In the Bleak Midwinter

I love it! But then it's alright for me, I don't have to go to work or wait for a bus. I can stay snug and warm inside, or wrap up in multiple layers and go out. Here are the fairies in our back garden 'struggling' through the snow.

Here's the view from the study where we sit far too frequently and wade through various online tasks. Mostly enjoyable from my point of view. This morning I worked my way through a pile of papers from my in-tray. I feel I should have a pile marked Chuck When I'm Gone because there are things that are totally useless to anyone else but I don't want to get rid of, yet. And no, I'm not being morbid, just realistic, as one of my favourite broadcasters, John Cushnie, died last week at a mere four years older than I. He was the wit that made radio gardening programmes enjoyable, even bearable. His picture came as a surprise; we thought he was a small, elderly fellow. His was the best Northern Irish accent on the airwaves.

And here, from the front window are the school children enjoying the fun. The misty background is actual, as if more snow is waiting to fall. Last night I walked down the village in the dark, eerily quiet, rather like being back in time, snow crunchy like the top of a Christmas cake, to our monthly book group. We discussed The Colour by Rose Tremain which was excellently written but had nothing to endear me to the characters except admiration for their grit. Strangely it mentioned Rangiora in New Zealand, a place I've had much to think about recently, having been 'discovered' by a cousin, more strictly kinsman, from there whose ancestors came from this village and were my ancestors too.

New Year

We didn't manage to see the year in on the Eve but ventured out on Saturday for HoF's first walk of any distance, with the sticks (as he says because he can never remember the word 'crutches') down to the river, and in his case, into it.

Bright and sunny and cold. Hard weather for workers and travellers but I enjoy the weather doing what it's meant to at this time of year. So much better than greyness for us. We had more snow today, arriving just as we sat in bed with the first cuppa of the day. It looked so beautiful and the very silence of it is amazing. So we stayed home and I actually did some housework in the morning and then computering in the afternoon. Well it's hard not to, with the puzzles of family history, even if it's not my own I'm working on at the mo.
I did read 60+ books in 2009 though so I must get off the pooter sometimes.

Christmas video

Let's see if this works. Instructions were given by Skype from Switzerland. We have spent a day weeding emails, which also means wandering into all sorts of interesting byways.

Irish Christmas

Tried to upload a video on last post but couldn't do it. Need to learn how to upload to Picassa web albums when I get a mo.

Aberfeldy

We are back from our Scottish Experience, a pleasant rest except for the travelling which went as well as these things can but seemed to be exhausting nevertheless. We had some slow miles going following a wide load, and met snow on the way back. We shared the driving which worked out well. Our friend I.M. is rebuilding a ruined house and HoF would have loved to help but couldn't because of his poorly heel. For those of you who have read The Sugar Book, we met the famous Dr Yellowlees too, a fit nonogenarian. Our travels are as nothing compared to our niece and husband who are doing the Great Trek South and are currently in Morocco.
Miss P is now up with us for the Christmas holidays. Before I can relax though I have a potentially Scary Event tomorrow. I am singing in a choir at a fund-raising concert in the village. That part's OK but I have also been inveigled into doing a one verse duet which has high notes that are giving me grief. I may have to mime, which I am told is a common occurrence in theatres, where an off-stage singer will put in the high notes for the on-stage star from a booth behind the scenery.

Hollows Farm

Winter has arrived, the temperatures have dropped and there is fog in the mornings. But before the turn in the weather I went for a walk by myself, which I like best because you see and hear more. HoF, not being able to accompany me just yet, dropped me off some miles from home and I walked back. Through fields and woods and past this farmhouse, a very pleasant outing.
Tomorrow we are off to Scotland to visit friends in Aberfeldy for a few days.

Last times

Miss P cutting the grass for probably the last time this year. We rather envied the handkerchief -sized patch. We serendipitously arrived at our old church when they were having a Thanksgiving lunch for fourteen years of its existence. So we were able to join in and enjoy seeing photos of those years.

The white flowered prunus in the back garden at Kate's Cottage. Hmm, well it said white flowered on the label.

Last chance to see HoF on the scooter. It has gone back to its owner now. Returned too are the perching stool, shower stool and grabber. We went swimming twice in one week, more times than we usually go in a year. (Sort of thing HoFs do when its free). He can now ride his bike and did so down to the butcher's this morning to fetch bacon for breakfast. The walking however is still very painful, which is where the swimming helps, or rather the supported walking in the water.