Grey days

For the past six weeks or so, sunshine has been a very rare treat.  We have had foggy, damp weather…steady rain falling from dark skies…it seems to have been mostly gloomy for weeks.

On a personal note, we have battled a virus and colds and the awakening of various pockets of arthritis thanks to the damp weather conditions and, for the past week or so, we have both suffered from insomnia so dragging ourselves through the days and reading half the nights away.

Having to pace ourselves, we started on the preparations for Christmas, which will be a busy one.  Four of us already in the house and seven visitors, including children, will be staying here for four days and two other friends joining us for Christmas Day lunch.  The living room was lit up and looks so pretty I would like the lights to remain in situ all year!  But I’m sure we all appreciate seasonal things because they are just that…a change.  But our decorations brought cheer and the promise of a bright Christmas.

However, last Saturday, our still-foggy brains had to absorb the expected but nevertheless very sad news of the death of a family friend who had battled long and hard against many illnesses.  Only 61, he was a bright spirit who will be missed. It seems as if yet another light has been snuffed. R.I.P. Stuart, or, as we called him, Stubby - (from a list of several guys with the same name at the theatre where we met…he was shown at Stu B).  No doubt you are making the angels laugh with your rendition of Python’s “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life”.

On Sunday, the sun shone from a clear, blue sky.  We set off for home to see what Verdun with its advertised decorations and Christmas Market had to offer.  At the top of the ridge of the Meuse Heights, cold, wet roads were steaming in the sunshine and we wondered if it was steam or low cloud that hung around the forests either side of the road.  As we descended the Heights, it, if not the weather, became clear - it was indeed low cloud. Thankfully not as low as the road but around tree-top and roof height. 

A grey, cloud blanket hung over the city.  As it was the “midi-time” traffic was light and there were very few people wandering the pavements.  Shop-window displays were suitably festive and fake-frosted Christmas trees, complete with santas and snowmen decorated the pavements.  There was just one short street with a few log cabins, half of which were closed, as were the shops until later in the afternoon.  But we had a stroll, took some photos and then headed back from the foggy Meuse valley to home on the other side of the hills. 

Ah well, we had a little exercise and fresh air even if it was without sunshine! 
(stage directions - exit stage right, singing the Monty Python song….)