Sunday 12th December 2021

9 days until the shortest day of the year, and it feels like it.

We lay in until after seven, the cats seemed fine with a lay in. I know I was.

Jools is away for five days from Monday, so it seemed fine not to do too much, though as usual Jools had planned a full day for herself, starting with swimming at seven, the going to the tip at half nine. Between we had breakfast and more coffee.

Outside it was dull and grey, and due to stay that was all day, only for the clouds to part at eleven as we started to listen to Desert Island Discs. But as it was still fine at midday, we go for a quick stomp.

Rain has created mud, that horses from the riding school makes deeper, so some track eassier to walk along than others.

We go up Station Road, ten take the first track past the war memorial.

Not much to see, just the hum of traffic broke the silence, a bus passed by on its way to Deal.

We walk along past the horse paddock, then looking back I see a huge black cloud sweeping in from the west, a soaking seemed nailed on. We decided to make a dash for home, back through the estate and arriving at Chez Jelltex as the cloud passed to the south of us.

No rain.

Still. Lunch time.

I make marinated chicken and flavoured rive with the spices and mix from the stall on Herne Bay pier, and very nice it all was too. Spicy, but not too spicy, and enough left over for me to have for Monday dinner.

THe weather closes in, so I put the footy on, and the afternoon passes by in a confusing mix of games. Some goals and action, but I find it hard to stay awake. Nothing to do with the 10% beer I had at lunchtime. Oh no.

Jools packs and books hotels along the canal crossing the Pennines, she will either walk or catch buses or trains depending on the weather/her feet.

And that is that, really.

The day and weekend done, just five more working days in the year and for those I will be home alone.