Contentment

It’s raining again. A heavy rain, beating remorselessly against the windows. The sky is a leaden grey with cloud, the hills lost in layers of wetness.

Freya has just come in soaked to the skin. I reach for the towel that’s left by the door to dry her, but she’s having none of it, wriggling free impatiently.

The smell of venison cottage pie warming in the oven starts to waft through the house, rich and savoury. Tonight we’ll eat this with spiced roast carrots from the croft, and the sweet smell of ground coriander, cumin and sesame will mingle with it.

That and the faint smell of woodsmoke from the woodburner make up the scent of comfort, and of home.

Soon it will be time to light the candles and settle down by the fire with an armful or two of cat – hopefully dry by then else the smell of wet fur will be added to the mix! – and maybe a glass of red wine to keep the weather at bay.

Stay safe and dry everyone.