The Giving House

We splash landed here in the UK just over a week ago after 6 months living and working in Egypt. We have spent our first week house sitting, resting, relaxing acclimatising back into the English life style. We have been by the sea in sleepy St.Mawes.   All this week the weather and sea has been raging and tempestuous. Its been really exhilarating sitting on a bench with our scalloped edged Cornish pasty (www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7776/cornish-pasties) watching the waves crashing against the sea wall.  One of the best things about being here is the house we have stayed in.  The house seems to exude a quiet generosity. Our part has been to simply feed, water and talk to the cat and also do similar things with the plant life and vegetation of the house. K and L our friends and usual residents exalted us to completely 'Make ourselves at home.' Initially we had English reserve and hesitation, but the house seemed to determined to be benevolent. It started off with the homemade scones homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream. There it was in the fridge, begging to be eaten, after all our hosts had insisted! Then we had the torrential downpours, coming from hot climes we had no rain wear. Again the house came up trumps; the wet weather gear consists of a whole array of flowered/stripped wellington boots, cagoules, hats, scarves, gloves of every shape and size . Of course we then needed something to read, we had our Amazon Kindle but here there are real books that you can touch, feel, live the story. The house has an eclectic range from the classics to airport novellas. Then there was the garden produce which we had been invited to hull. So home grown organic lettuce, rhubarb, chives and spinach have joined our homemade fare. Soon we depart for the real world, but we have appreciated being loved and nurtured by the house and by extension our hosts. A good break indeed! J