It's June, you know, summer? So plz to be telling me why it feels more like bloody November out there? At least we've been spared the tornadoes this time. I hope East Anglian flisters are safe and well.

I smell woodsmoke on the howling, wind-soaked gales breeze, a neighbour has clearly caved...

I've been in the garden for most of it, training some trees (I'm having a crack at espalliering), planting stuff, sowing seeds, sorting out my pond and trying to keep out of the way of frisky, horny toads, getting my potatoes in, digging about (still finding huge bits of stone from the long-demolished  toilet) and generally being a hoary-handed daughter of the soil. Spring is busting out all over, there are Bullfinches in the hedge and the squee factor is high.

I'm constantly coming up against bits of old china. Those Victorians must have been the most appalling butterfingers, the stuff is everywhere.

Wherever you are, whatever you've done with your days, I hope you've had good times, my lovely darlings.

Plenty fell in the night, we were getting a proper frightening few inches building up out there when we went off to bed but it's pretty much all melted overnight which is - good, isn't it? When we need to go out tomorrow and the coalman's due and only a day's worth of fuel left in the bunker. So why do I feel so let down by the absence of the tedious cold stuff? What a complex, contrary and thoroughly precious little snowflake I am.

So, we are home (kneels and kisses slightly threadbare Persian rug)! The house is still decidedly chilly but the Aga's lit and after a pleasing log fire last night, warming slowly (though I'm still in my thermals).It's 9.30 and I'm still in my pjs, trying to gear myself up to the rigours of the day but getting the usual first-day-home, post-Dad crash in which I sit on the sofa and stare at the wall and/or ITV4 till teatime.

Hey ho, I must move myself and shower and make the bed and write something, there are novels and TS Fics of Teh Most MASSIVE! Angst to be written, not to mention Real Work (of the sort that pays the bills) to be accomplished.

Maybe mor coffee will help? It has achieved exactly nothing so far this icy morning but I feel it's worth a try. ::nods::

Do these icy dunes on Mars look like weird alien lady parts - Or is it just me? :o)

Groovy and extreme and insanely bizarre!


I am not, for once, attempting to avoid work, in case you were wondering. We are having some strange, magical new set-up affixed to our televisual receiving apparatus today, something with vast hanger-loads of storage and internetly viewing and - oh, everything! Ask Mark, he'll tell you all about it. I am just moving what I'm asked to move and sitting quietly while Mark manipulates the wireage and doing as I'm told.

It is, however, hard to get anything else done in the meantime. I am an artiste, people! I cannot work in these conditions.

Snow stops play.

( We shall not be driving home today )

I mean, I love my family dearly but omg! I am so ready to go home now!

It's snowing up a storm out there now. Last night tipped -14, the roads are all ice and now it's snowing hard, if it continues we're facing the real prospect of not getting to Dad's for Christmas because the shower of bastards who run Chorley council, despite the great chunks of cash they lift from our wallets like the common footpads they are, will not grit the roads.

See pictorial evidence.

 

Hey ho, I am philosophical. In many ways, a Christmas at home would be pleasant and peaceful, no pressies (they're all at Dad's) but we have all other reqs here for dinner, including copious nutty, chocolatey, marzipanny delights, wine and sloe gin, all we lack is a pudding - which I could walk into Brinscall for, if it came to that. I'm assuming it won't, snow's not wont to stick around these days, but if it does, well ::shrug:: We has logs for the fire and the trusty Aga, we'll live.

It'll be harder on the Dad and the sister - especially the sister as she'll have Christmas dinner to do for just the 2 of them all on her own. Like I say, not expecting it to come to that but (looks out of window). meep! It's dark as twilight - it never really got light, I'm sitting under all the fairy lights, it's like Santa's grotto here, I'm a firm believer that you can never go overboard with the fairly lights. I tried to do a picture but I can only get the camera to work with the flash and it spoils the effect rather. I shall read the manual and try again later.

Anyway, I'm off to write some words before Alistair Sim comes over all Scrooge on the electrical tele-viewing machine. Stay warm, my babies, God bless us, everyone. XXX

Yea Gods, is LJ still slow as drugged sloths and buggering about for everyone else? Plz tell me it's not just me.

Only a dusting, no more than an inch of it but it's sunny and frosty-bright with a blue-pink sky, sugared trees and all rather gorgeous. We just got back from what should be the last shop (and there was much rejoicing!) - a few veggies, parsnips and Ted spuds for the roasties, sosmix for the sausage rolls, more cards, more port (since we drank what we bought last week) and the cheese! From my favourite Chorley cheesemonger



In other news - it's Christmas! Well, nearly. I've been trying to do pictures of my mantelpiece, they don't really do justice to its many Christmassy virtues but here goes anyway.Back now, warming up, crumpets and tea, the cat's arrived. I shall be venturing out again later to post the last cards, if the sun's still up I might do pictures.

Merry Fireplace says Merry Christmas!



Basement Cat is indifferent to your Christmas.





 I've tried it every which way but can't get anything to go under a cut, sorry about that. If the pictures are fannying with your LJ, let me know and I'll take em down. 

It's been dark since eleven am but I am OK because I have my favourite slow-braised spicy veg and noodles which are incredibly yum. God bless you Aga, you may be the most expensive slo-cooker in the world, but you braise a beautiful vegetable. Your roast parsnips are pretty good too.

I feel there should be food porn but I'm too hungry.

Oh, and I have wine too. Best mention the wine. ::nods::

Stay warm and dry my babies, for the weather Gods be angry still.

...and not noticed? First a lengthy power cut in Thurlstone a few days ago and now we're in the midst of one in Withnell.

Did something happen and no one told me?

So, we're sitting here by candlelight, eating baked potatoes, sipping fine wines*, at least I have t'internet till my battery or the UPS dies, listening to Loose Ends and there was nowt on TV to miss. At least we have an Aga, we can has tea. It could be worse.

*Aldi's 'Australian Red', from a box.

We are home! 

The sun is shining, but it's October so it's on the nippy side and we've lit the stove which means oven baked potatoes for supper! I have a mug of hot Ribena, skies are blue, the woods are looking gorgeous, life is good.

Mark has been streaming Radio Rebelde in the car, live from Cuba via the iphone which was - squeeful and exciting for about fifteen minutes; live news on parade-preps from Santiago and Santa Clara did lose novelty value rather quickly. With Cuban Radio in general (and Rebelde in particular) enough really is quite as good as a feast, rather more than enough to be entirely honest, but a happy Che-Day to you all, should you be celebrating today. *g*

Hamish update: wee doggie is still not himself but very much on the mend, though blood tests have shown a slightly reduced liver capacity. The new diet is on hold and he's condemned to eat chicken and (Tilda organic Basmati) rice for the next several days by order of the vet, poor lamb. Thanks so much for all your good wishes which I'll endeavour to answer asap.

Such a year for sloes! I picked a pound in no time at all yesterday, got scratched to pieces but there will be sloe gin again this Christmas, oh yes indeedy! It's been 3 years since we had a decent sloe harvest and I've missed my gin, deed I have.

Yesterday was my sister's birthday. Amongst other things we gave her the Help! DVD, fine wines and even finer chocs and was pleased to see her so delighted. She's a bugger of a time of it lately, she doesn't deserve it. I hope Dad gives her some peace this weekend so she can enjoy her various delights.

Also happy birthday John Lennon. You would have been 69 today, bless your heart.

And Barak Obama, WTF?!