Saturday 23rd December 2023

It is that time of the year, wake up and after the first coffee, drive to Preston to collect our order.

Not much this year, as Jen is taking care of Christmas Day dinner, but roast beef for Boxing Day and a hunk of salt beef for sandwiches.

Unlike previous years, no rain, no storms, in fact quite a clear day, although at half six, the sun had yet to rise.

I was the only customer at first, our small order was ready, I had forgotten pigs in blankets, but there were sausages and bacon spare, so Mark made us a dozen quick.

Jools wanted to go to Canterbury for some shopping, so she asked which station would be best to get her to Canterbury West. Minster, I said, should be two trains an hour.

And after looking, a train was due in twenty minutes, so a quick dash through Stourmouth to Thanet Way, along and down Minster High Street, getting her to the station with ten minutes to spare.

As I was driving back, I thought sunrise was looking good, so I went via Deal, and sat on the sea wall as the sun came up.

Not a breath or wind, and few folks about, a fine way to start the first day after the solstice.

Back into the car and a quick drive through Walmer and back home. In the woods between Ringwould and Walmer, it was still dark, and yet people were driving without lights on, despite the fact their cars were almost invisible. I flashed a few, but I don't think they got it.

Once home I had breakfast, put the shopping away, and prepared the vegetables which would be added to the salt beef to be cooked through the afternoon.

Once Jools came back at midday, I made a match of sausage rolls, which were soon cooked, and all crispy and golden brown.

Perfect with a fresh brew.

And then, despite it being the just two days before Christmas, there was a pretty full fixture list to get lost in, kicking off, as it were, with Leeds v Ipswich on the tellybox, and Leeds romping to a 4-0 win.

Norwich then overcame Huddersfield 2-0 before the "big" match of Liverpool v Arsenal, which ended 1-1,was exciting too.

By which time it was half seven, dark and outside the wind building for another storm.