Turn on the dark

December Nov« »Next year

Here comes another one. It will arrive in a rush and preparations will be done in all too short a time but oh the joy!

With the disappointment of the World Cup comes a massive downfall of snow. We get eight inches on the Sunday morning. The previous day the ice in the bird bath was solid top to bottom. Cleaning it out was easy just lift the ice block out, leaves and all. We have to wait to see what the snows brings to our travel plans. Outside people are walking in the road at the moment.

The snow lasts all week and with illness we put off travelling north. >We must take a road trip in wind and rain, whilst still ill, to fetch the son.

Christmas is a little subdued this year as we are all either ill or recovering. Nevertheless we enjoy a fine Christmas day with excellent food and shared joy. Boxing Day we visit the family in the midlands and go out for a very splendid Inidan meal. Then we rest and quietly enjoy some home time.

Dad pops down unexpectly for visit, always welcome. Weather is somewhat foul but the tree is still upright - which is good after thea erlier crash.

Snow, snow, snow!

November Oct« »Next month

November is mostly about preparing for later delights, the World Cup and Christmas.

It starts for the oldies with a weekend of indulgence - Fish & Chips with Champagne, some dancing to my vinyl and then lazing in front of good TV film. I also return to quick walking in the woods but slow enough to enjoy the nature.

The apples still demand attention and get dealt with via juice, cakes and just eating.

October Sep« »Next month

This month starts with cold winds howling in and I get a stinker of a cold. My dentist also sends out a letter pleading they cannot cope so emergency treatments only.

We visit the son and enjoy the delights of Norwich City. Hosted by ex club captain Mike Milligan our day at the club was a delight never ending round of drinking, talking and football with a yellow flavour. The restaurant we visit does this curry with a lid! Delicious.

Locally the fireworks arrive at half-term and are enjoyed from the upstairs windows.

September Aug« »Next month

Back to school. Hopefully this time with some rain. The first Saturday and I juice a bucket of apples to produce 2 litres of juice. Its nice though quite mild in taste. Still many more on the branches, some with a nice red tinge while others are wholly green.

The big man heads off to new lands to further his studies while my wife has an inspection to get through.

August July« »Next month

It starts with what seems like more COVID but tests says no. We enjoy a visit to the principality. Nice to do the theatre thing again. We spent some of the folding stuff at an Italian and then start the day after with a hotel breakfast. We also enjoyed a wander around the bay and back to hotel with a river cruise.

Second week and a longer break. Two nights away this time as we travelled up to the Wirral / Cheshire border. First night and some lovely fish and chips by the sea (river estuary actually). Second day we journey around the peninsular, we stopped a few times for elevenses, lunch, an afternoon snooze, an ice cream and then after returning to the hotel we wandered out for a pub meal.

By the 11th the extreme heat is back and talk of a them declaring an official drought. The footy season starts well and then heads in the wrong direction. It is going to be an unusual one.

The nature cam is finally checked for the latest hedgehog footage and it doesn't disappoint. Hoggy is still visiting. The compost heap this year seems to be home to ants rather than wasps. The apple tree is in overdrive and producing an abundant crop, and early.

The prodigal son returns for a few weeks; and my daughter moves. Vehicles are put through the MOT and we (actually the good lady wife) find three bird nests in the greenery hanging from the left fence.

The last weekend brings Granddad down for a visit and the chance for me to pass over three laptops for his diligent attention and reworking for others. We have a little work done in the bathrooms.

July June« »Next month

Eugh, we both finally get COVID. Surpised it has taken so long but we have tried our best to follow the advise, it's just everywhere.

Well we got through it with little drama thanks to the vaccinations. School has finished so the house is in the change over mode. The serious heat hits the UK (well over thirty) with the inevitable effects on the various services. We aren't currently gret at coping with heat in this country.

Yeah! the country show is back, stronger. We enjoyed a lovely walk around the show and it was extra special as it came after we finally tested negative. The tiredness comes back in spells but otherwise we seemed to be okay now.

Urgh!

June May« »Next month

So summer is here. So we did some decorating and finally painted the smallest bedroom. It looks good. We also enjoyed a lovely crepe from town food market as we wandered into the centre for the first time in ages.

Life still has an unusual quality to it. People talk of the 'new normal' but things have always changed and you cannot go back.

Summer!

May Apr« »Next month

Yeah, the hedgehog is back. mainly this month is about work and taking the odd break to watch the birds in the garden.

Definitely a quiet month. The Reds triumpgh again in the penalty shoot out that results in the cup final.

Work and school dominate as the football season draws to a close.

April Mar« »Next month

And finally we go away in this post-COVID world. We actually leave the country, well we visit Scotland and an old haunt in Sandhead, in Dumfries and Galloway. We enjoyed some lovely breakfasts and evening meals at the hotel plus visits to Port Patrick and the southern most point of Scotland in the Gallie Craig.

Then we double the joy and go to Yorkshire and the Spa town of Harrogate. The sun came to join us as we wandered around the many lovely shops, the Spa museum and a delightful cake shop. We even watched some football as I clocked up another new ground (Weatherby Road).

The robins in the garden are being very territorial at the moment. Suspicions of nest building - fingers crossed. (Later we do indeed find a number of nests in the greenery on the fences.)

Drafty Scotland

March Feb« »Next month

This month means more testing but still no positive results in our house. I tackle the compost heap in order to check out the wasp nest - no sign, all is well.

We have to go to a funeral as family members leave us. The question of retirement looms but the answer is currently - not now.

Difficult to have any sense of any normality when things in Europe have taken such a horrible turn. I have seen numerous people flying flags to show their support, including on the large flagpole.

Testing again lovely!

February Jan« »Next month

Strange times persist. This year seems to bring some unusual colds and colleagues going down with COVID. We actually booked a little break away for the first time in years, back to a familiar spot up north.

Caraboa Cup brings some excitement and a cup for my team.

War is hell.

January 2021 « » Next month

A new year and new hope reigns in the country. Will we finally see a return to some sort of normality. This year should bring another World Cup competition and some interesting football along the way - bring it on.