Sunday 24th January 2021

As usual for the weekend, we were awake before six on Sunday, and looking out from the back of the house there was a wintery scene as a light dusting of snow had fallen during the night.

But even better was the clear skies, and already there was colour in it from the approaching dawn, still over an hour away.

45 minutes later, we were suited and booted, and heading out for the cliffs to see the sunrise over France.

As we pulled out onto the street, the frost sparkled like a million diamonds, each facet catching the headlight's beam.

Down Station Road and into the village, before turning off towards the Monument. Off the main road, again Granville Road was covered in hoar frost, twinking and glistening.

I took it easy, and we arrived at the parking area where there were no other cars, no one. Just us.

We climbed out, wrap up and I get my camera from the boot.

We took care on the concrete, but soon were on the clifftop, making our way to the bench, which overlooks the Channel and France from the very edge of England.

Minute by minute, the colours in the sky changed, meaning I just snapped and snapped away.

The cliffs themselves reflected the colours, and instead of being white were pink, and once the sun did rise, changed to a deep rose pink.

The sun showed as a glint, a sliver above the houses in Bleriot Plage some 23 miles away.

And as we stood there, the sun rose, its light getting stonger, turning the cliffs from rose pink to almost blood red.

We turned and walked towards Kingsdown, but a combination of the cold and lack of breakfast meant we turned back after 15 minutes, only to see the sky cloud over in a few minutes, the colours faded, it got colder, we doubled our pace to the car.

Once back at the car, we have one look towards France, climb in and drive carefully home, reversing down the drive and under the car port.

Once inside, I put the kettle on, put croissants in the over and in a few mintues we had breakfast, with the last of the RadMac show on the wireless.

And then with the cloud getting ever thicker, and the threat of sleet or even snow, I start to prepare lunch, which was to be roast beef, and Jen was coming over too, to share in the feast.

It doesn't take long, some 90 minutes from starting to cook to dishing up, by which time it smelt selicious, and we were more than hungry. Jen arrives, they play Rummikub while I finish lunch, carving the beef and dishing up the vegetables and Yorkshire puddings.

It was fabulous, but as we ate, the sleet that had started soon after Jen arrived, turned to snow. Huge great big lumps of snow, that looked like it would turn into a blizzard for a while. Jen didn't want to be caught out and stuck here, so she made a dash for it, leaving us with the washing up.

But we do it quick, and the snow turned back to sleet, and what little had settled, melted quickly.

I take to the sofa to watch the Man Utd v Liverpool cup tie, and very good it turned out, with them sharing five goals, with Utd running out 3-2 winners, and deserving to win, and was entertaining. Certainly, I did not come close to nodding off.

Jools and I listen to the radio, have mince pies for supper and a brew.

And that was the weekend, all done.

And the new week should bring news.......