny place such as Byron Bay.
All my love and New Year wishes,
William