It's not surprising that we talk so much here about the weather and plan our days out around those that are relatively dry and, if possible, sunny. We watch the weather forecast and hope for the best and this was especially true for Christmas Day when our local daughter and the two grandchildren were going to
visit briefly and stay outside in the yard with the doors open each end whilst we talked from the kitchen door. The government at the last minute decreed a lockdown over Christmas Day. People were not allowed to gather indoors which was a disappointment. We were given a pretty Christmas bag of good and useful items including basics such as pasta, rice and flour which have been harder to come by because of the demand. Later we spoke by phone to the rest of the family who live at a distance in the south of England, the Midlands and in Italy.
The following day we had fog and frost.
(Thankfully we had brought in the last of the roses before then
to enjoy and pruned the bushes).
We still have a few fresh tomatoes that have ripened indoors!
The neighbours have been feeding the garden birds and there are blackbirds
and bluetits about.
We seem to have missed Storm Bella although we haven't been out to see what's going on locally.
However, this morning we woke up to a light fall of snow which is turning into wet and slushy conditions as rain is now falling. We have to visit the doctor's for a routine blood test after lunch so we're hoping that the roads will be clear by then.
These are artificial roses, but add some contrasting colour
in the front window.
We continue to be cheered up by seeing our neighbours' Christmas lights and the promise of new life as I've noticed green shoots from the bulbs we planted in the garden in the Autumn. We also have more plants growing in the shelter of the covered yard.
I managed to collect a book that I had reserved from the library before it closed for the Christmas period. Covid rules mean returned books are left outside and put in quarantine before allowing back into circulation. Reserved books are exchanged, but the librarian is in the library entrance and face masks must be worn. Visitors cannot go into the library building. The book borrowed is a follow-on historical novel from the author who wrote Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies and traces the final years of Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII's powerful Secretary, Lord Privy Seal and Viceregent in Spirituals, that is, the king's deputy in the English church. It's nearly 900 pages long so it will keep me
going for the time I can keep it on loan!
Well, that's all the news for now. Thank you for reading and for your kind messages for Christmas and the new year. Hopefully life will get easier as the new year progresses although I continue to think of the medical staff, care workers and many others that are keeping us going in these difficult times.
