Thursday 1st January 2026

Welcome to 2026.

As we went to bed well before Piano Blokey started up, and we were well asleep an hour late when the bells tolled to see out the Old and ring in the New.

Neither neighbours had a party, which sometimes happens, so our little corner of Kent was dead quiet all night.

By half six, dawn was beginning to show, and Jools said she wanted to go to the cliffs to watch the dawn. Did I want to come.

She had been up an hour longer than me, and I had barely had coffee, so I declined, so she went alone.

The New Year is going to be cold and frosty for the first few days, and maybe even snow at the end of the weekend. Jools didn't get out of the car, and was cold as she didn't take a coat, so was back ten minutes before sunrise at 07:59.

So, I made her a brew and we had breakfast. Outside the sun rose in a clear sky, but was bitterly cold, though no breeze as yet.

Which is why at ten, I went out for a New Year Plant Hunt.

I had intended to go further than the bus shelter at the top of Station Road, but the north-westerly blew down into my face, and even with a coat on, it was bracing.

So, having seen about ten species, I decided to turn for home, back down Station Road, looking sadly at the verges which a month ago were full of deadnettles and Shepherd's Purse, but one of the houses had mown the lot.

I can't see why people want to do that, even in the depths of winter.

But they do.

I call in at Bev and Steve's to wish them Happy New Year, I was greeted by Steve in his dressing gown trying to keep their new puppy, Murphy, under control.

Over Christmas we had heard Murphy's whimpering, so had guessed.

Then back home where Jools made me a brew to warm up.

And then to the New year's Concert from Vienna, and what better way to spend New Year than waltzing round that fine city?

The Blue Danube brought tears of joy, what a wonderful piece of music it is.

And so, then, to the footballs.

After no football on New Year's Eve, there was a LOT of football on New Year's Day.

A lot.

Blackburn lost to Wrexham in the lunchtime game, which we watched as we ate breaded chicken, stir fry, sprouts with bacon and grains.

It was OK.

Then Norwich were at QPR. Never a happy hunting ground, and live on TV to boot.

The closeness of the double decked stands to the pitch made some of the angles really poor, but Norwich hung in.

In fact both teams were poor. Giving the ball away and misplaced passes.

Norwich took the lead one minute into the second half, and scored a second in the last minute.

But that was too easy. Conceding a thunderbastard strike a couple of minutes later.

But City hung on.

Then came Liverpool v Leeds, which ended 0-0, followed by a choice of Sunderland v Citeh and Brentford v Spurs.

Both of which also ended 0-0.

Happy New Year.