Silver linings

I've chanced a plural in that title - I must remember to try to find a couple! I was far too hot during the night, with this suddenly milder weather - I woke up, shoved the duvet off and went back to sleep, only to waken again feeling far too cold ... and I expect it'll be much the same tonight. We have no radiator in the bedroom, so it was just me, the duvet and the difference a few degrees make. Church, on the other hand, was not warm in the slightest - in fact, it was colder than it was outside. We think it's the damp - I believe, though I'm no scientist, that you can't heat damp air. It may also be what's suddenly affecting the chancel lights, which keep tripping with a dramatic thump as the circuit cuts off. I took this photo partly because I rather love the dramatic effect of the lights rigged up on either side of the altar so that the priest can see properly; partly because the Advent Wreath now has three candles lit as we hasten towards the 25th (see - I didn't say it!) Happily I didn't really need to see more than my music - I had great fun declaiming the proclamatory verses of one of the hymns, Wait for the Lord ...

There were so many cars in the car park after the service that none of us could leave until a couple of cars went first, so we were late home for coffee and consequently late for lunch. I was still reading the paper when I noticed that it was already growing dark outside - just after 3pm. As it was also raining and beginning to blow madly we didn't, for one, attempt to go for a walk. Instead I made a couple of jars of cranberry sauce because I wanted something to go with our superior beef burgers at dinner and the cranberry fits the bill. I also found to my surprise that there were no fewer than three lots of cranberries in the freezer ...

That was it, really. I came third in the Diamond League in Duolingo this week, though I think Blipper Sally regularly does much better. I did little that was useful other than the cranberries, and felt reluctant to watch the end of The Mirror and the Light until I feel less tired... trouble with history is you tend to know the ending!