L I V E 2 4 -SE V EN
CLAIRE IN THE COUNTY THE NIGHTS ARE DRAWING IN
The nights are drawing in, the fire is lit and suddenly we have lots to do. Halloween, quickly followed by Bonfire night and then the two crazy months leading up to Christmas which, as I type this basking in warm sunshine, has already begun!
I believe we have these events to cheer us up and give us something to focus on, to bring people together during the dark winter nights.
I had a Spanish Au Pair and found it so interesting talking to her about the differences between our cultures, and I swear it was all down to the weather!
Her family had three small flats; one in Valencia which was close to work, one in the mountains and one by the beach, - they visited them according to the time of the year (oh to have that choice here!) She was quick to point out that she lived with her parents as they were at work all day whilst she slept in and when they came home she would go out at 10pm to enjoy the warm evenings sipping Sangria and tucking into Tapas.
We on the other hand tend to shut our doors, pull down our blinds, turn on the telly, stuff ourselves with stew and warm ourselves on hot chocolate by the wood burner!
I think that’s why we are so obsessed with owning our own properties, throwing every penny we have into our ‘castle’ to make it as warm and as comfortable as we can. Owning a property in the Med’ isn’t as important because they are always out and about and socialising.
As I write this I recall an hilarious conversation I had many years ago with an American client who rang me at 5.30pm on a wet, dark and very miserable November night. We chatted about business and at the end I asked him what the weather was like – it sounded glorious! I said told him how envious I was as I always felt better when the sun is out, his retort I will never forget; “We’ve got the weather, but you’ve got the Queen!”
So, on that note, tempted as I am to bustle our Majesty into a box and airmail her to the States in exchange for the heat, I will resist. We had a wonderful summer this year, I just hope we have a favourable winter too…
So light up the pumpkin, light up the bonfire, and put the slow cooker on….enjoy!
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