Saturday 1st January 2022

New Year's Day.

All is quiet.....

First up, significant news:

Jen has COVID.

She caught it soon after arriving in Bolton, although the effects did not show until Christmas Eve, when se was unable to sing at a carol service. There had already been a party that day with Sylv's family. But, amazingly, neither Sylv or any of her family seem to be infected. Jen feels poorly, and really wants nothing more than to come home and get better in her own bed.

But.

Her niece, Sam, aged 48, has had a stroke, is very poorly. Cannot speak, and of course, being COVID positive, Jen can't go to visit.

All not good news.

We think Jen didn't tell us about her postive test so not to upset us and so spoil our Christmas.

It is some 16 months ago when Jen had a COVID scare, so long ago now that her Mum was still with us. Ended up just having flu, but back then COVID seemed a death sentence.

So, news as we get it, but quite shocking news to begin the new year with.

Also quite shocking is that it is to get to 16 degrees today. On New Year's Day. I mean, its been mild all week, but it's getting silly now. We've had summer days cooler than this! Saying that, it is supposed to cool down after Tuesday, just in time for the great return to work.

But before then, there is the weekend. And Monday.

What shall we do, we ask once we are up and about sometime after half seven?

It was decided between us that we would return to Worth to look for the stork, and hopefully find it closer to us this time.

New Year's Day was very quiet on the roads, we made our way along the coast to Walmer, Deal before striking out to Worth, which sits on what used to be the seabed, a thousand years ago.

We parked in the centre of the village, by the church, then walked to the Crispin and along the footpath.

Once at the marsh I saw the stork, near the road, and we started walking towards it. But a minivan pulled up and three or four guys got out wielding cameras, the van drove on along the lane, spooked the stork and it flew right over the the far side of the marsh again.

Bastards.

Sigh.

I got some flight shots, which were nice, but I knew from other that the stork didn't mind people fairly cloe, but driving a van at it was too much.

We turned round and walked back to the car, then back to Deal and home.

Jools went to work in the garden and I began to prepare lunch again, the third roast that the turey was going to provide us. Roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls and vegetables.

We sat down to eat at half one, a big plateful to get through, and for once, we were both beaten.

That was good eatin'.

It was a Saturday, and that means football. But due to COVID, many games, most games, were postponed. And with the fizz surging in my veins, it was hard to keep awake. The late game was Palace v West Ham which the visitors won 3-2, a good game.

Jools then threashed me at crib, and to bed at nine as I was pooped.

Bless.

Happy New Year.