Ne'erday 2023

Goodness, it was hard getting out to church today after last night's late drams and clearing away - heading out to the car with me asking plaintively "am I supposed to be singing today?" and Himself "Can you, after all that?". (Answer: yes, I could, and I did, a piece chosen as we drove up the road). The church was so cold, but the atmosphere incredibly warm - so much so that after the service our Rector was driven to putting the lights out like a pub landlord to encourage us all to go home! It was a joyous bedlam of conversations, laughter, two wee boys who are occasional visitors being shown round the pulpit and the scary wet regions below the tower, random dogs, all eventually spilling out into the car park and narrowly avoiding knocking each other down... and the glorious hymns and carols of the Christmas period that aren't O come all ye ...

After that it was coffee and cake chez nous for us and pal Di as we warmed up again, followed by an insubstantial lunch because I've not made bread yet and a sleep with the Observer, like old people ... and then we went a walk, just because we needed to, in the chilly grey late afternoon light down the road at Toward. Arran, its hills covered in snow, was just visible sandwiched between Bute and the lowering clouds, and it was silent, totally silent, until the Canada Geese in a distant field started up.

Dinner was some of the venison left from last night, and more pudding ... and I'm scared to go on the scales because my waistband is feeling distinctly ... snug. And now it's again after midnight, but tomorrow is a holiday (yes, I know I don't work, but this is different) and there isn't a huvtae in sight. 

Blipping a close-up of the deliciously drippy candles in the Advent Wreath - you can tell there are draughts in church - with an extra of the Arran mountains from the Ardyne farm road, the lights of Rothesay twinkling on the near shore. 

Happy New Year!