free lunch

Rudolph will have had enough of carrots by Boxing Day, perhaps?

Storm Pia blew by overnight. I opened the bathroom window just before 4am and she was, frankly, terrifying. It was pitch dark then, but I could hear her gusting about in the huge pine trees behind the house. I don't like wind much at the best of times so went back beneath the duvet to wait it out until morning. 

8am and it was still scarily windy outside. Our heavy bench had blown over but the trees looked ok. I had intended to go food shopping first thing but I waited a while just in case there were roads which needed clearing or whatever.

In the end I drove straight to DG1 and had a sauna and steam, my first visit since last Friday and it felt wonderful. Then on for a visit to Jane, which was also wonderful. It has been too long since we last sat in her kitchen drinking a mug of Clipper Banana Toffee tea (it's not even made anymore but somehow Jane still has a packet in her cupboard and it tasted heavenly) and we laughed a lot, too.

I did get the shopping done so now more now until after Christmas :-)

It's already getting dark and we are sliding down towards the solstice. Bizarrely, I always feel a bit of sadness at the thought of the days getting longer - I really like these short winter days and the bare trees and frost and the fire and starry skies. Plenty of those still to enjoy, though.