Turn on the dark

December Nov« »Next year

It's that time of year - love it. Unfortunately I start the month with a broken rib (accident at karate) The injury makes sleeping difficult as I can't sleep on my side at all and the pain killers only last for six hours. It's not the worst thing but it is annoying and restricting.

This year we have new garlands in the hall - lovely. Our tree is real and therefore a non-perfect shape. Two sets of lights adore its branches. My wife does an excellent job decorating it. Certain movements are still painful for me.

Christmas itself is a nice close famly affair. Wind and rain rather than snow.

November Oct« »Next month

We managed a trip to the National Arboretum. Not quite at the perfect time to catch the golden colours but we enjoyed a walk around the newer area and a quick stroll around the ancient wood. The place was busy - apparently it had been on Countryfile recently. There were some lovely Maple trees.

I test my lovely new tree saw as I have to take down the stub of the cooking apple that we thought we'de already dealt with but it had other ideas. The saw performed admirally.

Some Trees are really tall!

October Sep« »Next month

The weather goes mad - not really news these days. We suffer the wind and rain but no serious damage. I go down with some lurgy, maybe covid. Certainly a bad cold at best; very annoying.

The elders visit the seaside and do some shopping while enjoying a walk on the pier and some local food. Nice to get away if only for the day.

We start on the pollarding we need to do with our few trees.

I resign from work and start the count down. Madly this makes work even busier.

Lovely Pier

September Aug« »Next month

We take a break down Cornwall way and enjoy Eden. Less so the crowded cramp town of Fowey but pleasant nevertheless.

And the second week brings us to another unique and celebratory 'experience' - we visit The Ritz for a few days. And a walk down to the V&A Museum, Fortnums and Liberties adds to the experience. Afternoon tea was splendid and perhaps only eclipsed by the evening meal.

Holidays in the SW

August July« »Next month

This month brings some very hot spells and rain. I think the typical British summer is being redefined.

I am still wroking on the grouting in the en-suite shower. I buy a lovely kit to help with my sealant work. I test it out on the kitchen sink area.

We enjoy a very distinct and marvelous wedding of one of my nieces in the North West. We also visit my dad. the great day was a special occassion, truly celebrating the pair and their love for animals with some terrific speeches.

July June« »Next month

This month I finally have my first real break and we witness his second graduation. Another trip to the wilds of Norfolk and its coast.

The Euros provide much entertainment.

Nice one.

June May« »Next month

Exam season and the Euros are upon us. I run my usual prediction competition amongst work colleagues.

I have to replace one of the toilet seats after we shatter the lid.

The weather is somewhat miserable if you like sun and heat. It is fine by me but the pollen is still high so nothing is perfect. That say I do have to endure a couple of hot days in London though I do manage to visit the Old Dutch Pancake House. I avoid the underground in favour of some over ground walking.

We have to replace the tumble dryer which despite a good cleaning the previous week the drive band goes. We replace it with a 'heat pump' dryer which can actually go under the counter in the utility room.

Oo! Pancakes!

May Apr« »Next month

Well, we still have a sense of April showers and hints of summer but so far not convincing. Of course, there is a real possibility that the heat will return and we'll long for these temperate periods.

We visit a local car festival. Some of the cars are interesting to us. On a par is the chance to wander around somewhere we don't usually have access.

Bouncy Castles come visiting. We enjoy a lovely day of bouncing, feasting and merriment as we celebrate my dauther's special day. It's quite warm and no rain spoils the day. It is impressive how quickly it inflates and deflates. No point in having the pump running all day.

Everybody Bounce!

April Mar« »Next month

April and after about a week of illness I am pretty much back to a decent health. I get to enjoy both the giving and receiving of easter eggs.

The weather gives us the wettest April on record. NatureCam shows there is ahedgehog still visiting and a new position shows us which of the birds is getting the beed feeder off its perch and spilling its contents over the lawn - a crow.

The football season continues to disappoint and teams get relegated we don't want to suffer that fate. Its going to be a season with little joy and sad departures. There have been moments of great joy, even new records (though not always for clubs we want, of course).

The month ends with another cold. This time my colleague reckons he's identified patient zero; someone hero working in our office sat close by. It's annoying, restricting but not the worst.

Easter time!

March Feb« »Next month

A few cold spells as we head to Easter. Enough to get actual frosts. A local road has a 'void' appear causing traffic issues and, as usual, no quick fix; no fix at all so far.

The count down to retirement is getting serious with plans in place. Now to make them real.

Enjoyed a muddy walk around the park; the ground is water logged in places but still a pleasant trudge.

So much rain to end the month. And, maybe related, another bad cold. The downpours were epic. We put the bird feeders out with food for the first time this year after a spring clean.

February Jan« »Next month

Urgh, Covid rears its head again and I catch it for a second time. Felt a bit different this time and, again, I was off work for a whole week. I hid away in the bedroom until I tested negative; distinctly tiresome. I am only saved from total boredom by the (catch-up) TV.

We braved a lunch outside, well at least until it started raining. Nice to get outside and enjoy a mild month.

Later in the month my work takes me back to the big smoke and an interesting hotel experience (a really narrow but functional and cheap room that did the job). I enjoyed a walk across town, through Hyde Park and the many pathways, some blocked for construction work taking me out of my way because the signage is poor. Though I can ask do construction workers ever do a good job of providing adequate signage anywhere in the world?

Around my illness I manage to finish my Lego Land Rover Defender model. Reminds me of many a Christmas day toiling away making my son's latest Lego Star Wars addition, happy days.

Interesting hotel room

January 2023 « » Next month

This year could be momentous. For some the flooding is devestating and it is yet another sign of the lack prepareness for the climate change.

On a personal level we are quiet and relaxed, low energy but a return to work looms into view.

A week of work and then illness, bad cold, cough - who knows but debilatating and annoying.

Building my Land Rover