The story of moving part of our library and lerve in the air (still) for Esme.

Well, this is part of our book collection, and who needs a gym when there are this many books to be taken out of one set of decrepit bookcases in a hallway, and moved into new bookcases in the dining room. There are hundreds and hundreds of books here, mainly history from prehistory, through Anglo Saxon, Medieval, Roman etc., with some gardening and topography books thrown in, plus what I call 'coffee table books', thick ugly books ideal for propping up the broken leg of a coffee table. No, I jest... you know the sort I mean, books with lots of lovely photos and ideal-for- dipping-into books. The history books belong mainly to my husband, the topography I used for research when writing my articles for county and national heritage-type magazines. But the old bookcases had seen better days, so a lot of huffing and puffing went on as books were hoiked about the place, old bookcases taken to bits (being donated to a bonfire in the next village along), new ones cobbled together, and books shuffled about into groups. We also had to move furniture to make room for the new bookcases.. a painted dresser which has now gone in the hall, and two shorter bookcases which stood either side of it, now upstairs on the landing. This is definitely a house of books.

And I must just bring you up to date with our favourite SOP, Spinster of this Parish. She and I were having a mardle as they say hereabouts, outside the post office the other day, a shop she seems to visit an awful lot. Unlike most of us who have been enjoying the Indian Summer type days, she is longing for the colder temperatures forecast for later this week. Now, I like a frosty morning as much as the next person who likes frosty mornings, but I rather felt there was more to it in Esme's case, so I had to ask. It seems when it starts to get colder, she intends asking 'that lovely postman of ours' in for a warming drink. How 'Smiler' as I call him, to his face as well as behind his back, will react to an invitation to 'come in and have a little something warming' I don't know. And if you're wondering why he's called Smiler, then fans of 'Last of the Summer Wine' will know a certain lugubrious character of that name ... this is our postie. Underneath the long face is actually a very caring, happy man.. he just looks miserable. But a touch of Esme's warming should bring a smile to his face, don't you think?