Fugue in progress

No - I haven't finally taken leave of my senses but I have taken leave,

temporarily, of the Chateau.  It's currently in the very capable

hands of my highly trained staff who are probably at this very moment
sitting back drinking a glass of the local rose, playing cards and
generally being French (berets optional - there's no dress code).

Can't trust them for five minutes!

The "fugue state" is usually defined as a period when the individual
(me in this instance) wanders away from their home or place of work
(both in this instance) for periods of hours, days or even weeks (in
this instance).  It stems from the Latin word for "flight" and that's
exactly what I've done.   One can only take so much and since
Christmas it's been one thing after another - my reserves are depleted
and it's time to take drastic action or sink without trace.

... nothing like a ferry crossing in February.

After a gruelling sixteen hour journey by land and sea I am now safely
back in one of the bosoms of my family deep in rural south England.  I shall
visit the east bosom later in my fugue.  I'm stuffing down delicious
home-made cakes and other delicacies in order to regain lost weight,
breathing fresh farm air to bring some colour back into my cheeks
and am on the receiving end of much love and kindness,
which I find almost overwhelming at times, to bring a little joy
back into my soul and my designs.  I even have access to a friendly
tabby cat who is doing his best to fill the awful void left by the
loss of my longdogs.

This part has been played by an actor.

As my strength returns so will the frequency of my posts
- who knows what adventures await me and tales I will have to tell!
Right now I'm going to take a leaf out of old Christina Rossetti's
rather paraphrased book and attempt to -
"forget and smile rather than remember and be sad"
Bring it on!