Good fortune

I gardened with G this morning, and as is our wont we burbled to each other about the latest events in our lives. 

Her husband arrived home from hunting with what she described as “Far too much venison: it’s ridiculous: we can’t possibly eat it all.” And he’ll be off again soon on another high country hunting trip.

I chatted about Bean’s latest gastro problem and explained my overnight decision to give her the specialist low fat food, mixed with raw lean meat.

G put the two together and I came home with a large bag stuffed full with 500g packs of venison! On Saturday when I collect some milk from her cowshed I’ll be dropping off a bowl of tomatoes and half a Camembert in exchange.

It’s a cracking barter. I feel so very fortunate once again.

I love the sense of community and the trust relationships which develop hand in hand with barters. It has become a fundamental element of my lifestyle: pragmatically, socially and emotionally. I don’t get any of that when I use money.

It’s been a day out of the box considering it’s the first day of meteorological winter. It reached 19C early afternoon and I’ve mown the main lawn for the first time in June.

Bean is back to full fitness and she wolfed down her new food mixture this evening. Commercial biscuit plus raw meat keeps the proportion of carbohydrate down, which I’m happy about. And she continues to enjoy the benefits of uncooked meat. Hopefully she’ll thrive on it.