Thursday 9th January 2025

Chez Jelltex sits on the side of a down, with the street running along it, flat. So that houses on either side have to either go up or down a slope to get to the road.

Not normally a problem, until it snows or is icy.

So, after drawing the curtains on Thursday morning, I saw something falling from the sky, and settling, best get the car up onto the road before scattering of rocksalt or shovelling would be needed.

So on with my shoes and after starting the engine, I rev it, let out the clutch the car leaps up the drive, up the slope and onto the road. Jools could now get to work.

The sleet continues, partially melted, then froze.

Back inside for a fresh pot of coffee and sit by the radiator to warm up. Jools leaves, and so just the void that is work to prepare for.

Work is not so bad I have taken back control, and am now really on top of things. Heck, even my huuuge travel expense report went through first time.

I have meetings, five in a row through the morning, meaning it was gone midday before I had lunch. Outside, the sun shone, so I decided to go for a walk.

A meme that keeps popping up on Facebook is "a short walk is better than no walk".

Which is true.

It was bitterly cold, so I walked up the street, then to the top of the down, before doubling back along Collingwood to check on the garden with the coltsfoot: none showing, and back home.

Steve is back at work. His car was gone, so I slipped my way back home to Chez Jelltex, where the slush tracks I created this morning in getting the car out were still there., crunching under each step.

Jools messaged me: would I like battered sausage and chips for tea.

I would, I said

So another task ticked off.

I just made sure the kettle was boiled so that when the time came I could dish up and make brews.

We have coffee and some of the remaining Christmas cake for supper, just about enough for two more portions each, I reckon.

And then football, Everton v Peterborough in the cup. Very thin gruel, not much to entertain, but Everton won, 2-0.

By which time it was bed time, and outside the gibbous waxing moon shone down on an icy landscape. And I was away to my bed.