Catherine Broughton's Blog – November 2013 Archive (3)

I was in hospital with a broken leg after a skiing accident in Austria. These things happen. Ho hum.

Glancing around the ward at the listless bodies lying or sitting in various states of boredom, my eyes met those of another woman, aged something around seventy. She was in the bed opposite me, a big pink nightie rucked up to display swollen legs. She was horribly overweight, and she half-heartedly raised her hand in greeting to me. She smiled cheerily and despite her weight I could…

Pierre walked stiffy up and down a couple of times so that I could do this sketch.  He took it all incredibly seriously and had doubtless had a bath especially.  Certainly, he had had a good shave.

Shotgun in  hand, these hunters set off every Sunday morning once La Chasse has started in September, right through to when the chassing season (so to speak) ends in March.  Shotguns tucked under one arm, footwear varying from wellies to trainers, walking boots and good stout…

Much to my consternation Bruce signed us up for a Dawn Walk one morning.  Dawn starts at around 5.00, and it is the best time of day to see the animals.  I loathe leaping out of bed early (or even getting slowly out of bed early) but found myself (with Bruce) climbing in to a Land Rover at 4.30 one morning.  The others in the group were young people – in their late twenties or early thirties.

I had a moment of concern about this age gap, but Bruce and I are both very fit, though a…