Had an exhausting day yesterday (Sunday). Paid a couple of tax (house rates?) bills plus a water bill. Such exertions may not drain the energy of ordinary humanoids but to a lazy bohemian hermit recluse comme moi they're positively shattering.

Firstly, I had to find the bills (took ages - I'd put them in a safe place), then clear a space on the kitchen table (not as easy as it sounds - it meant doing stacks of washing up, sponging the table and relocating various books and magazines to piles upstairs), then find my pen (don't like Biros so I use a fountain pen - again took ages to find and, needless to say, when eventually located, it had run out of ink), then find that elusive bottle of ink (eventually found it lurking in the back of a desk drawer - could have sworn it was in the drawer of the lounge table; well, when I say 'lounge' I really mean 'indoor shed'), then read and re-read payment instructions to make sure payment would be made automatically without the need to send cheques (written in French - always tres confusant), then triple check that I was about to sign and date the correct box (always nerve wracking - one mistake could prove fatal), then, with a sigh, remove myself from my kitchen chair, assume the vertical and amble over to the van Gogh kitchen calendar to figure out the date (I never have the foggiest idea what the date is), then tear off the three individual paying-in slips from the bills (the first two were perforated but the third one wasn't, thereby resulting in a paper tear and a need to find some Sellotape and a pair of scissors - again, took ages), then carefully put the three slips in the envelopes provided (making sure the addresses were visible through the envelope windows - an old-timer comme moi can easily put a slip in a window envelope facing the wrong way so the window's blank), then find three stamps of the correct value (don't know what that value is but I presume it to be the red ones I eventually found hiding in a dark and dusty corner of my wallet - if they're of insufficient value they won't get delivered, payment won't be made and I'll be doomed), then, finally, place the envelopes in a prominent postion so I'd remember to post them (put them on top of the coffee jar). As I said, exhausting and shattering.

Mission accomplished, I then recovered from the ordeal by relaxing in front of the telly with a cuppa in readiness for ogling the Italian grand prix. Saw the start and first couple of laps then must have dozed off (cars just ain't as exciting as bikes). Woke up on the last lap with the commentator screaming "Hamilton's spun! His race is over!". Calm down man, calm down. Switched the telly off, went outside and took a few rags off the line (forgot to mention I'd done some washing before tackling the bills - no wonder I was fattygayed). By then it was about fiveish (French time) and the dogs were telling me it was time for walkies. Shoved them in the car and set off for the lightning tree walk. Couple of minutes later, turned around and returned home, picked up the three forgotten envelopes and set off again. Passed a couple of hunters in luminous pink caps with rifles over their shoulders by the roadside in the lightning tree area so decided to go further afield. Headed for 'the high hill' near Pierrefitte - it's that little triangular patch of green on the distant horizon in front of the house.

Arrived at Pierrefitte, parked up and listened for sounds of gunfire or barking dogs. All was quiet so unloaded the dogs and set off for the hill. Half an hour later we were at the top and enjoying the view. Well, to be more accurate, I was enjoying the view (on a clear day you can even see our house) while the dogs were totally ignoring it, busying themselves by digging for field mice. Well, to be more accurate, Sprocket was doing the digging while Jock just sniffed around, covered in newly-dug earth. Amazing how little appreciation they have for gloriously sunny views. After a few minutes they got a bit bored so we headed back down and drove home. Stopped off on the way to check out a view that I'm thinking about painting. Looked really good with white cattle against green. Spotted some pretty wild flowers. Haven't a clue what they are but Georgie'll know (perennial sweet peas apparently). Eventually arrived home as the church bells clanged seven. Was just about to get out of the car when I noticed three envelopes on the dashboard. Drat. Set off again and posted 'em. Mind like a sieve.

P.S. Forgot..., it's 'memory like a sieve'.

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