Thursday 16th January 2025

It is Thursday.

And sunny.

Hardly any wind.

And nearly warm outside.

A shame, then, that I am going to spend nearly ten hours over a hot keyboard dealing with issues, updating reports as departments are preparing for their end of financial year reports, and find they have overdue work from me to clear.

Suddenly I am fielding one call after another, for most of the day. Can I just do this, or that, or overlook something else.

And so on.

It was cool at dawn when I put the bird food out, sparrows were waiting in the hedge, angry I was taking so much time.

And then back in the warm for breakfast and another brew, waiting for my cuppa to brew, watching the birds come to feed for the feast I had put out.

And then back to work.

Stopping only for the last of the lentil dahl for lunch, I work though to half four, by which time the sun had nearly set so was getting dark and cool again.

But for a while it had looked and felt like Spring.

No dinner to prepare, as we were going out for dinner, only have a brew ready for for when Jools came home. And leaving us just enough time to get changed before we had to leave to pick up Jen, then back to Swingate to the old pub.

We were welcomed back like long-lost friends. We had came here when it changed hands and the new guy in the following two ears has tried to make a go of it. But truth is, since COVID, even before he took over, it hasn't been so full. Where once you had to book a table a week in advance, you can now just pitch up.

I booked, and joined the four other tables eating, only one more couple arrived after us, meaning they served just six tables. And are making ends meet my doing take aways.

Everything changes.

We order drinks. Papadums. A small starter each, and then finally the main courses, rice and a naan.

So, we order before the meal, so order too much, and at the end are stuffed. But it was good, as was the wine Jen and I shared.

We paid, with Jools driving we dropped Jen off, then came back to St Maggies past the curry house and then to home, where the cats were hungry.

Apparently.

Ipswich were losing to Brighton, and Man Utd came from behind in the last ten minutes to beat bottom club Southampton 3-1. But hardly the crashing win the scoreline suggests.

Wednesday 15th January 2025

Halfway though the month, the month that goes on and on forever.

It was misty, so grey and dull, but with no wind, so the weather we had at dawn we would have until evening, unless the sun burnt off some of the cloud.

Just the usual stuff to report: coffee, work, breakfast, work, lunch, tea, work.

This is the routine, day after day, but not for much longer, as I approach just 50 working days left to do.

For Tuesday's dinner, I had some leftover potatoes, so I made some mash, and had that fried after moulding it into small cakes. Fried in olive il rather than butter.

The mash already had butter in it, of course.

The sun did indeed break through, so at the end of the afternoon, I had a letter to post, to put on my shoes and coat, and walked up Station Road, dropping the letter off at the post box, then walking on up the top of the down. Taking in the view and golden light, then walking back down.

I have been suffering with sciatica for about ten weeks now, and Wednesday was one of my best almost pain-free days. I am not a martyr with it, its something that's there, not bad enough to stop me walking about the house, but sometimes bad enough to stop me walking longer distances.

I hope that this easing is something permanent rather than just a moment of clarity, as it was rather nice to stride up the down instead of stopping every ten paces to do a Frankie Howerd impression.

And as Jools had booked an Aquafit session, would I be going to the gym, she asked.

Truth is readers, I would rather not. But I know I have to, so I said yes. So that once Jools was back, coffee drunk, we changed and I drove us to Whitfield and while she went to the pool, I went upstairs on the recumbent bike and did 30 minutes whilst listening to Aswad, The B52s and Blancmange.

Time went quick, I finished, cleaned the machine and went to wait in the car, listening to the build up of the North London Derby, driving us back home when Jools came out.

Before finally putting the pizza in the oven and pouring a pint to go with it.

Arse won 2-1, Spurs were quite Spursey.

Tuesday 14th January 2025

Morning.

For some reason my brain wanted me awake at half five, so as I was awake, may as well get up.

I look out back, and the waning light of the full moonlit the back gardens, but with long shadows stretching from hedge to hedge on either side of each garden.

As sunrise approached, dawn got ever more spectacular, so I left a meeting to go and take shots.

As you do.

Other than that, a typical Tuesday.

Meetings. Calls. E mails. Brews. Breakfast. Lunch.

Meanwhile cats sleep on.

I watch a video from the self-proclaimed "Potato Queen", and think I could give noisette potatoes a go for dinner, along with defrosted Jambalaya.

This involved using a melon-baller to carve spheres of raw potato, then part boil before finishing off in butter allowing the buttermilk to burn.

Not perfect, but good enough.

And as a bottle of XV had arrived, and was the first of the 2023 vintage, I thought it best to test it to make sure it was up to standard.

Good news: it is.

There is football for the evening, but then there seems to always be football: Forest hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the top of the table.

I finish the wine and eat crackers sans fromage.

Monday 13th January 2025

Back to work.

Though weeks to do are getting few.

It is still less than four weeks since the solstice, so there is no obvious longer days r more daylight yet. And yet, on bright days, some kind of gloaming lingers until nearly five, when at this time of the year, the near to full, or actual full moon rises away in the east.

Monday was the date of the full moon, the Wolf Moon, and also the planet Mars would be in conjunction with the Moon, and later in the night, over the US, the planet would pass behind our satellite.

Work is building slowly, with the promise of more "noise" this week. Except for us, there is no noise. In fact with our new manager off on a family emergency, its quieter than usual.

Otherwise it was a stunning, clear, sunny but cold day, and the garden filled with birds, including a Jay, who emptied the ground feeder of peanuts in about a minute, so it's crop of full to bursting.

At the factory, they have started to interview for Jools's replacement, making the whole thing seem real now.

I am up to date still, and ping replies to mails off as they come in, like electronic wiff waff.

I had left my coat in the car, so no walking for me, and anyway, it was so chilly out there I probably wouldn't have gone anyway.

No aquafit for Jools, so I prepare chorizo hash, which I know so well by now I could cook it with my eyes closed, but it involves a sharp knife, probably not for the best to have my eyes closed.

Dinner was good, of course, and my intention to only have booze at weekends was quietly forgotten.

As it was dark the cosmic dance between the Moon and Mars had begun, but there was high thin clouds partially obscuring the spectacle.

By half nine, skies had cleared and the Red Planet was within a solar disc of the Moon.

I take shots, though I get the exposure wrong.

Negative ghostwriter

It may not come as much of a shock, to hear that the majorty of the UK press is being very negative in regard to the current Government.

But I think how negative is surprising many, when compared to a really useless Government like we had the last two years, that was given an easy ride by the same banner headlines.

Here is a selection of todays's:

Torygraph: PM thrws Reeves's future in doubt.

The Hate Mail: Two lame ducks.

Express: Is back with inheritance tax for farmers.

Times: Labour law threatens custmers' free speech.

The Labour Government, or HM Government to give it its actual title, is not doing well. But at no point are any of the papers above mentioning the shit state the last Conservative Government left the country in, with many spending commitments left unfunded, so anything Reeves does as Chancellor is very limited.

Remember, these are the same tomes that blamed Gordon Brown and Alister Darling for wrecking the uK economy in the wake of the 2008 GLOBAL financial crash, and yet now won't say what role 14 years of austerity under Conservatives has lead us to this point.

Could they do more to make our lives better? Possibly, should we give them time? Without doubt. Labour has to do more than they are doing now, to improve the lives and services of ordinary working people. Following policies to try to appease Tory or Reform voters, who will never vote for them anyway is pointless, so may as well look after your base.

Sunday 12th January 2025

Not just cold.

But colder.

The hoar frost was so thick that it looked like it had snowed overnight.

But it was going to be a clear, sunny but bitterly cold day.

I take a shot out of the office window as dawn's light and the valley all in shadow.

We ramped the heating up, and waited for the house to warm up and RadMac to start at eight.

After a shower, Jools went for a walk, and with her out I also had a shower, washed up and vacuumed the living room. I bailed on the walk as the cough has returned for me, and I lapse into an angry dog impression a few times a day.

Other than that, I was fine

So, we agreed to drive to Folkestone and visit our long-time friend, Mary, which is still recovering from her broken leg.

Originally, we had planned to go out for coffee of lunch, but the harsh frost meant there was a late change. Instead Mary would cook and we would bring milk.

So it was we drove down what I hoped would be the frosty Alkham Valley where I was hoping to get shots, but the sun was warmer than it seemed and had melted all frost not in shadow, and the valley sides look green and lush.

So we drove on.

Into Folkestone and along the Cheroton, turning down one of the many terraced line streets, now also lined with parked cars: quite how dustcarts or fire engines would get down them is another matter. And with cars parked at junction give way signs, views along the road you wanted to turn into was almost impossible.

But we found a place to park near her house, and we slivered to her front door and were let in.

We had coffee and caught up on news, before cauliflower soup was warmed up and cheesy bread grilled.

Very nice.

Come two, we made our excuses and drove back, up the A20 this time back home before the dark and hoar frosts returned.

I make a brew and we have some chocolate, then I join Scully on the sofa for football.

Arsenal played host host to Man Utd, and was a good game with Utd playing well, and leading until they had a player sent off. Arse levelled almost straight away, but then missed a penalty, and so it was a case if the Arse could find a goal, or Utd not run out of puff.

It ended 1-1, and as there are no replays now, then came extra time and penalties, which Utd won, their young keeping saving one of the Gunner's spot kicks.

We have supper of rolls filled with cured Spanish meat washed down with porter or cider.

And so, another weekend drew to an end.

Saturday 11th January 2025

The cold snap continues.

Up at half six for a coffee before going hunting and gathering, and was treated to this stunning dawn, with the garden all crisp and even.

Jools's employer had given everyone working there a Sainsbury's gift card, and we had partly used before Christmas, so in order to use the remainder, instead of Tesco I drove to Deal instead.

It was clear at dawn, but a mist soon rose, giving the whole landscape a winter wonderland effect, with tyre tracks through the frost, even on the Deal Road. At least traffic was light.

Sainsbury's was almost empty. A contrast to before Christmas when it was like the eve before the zombie apocalypse, with empty shelves everywhere.

Much better this time, with all a much less frantic. With the card, and despite buying three bottles of porter, the bill came to eleven quid.

Turning onto The Strand, I stopped to take a shot of the pie and up and down the coast, as a weak sun tried to break through.

I drove back home carefully, making it back by half eight, so we enjoyed a lazy breakfast and a fresh brew.

For the morning, I made a pot of lentil dahl, so the house was soon filled with the fine smells of Middle East spices.

We don't have that for lunch, instead we have a pasty followed by the last of the Christmas Cake. So, the festive season is officially over!

That being said, I have mincemeat so will make mince pies at some point, or like last time, just save it for next Christmas.

It was day 3 of the FA Cup 3rd round weekend, with Norwich playing host to Brighton, and all was going well until they kicked off. Once Brighton scored, Norwich fell to pieces, and so lost 4-0, at least two coming from mistakes.

We finish of the last of the Christmas cheese for supper while we listened to Craig and I watched Citeh thrash Salford 8-0.

Outside, temperatures plunged again, and a thick hoar frost covered all surfaces.

Brrrr.