Tuesday 23 September 2008

Miraculous Recoveries, More Books & the Tree Man

S went to bed last night with a stinking headcold and woke in a foul mood this morning. After much contemplation I agreed that she could have a day in bed. I phoned at 9.45 to see if she was coping. (R was at home but asleep as he'd worked until late last night and needed to catch up). "Yes, I'm fine thanks," she replied. "Well, you're obviously downstairs and not in bed," said I. "Yup, and I've made out my birthday and Christmas present lists too," she said, obviously forgetting who she was talking to and that she was supposed to be in a state of near collapse. Guess who'll be back at school first thing tomorrow?

Whilst in London last week we visited the National Gallery. I could have happily wandered from room to room for days and thought how lucky the small gatherings of children that were there with teachers were, to be able to go on such a fabulous outing. Mind you, I probably would have rather gone to a petting zoo when I was ten years old. I bought a book about Klimt. It's only a small one but filled with glorious paintings.

I also bought this book (not from the National Gallery. I don't know the author but I think it's going to be a good read. She's also written two other novels that also look interesting.

I've just received a phone call from the tree man. He seems very nice and sounds like an over excited puppy, but unfortunately he'll be coming tomorrow to cut down the leaning fir tree, and my poor cherry tree that's half dead with some sort of honeyfungus disease - gulp, sob. They're the biggest trees in my garden and have obviously been here years. I'll hate coming home from work tomorrow and seeing two large gaps where they once stood. R is rather philosophical and said that at least we'll have enough logs for the winter. You know, sometimes we really see things quite differently.

14 comments:

Lane Mathias said...

I can understand your sadness at losing your trees. They become like friends in an odd sort of way.

Hope S is better and ready for school tomorrow!

Yvonne said...

So sorry that the trees are going, I would feel the exact same way.

HelenMWalters said...

Ooh, Honey fungus disease doesn't sound good. Poor trees x

Amanda said...

I hate it when trees are cut down. We had an orchard next door that was chopped down for a development. I cried like a child as the trees fell. How silly, but it was so sad. :-(

Hope S is fit and well today. :-)

Carol said...

Ooohhh I love Klimt. We went to Venice for our honeymoon and walking around St Marks Cathedral was like walking around in a Klimt painting....could definately see where he got his inspiration from!!

I would be sad about the trees too....I love trees....probably why they feature in so many of my drawings!!

Hope S has completely recovered now

C x

Chris Stovell said...

Whoa, Debs! You've been busy while I've been away. Well done on reaching halfway mark with WIP.

Kaye Manro said...

Hi Debs! I've been reading through your posts that I've missed over the past few days. The conference sounds like it had some really good info on keeping up with the writing.

Good for you on reaching the halfway mark on the wip!

And I'm so sorry you had to lose your fav trees...

Well, that's it from me for now, lol.

Melissa Amateis said...

My daughter is notorious for feeling wretched in the morning, taking a long nap, and then feeling perfectly fine. And I, of course, not wanting to pass up an opportunity to get a day off work, always fall for it and let her stay home.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

lane - I'm so sorry to see them go, the garden will look quite bare without them.

S is much better, thanks.

yvonne - they are so beautiful, it's hard not becoming attached to them.

helenmh - I've no idea what it is but it certainly isn't pleasant.

annie bright - an entire orchard! I would have been devastated too.

S is much better thanks.

carol - I've never been to Venice and would love to go. Must make a plan to do so.

The trees have now gone and it looks awful.

S is much better thanks.

chrish - it has been rather chaotic and full on some days though quiet on others. Hope you had a lovely time.

kaye manro - it was very interesting and certainly helped inspire me.

Thanks re the WIP and the trees.

S is much better today and back at school.

melissa marsh - I fall for it every time too. Mind you she doesn't do that often and she was very bunged up.

DAB said...

I cried (aged 10) once when they cut down one of old rotten apple trees so I know how you must be feeling. I love Klimt. Enjoy the book. TFx

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Awww, sympathy - we had to have a beautiful mature cedar cut down when we moved into our house (it was MUCH too close) and then a couple of years later a big sycamore that was rotting from the top down - but it was home to a pair of squirrels and numerous birds, and I felt like an evil Victorian slum landlord twirling my moustaches as I evicted innocent creatures into the snow. Not that it was snowing. And I don't have moustaches either. But the skyline has never been quite the same.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

tom foolery - it's such a shame to see something so beautiful just disappear.

zinnia - what a horrible thing to have to do, although sometimes we simply have no choice. I wonder if the birds & Squirrels have forgiven you yet?

Casdok said...

Very sad to hear about your trees.

I love the National Gallery now but yes as a child i was not so impressed!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

casdok - it certainly looks rather bare without all that extra foliage.

I wish I lived closer to the NG and could visit more often :)