Morning all from what promises to be the best day here weather wise since about late September/early October despite the April wind.
@dunelm hug for the news of your brother. Agree on the puzzling disconnect between a healthy life, good health or long and active life. Makes days such as yours with TGIB and her parents priceless. Thanks for sharing the art which reminds me of that of an artist friend who sadly died far too young.
@SlimLizzy the lifestyle you describe is what I have seen in France and what made me seriously think of moving there. I also think it accurately describes my life until I went away to study. Early on instead of freezers there was bottled fruit and veg and fresh food from the garden, swaps from family and friends, plenty of roadside/farm gate outlets and often free produce due to a glut. Most houses in my area had gardens large enough to grow vegetables to see them through the winter. Council houses had huge gardens - many of which have now had other houses built on them. Of course most women didn't work full time but all helped/worked at harvest time (but stopped at 3.00 pm) so cooking from fresh and bottling/preparing for winter was practical. My DIL's all work incredibly long hours seemingly mainly to fund mortgages and childcare. Such is progress. These changes have happened under governments of all stripes so I can’t just lazily blame That Bleep Woman. Changes happened rapidly from late 60s to early 70s. Now if you’ll excuse me I must pop into the romanticised past or Specsavers (other opticians are available) for some new designer rose tinted glasses