ON A COLD AND FROSTY MORNING...

...I had to be out of the house before 8 o’clock and it was jolly cold, but the sunrise was beautiful with a lovely sky and silhouetted trees, so that was a bonus.

When I got home at about 9.30 I went out into the garden and took a few photographs, but it was no warmer, even though the sun was up.  In fact, Mr. HCB said that it was -2°C in his greenhouse - where of course, he had gone to check on his geraniums to make sure they hadn’t got too cold!

Even if our friend Zach was visiting today, he wouldn’t be playing with the marbles or even washing them, as he usually does, because they were well frosted and I doubt there will be any bees or butterflies hovering around.  

The pink and white flower at the bottom right is a cyclamen, which was in a basket at the wedding of two Church friends in October 2022.  We were encouraged to bring one of the baskets home, transplanted the various plants and most of them have survived - even in these low temperatures, which is great.  

When I came indoors, with my feet and fingers smarting and tingling from the cold, I noticed that one of my hyacinths was open, so that was another bonus.  

And then, at 11 o’clock our time, we were invited to join in a Zoom “Naming Ceremony” for the newborn son of some Nigerian Church friends.  I had been hoping she would have the baby on my birthday, 26th December, but in fact, little Thaddeus wanted his own special day, so he arrived on the 27th!  He was given 5 names, but will be known by the first two, which will make things easier when he starts school!

It was a lovely service - and I was glad I remembered how to join a Zoom meeting, something we haven’t done since the last lockdown! I’m not sure how many of those attending were in Nigeria, but it was wonderful to join with them all to give thanks to God for the safe delivery and birth of this little one.  He slept all through the service, so hope he lets Mum rest this afternoon.  At least being on Zoom, she won’t have to worry about washing up lots of plates and dishes!  I had popped a card through their door earlier this morning, and one just for his big sister, Tife.  Her Mum said she loved it and held on to it before opening because it meant a lot to her to have a card as well.  I thought at 5 years old, she needs a card all to herself, and of course, when you make your own cards, you can personalise them, which I did!

So the question now is do we go out to do some shopping this afternoon, or stay in the warm conservatory and read?  Perhaps I should go and leave Mr. HCB to finish his book - although I could do with a little nap because I was up doing housework until 1 a.m.!  Don’t ask - I was just buzzing!  I’ve been thinking of setting up a Domestic Goddessing Business to do the housework for night workers - let me know if you would be interested!