Sunrise

The sun rose around 8am and disappears behind Simonside by 3pm. We have to get going to make the most of the day, so I got a Spinach and Mushroom Lasagne made for tonight plus I used some gooseberries from the freezer to make a fool. #2 daughter is bringing the boys to stay overnight as they have rugby at Morpeth tomorrow.

Having not driven for 8 months or so, I felt a bit nervous setting out over the moor to Alnwick. There’s still snow on the Cheviots, but not this low. My shoulder xRay done, I drove up to Lynn’s to collect a heat shoulder thing she offered, and dropped off The Wire DVDs as she’d missed the last 2 series.

Then I took the A1 to Felton to Fine Fettle Fabrics to search for a new winter project. I chose what looked like a simple cardigan to knit. All the wool was expensive - even the pattern was £7. That won’t be the end of it - once o got back home I read the instructions and not only are there 15 different sizes it could be made in, all giving the finished size not the size of the person, but also it is knitted from the neck down in 4 different sized circular needles. What I thought would be a simple project after the Kaffe Fasset coat is going to be very complicated but in a different way. No doubt it’ll get ripped out a few times but it’ll keep the brain active at least.

Now it appears “impromptu gatherings with a glass of wine at our desks” seemed to be acceptable in the Foreign Office last Christmas. We might be having a strategic planning meeting with our family. But there will be no Secret Santas.