Beach walk

 We all seem to be ill. Maria's dance showcase on Saturday evening was great but since then it has been downhill. Alison has been in bed since and Maria is off college today. Bridie and Joseph are home too and I collected anitbiotics for them yesterday evening. I'm feeling rough too but am keeping going, feeling better when out and about to be honest. Despite not feeling too good on Monday, Maria was at dance as usual and earlier in the day, she was in Bournemouth to ice skate with friends from dance. I took the opportunity to walk Juno along the sea front, part of which was fenced off due to recent cliff falls. 

Glen video called from Brisbane and was really happy. He and Harri are having a great time and love the place. Good to see him looking well and having already been surfing despite it only being 7am! He'd been up at 5am.

Rural bike ride at Christmas

It's the time of year when we get so excited looking forward to the festivities and so I went out on a bike ride with the aim of enjoying the cold and looking out for decorations and evidence of people preparing for the big day. As it happens, I would have been better avoiding the countryside where the homes are few and far between and little in the way of Christmas was in evidence. 

Remedy Oak was a short stop and I never fail to be moved by the understanding that this oak tree has stood here for hundreds and hundreds of years. What has it been witness to over that time? 

I headed into Horton before stopping to take some photos of the old village pump and the fields leading up to Horton Tower. From there I cycled up to Drusillas which had lovely fires burning with two wood burners ablaze. It looked very festive before I had to get back on the bike to finish the 8 mile ride in the cold with a light drizzle falling.

Alison and Maria were watching Love Actually whilst wrapping presents, Alison having been shopping with Bridie this morning. I finished the wreath for Sandra and did a bit of work on the bathroom tiles and made the leek and potato soup using the leeks from the allotment.

Busy Wednesday

I was up at 4am this morning for no discernible reason and have felt sleepy all day as a result but I have managed to keep going and got a few things done. Having had the girls staying over last night, I did us all a nice big pan of porridge for breakfast and am pleased to report it was finished off with aplomb. The girls also ate the topping which included chia seeds, flax seeds, wheatgerm, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, mixed nuts, dried mango, cranberries and dried apricots, plus some cinnamon and two teaspoons of homemade blackberry jam. All very healthy and virtuous!

Having walked Juno I drove Alison to work and then Maria to college. Once home I walked Juno to the woods again so I could cut some hazel to make a Christmas wreath for Sandra. It's all done now and I'll give it to her on Friday when we head to Dorchester. I also got the new pressure washer out again after doing the patio on Monday. I washed the car and then the motorhome and was very pleased with the effectiveness, especially with the motorhome and getting rid of the moss and algae build up in hard to reach places.

After lunch I went to collect Maria from dance but stopped at the WM allotment and picked four leeks and some coriander, as well as weeding the final two beds which I then put compost over. That should be that for the winter with regard to that allotment. There are plants doing well though, the garlic and broad beans for early summer, and the remaining leeks.

Making a curry now, having dropped Joseph at home and off to collect Alison next. No driving for me tomorrow and Maria isn't at dance until the evening. Time for a lie in!

First December post

It's been a while since last updating and I guess that reflects the business of this time of year. I was out last night collecting Maria and stopped in verwood to walk Juno which is when I took the photo of the Christmas lights and decorations at Ferrets Green. 

Our home is alight with so many sets of lights now, as well as the decorations accumulated over many years. I have also been collecting fir cones, greenery and fallen branches to bring the outside in, something made a lot easier by the recent storm. As is traditional now, I have been making wreaths using the thin stems from the hazel trees down in the woods, wound together and then festooned with holly, ivy, yew and other greenery.

Maria has been busy preparing for dance exams and for Christmas shows, whilst Glen has left with Harri for Australia where they are spending the next month! We had a brilliant afternoon with Harri's family on Sunday with an early Christmas meal to give them a suitable send off. 

Joe and Kate were over at the weekend with the girls, who also stayed last night with their parents having a council meeting. We've got lots planned for Christmas with them; they are staying for several nights which will be lovely. Bridie has started her new role at nursery which is going well so far, and Joseph is getting into all things Japanese, including wanting to eat with chpsticks all the time!

I was in Bournemouth yesterday and popped into the BH2 Oden for a seasonal screening of Gremlins. Very good.