The big freeze

The cold weather has been a bit of a shock after our relatively warm November - we are in the grip of an icy freeze that is set to last for at least another week. This morning the frost had covered the garden so that it looked like snow and it is so cold, although sunny and bright. Today's high was 4C but tonight it is going to drop to -7C. 

I had a slow start to the morning as I was not feeling that great - Gavin suggested I stay home while he walked Xena but I got dressed very warmly and went with them as I thought the fresh air and walk would be good for me. I did feel better as the day wore on. The common looked like a winter wonderland with all the frost, and the large pond - which is more of a lake - was frozen which does not happen every often. I could not decide on an image today so here is a selection of some more frozen scenes.

Tommy arrived home this afternoon. Thankfully the train strikes did not affect his route. I am so fed up with all the strikes going on at the moment - in this winter of discontent everyone is feeling the cost of living crisis, admittedly some more than others, but everyone wants a pay increase and we are having strike after strike - railways, postal service, nurses, ambulance drivers, it goes on an on. The baggage handlers at Heathrow are also striking as is border control so that affects people wanting to get away over Christmas - it has certainly screwed up flights for our family to get to Switzerland for new year. The strikers demands are getting unrealistic in these recessionary times that they are gathering less sympathy than they should. 

Tonight we are going to a friend's house for her birthday dinner which will be a lovely evening as she is a great cook and our friends there are all long standing friends from my university days decades ago. I know I only have a cold but I did a Covid test to be sure - I seldom think about Covid these days but I think it is best to check and be safe.