Moose

October seems to be moving along at quite a brisk pace; which is always worrying, as, before you know it, the months fly by, Christmas arrives, the summer holidays, another Christmas, and so on until the arrival of a long and happy retirement. I'm exaggerating, perhaps, but you get the idea: But at my back I always hear Time's wingèd chariot drawing near; that sort of thing. It is nice to be able to slow everything down now and again: have a chance for a bit of quiet reflection; re-charge the old batteries. Which is probably my excuse for taking things easy at the weekend and minimising the time and effort I spend on irrelevant tasks such as grocery shopping and housework, and devoting myself instead to the appreciation of Nature and the Arts; and, particularly, Food.

Encouraged by some warm autumn sunshine, I dragged my daughter out to Lyme Park yesterday, to look around the hall. I suppose it is a fine hall, in its own way; nice paintings on the wall, wooden panelling here and there, decorative ceilings, the occasional moose head, all the usual things one might expect to find; though looking around these grand houses I can never help reflecting on my own humble dwelling, and how it would fit quite snugly in the servants' quarters or a corridor or possibly even a broom closet. But this is mere envy; I should be grateful that others have the good fortune to live in such opulence and finery; and have bestowed on me the opportunity to view it for a small fee.

I am sure it must get a little tedious living in such a place. Hundreds of visitors wandering about from room to room just when you want to put your slippers on and watch the television. All the dusting. Deer, not put off by the moose's head on the wall, pressing their wet noses up against the windows and steaming them up with their breath. A massive library full of books which you're not allowed to touch in case they fall to pieces.  The library, incidentally, seems to be my daughter's favourite place, if only because you are encouraged to choose some of the more modern volumes and sit on a nice sofa and read. Though she always picks a Harry Potter and then doesn't budge for hours.