One of those strange mornings. I got in late, finally went to sleep about 4:30am, and was woken just before six bells by the unmistakable sound of a wild storm coming in from the sea. Rain pelting the windows relentlessly, wind howling like banshees through the tiny gaps in the window frames. Which, when you’re tucked up warm in bed isn’t too bad – noisy though (we have a ‘storm room’ in the house for when it gets too loud) – but when you realise you’ve left your washing out overnight is a bit grim. So I jumped up, threw on some jeans and ran out to salvage what I could… a bit granny-like, I suppose. I should have just let everything get soaked. But the storm had only just started, so I more or less rescued everything.
Back to sleep, until (ahem) one o’clock. Latest I’ve been up for a long, long time. Totally disorientated, there was only one thing for it – food shopping! Since D. left I haven’t managed to muster the enthusiasm to risk Harris Farm Markets. Still, one thing can be said for Australia – the produce is fantastic, and much cheaper than London. I dread the thought of ever going near a ‘Safeways’ again.
Came home laden to the gills with fresh fruit and vegetables, some lovely cheeses and meats from the Italian deli, and cooked up some Fan Kei Ju (a Chinese home-cooking kind of dish with pork, egg and tomato – gorgeous!). So here I am – its dark outside, pretty grim, and it feels like lunchtime. Pot of tea at the ready – more of that lovely Ceylon Pettigalla that I picked up in T2 on Saturday, brewed in a new teapot from the same place. My last one, although funky to look at, consistently soaked everything within ten feet whenever you tried to pour a cup.