One Damn Thing After Another

What's missing from all these photographs, dear reader - that I only now have the heart to write about here?

Here is Britt-Arnhild, the missing person - and how very much she has been missed.

It has been one thing after another at Autumn Cottage since last Friday, when the snow fell, down, down,down - not great in quantity in comparison with those of you across the world who experience 5 foot drifts as a matter of course. But in this part of the country, on that day - down came the snow - then the sleet, then the ice....until I could not get out, and nobody could get here to me. So, as many of you know, I made "an executive decision" and advised Britt-Arnhild to divert to the relative calm of London rather than the wilds of North Hampshire.

That afternoon, I went out to take photographs of the unexpected snowfall - just minutes after taking the one of the house sign (above), I turned round to return to the house and promptly fell - er - base over apex, twisting my ankle and landing on the base of my spine. Since then, I have hobbled around like a Fairytale Crone - (even grateful for Mother In Law's walking stick yesterday morning, but don't tell anyone I did that!)

And then, also yesterday - a phone-call, while I was making my morning tea, from my oldest son, telling me that "I'm OK Mum, but I have had a car crash" - the words that every parent dreads to hear. It was the snow again - he was travelling at only 10 miles per hour, but hit black ice and lost control - finally coming to a stop when meeting a brick wall. Then someone else hit him. Thankfully, the kindness of strangers provided him with breakfast and a warm coat while he waited for the recovery vehicle. He is all right now, physically at least, but still shaken up, and the car is a write-off.

So - instead of enjoying the company of  Britt-Arnhild, whose visit I have been awaiting for weeks, painting and decorating, with textiles, old journals and cookbooks ready to share, (and a package of goodies for Marta!) - I am now sitting here all on my own, mostly enjoying the comfort of lounging on my bed, keeping the foot up and the bottom down, not getting around very well, and surrounded with textbooks and papers for a final essay submission at college.

At least something worthy is getting done - but I  would MUCH rather be visiting Kew Gardens with dear Britt- who I have just spoken to on the phone, and who is truly making lemonade from lemons! I am also lucky enough to be warm, and have food (loads of food - LOADS of chocolate!) and the company of the cats, (who want to know where their visitor is?), so I am very grateful for these bonuses...but still....

Come to England again, Britt-Arnhild, so that we can finally meet up and enjoy each other's company. Next time it will, I promise, be sunshine and roses round the door to welcome you, rather than a catalogue of disasters.

I'm so sorry, my friend. At least, have the welcome that awaited - and still awaits you here....

(Portrait of Britt-Arnhild, taken by B-A, from her blog)

Comments

[Leslie Garcia]

Dear Roz,
I hope that you are feeling better. What a disappointment not to be able to share time with Britt-Arnhild. She sounds like she is just as unhappy about not meeting you as you are about not seeing her. The photos that you took are so lovely and so inviting anyone would feel welcome at your door!
Thank God your son is okay...You made me crave chocolate this week for sure!!!
Blessings and good healing to you.
Love,
Leslie

[Melissa's Cozy Teacup]

I can just imagine your kitties, 'helping' you to get ready for Brit. Coming in and supervising your every move then wondering, after she didn't show, what all the fuss was about. How lovely to be the recipient of your wonderful hospitality. Brit's a lucky lady and I hope you heal quickly!

[gretchen]

Oh, Roz, I am so disappointed for you that Britt-Arnhild's visit had to be cancelled- I know how much it meant to both of you! I am equally sorry to hear that you have taken a spill- I hope you are not in pain and will mend quickly; and thank goodness your son was not injured in his auto accident- how frightening! As the old saying goes, things happen in threes- so you are done; only good things to look forward to now!

[Britt Arnhild]

Oh Roz, how I wish I was with you. In cosy Autumn Cottage instead og a tiny little, boring hotel room.

Well, I am making sweet lemonade of the lemons. Kew Gardens today was GREAT!

[vonnie]

The planned wonderful visit with Britt Arnhild just wasn't to be this time it seems. Sometimes this happens in my life, high hopes and plans and then roller coaster downward lickety-split! You take care and rest and get well...and grateful good wishes to you and your son for his close brush with something that could have been a lot more serious.

[Gracie]

Hi Roz, after a while following your blog I decided to write just to whish you a get-well-soon note! Luckily you have nothing that a little rest can't fix and your boy is fine. And the winter will end eventually! I like when you write about the place you live in, I've been in UK only once, but I'm eager to come back, I so love the english countryside. Come to visit at my siteif you have time, just to kill some lonely moments....

[LadyLauraKay]

Isn't that usually the way? The Autumn Cottage sign at the gate is beautiful!
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Brigitte]

Oh sorry, Roz. that's bad luck indeed. But Norway is just a stone's throw away... or a "Katzensprung", a cat's jump, as we put it in German...., so there's no reason for not meeting up in the foreseeable future, and meanwhile take care of yourself and heal up this silly ankle! And the best thing of all this is that you and all your loved ones are fine! Except your ankle, I know.... :-)

[SignArtist]

Love the picture of the Autumn Cottage house sign - sounds like the classic "Suffering for one's art"!

[Lieselotte]

Dear Roz,
on reading your lines I felt the pain with you when you slipped and fell - all those events come under Sod´s law, I suppose. These things happen at a time when you really don´t need any of them, but you´ve got to see the positive sides of all that suffering - you can be safe and cosy in your lovely home while the rest out there is struggling. Wishing you a profound recovery, and keep that leg up !
Love,
Lieselotte