A new dawn, a new day, a new year and a new duck.

Seem to be getting there. I moved the duck food and drinking water to where they seem to be happier, and both ate and dunked heads and drank from the water. Our original duck had not eaten anything since the other one disappeared, and Smoky Robinson therefore hadnt worked out where the food and water was, as he is following her around. So that was a relief. We still had the same runaround to get him into bed. But this time it was me that grabbed him and got soaked in the process!
So tis New Years Eve. The time for making resolutions. Why is it we are expected to do so and promise we will do things we dont like, and dont want to do? Well mine are I am NOT going to stop drinking, eating what I want, not eating what I dont want. So there. One I will try hard with is doing more housework.....Mainly so it doesnt pile up and swamp me.
I hope we all get what we would like from 2011.
Health, a bit more wealth, and lots of happiness.

Two posts in one day.

Just had to show you this amazing picture that Mike took on my phone. The tweed sleeve is mine, and I am trying to choose a duck/drake, from these masses and masses of poultry that came to be fed. Pity there is no sound as it was deafening!

A Duck Day!

When Mike put the ducks to bed last night, there was only one......
He searched this morning, still only one.
She kept calling, it was most distressing.
So - I spent all the morning trying to find a replacement. Eventually we were offered a drake by the New Ark Animal Rescue. After some discussion we decided to accept the offer. We were really looking for another duck, never had a drake, and not sure I want my daily duck eggs to have been fertilised. I draw the line at cannibalism.
So this afternoon we set off to collect the duck/drake.
When we arrived the man said he was just about to feed them and this would enable us to select which one we would like, and for him to grab it.
Then his partner came out and asked if we knew we had a flat tyre. This was after driving for nearly half an hour, including up their farm track, deep potholes etc., and me saying "This car is leaning heavily to the left and is extremely sluggish", and being poo pood.
It was down to the rim....
So Mike and the man set to to change the wheel. Everyone up to their knees in mud and slush.
Eventually wheel changed and we had the drake in a box in the back, donation made and came home.
Apart from looking as if he was going to fly home every five minutes, he met Mrs Puddleduck and followed her around making quacks which next to her deep bark sounded very falsetto, hope he isnt a gay duck.
We had spent so much longer at the rescue place, owing to the wheel change, that it was soon growing dark. One thing we had decided on that that was the time for ducks to go to bed, as that was the time that any foxes around would be arriving for supper. I wish I had had the camera on me. Mike came along, "Into bed, " and our original duck dutifully went into the duck house. Smoky Robinson, new duck, discovered the pond. Mike went in after it, thinking easy peasy I can get it while its stuck in the pond, but its bigger than Jemima and just leapt out and off round the courtyard, followed by Mike. After a few turns he finally cornered it and grabbed it and into bed he went. Smoky Robinson that is.
He is called Smoky Robinson as he is the most beautiful, shade of grey on his body. His neck shows possible mallard ancestry and his posture shows runner duck in his ancestry.
So that is the whole day spent on ducks.

The road to Greenbrae.

You can just make out our roof on the right hand side, covered in snow, with trees on either side.
The picture was taken on Christmas Eve.
Today the snow has begun to melt and temperatures were, for a while, above freezing.
Our friends finally made it, bearing gifts. Not the same somehow, is it, after Christmas. But all very welcome. And we handed over ours.
Christmas cake, made by moi, with Wensleydale cheese. Pecan Pie, made by Mike and lots of little cakes made by Emily, and iced by Zachary.
They are all off tomorrow.
I might just do nothing and savour the quiet!
But far more likely will be loading up the washing machine, stripping the beds and sweeping up all the silver stars.

Wot I did on Christmas Day.

I set the table!

Amy not getting the cracker joke.

Granddad and Zach doing a puzzle. The latter far better at it.

This afternoon I shut myself away and wallowed in my dvd of Downton Abbey.

Just waiting for someone else to cook the tea and set the table.

Job done.

Thats it then - for another year!

Before the opening ceremony. (T.V. is on as the dvd player is playing The Messiah, one of our Christmas Traditions. - Not particularly religious, just love good music.)

The last present to be opened. Having worked with children for many years, and had a few of my own, I sort of knew that once this was opened that would be it. And indeed he even wanted it in the cot with him!

Probably my best Christmas present was that Emily, daughter number 2, cooked and prepared the whole Christmas dinner. Goose and the vegetarian option, starter and three desserts. All I had to do was open the wine. Something I am quite adept at. Surprising art for someone brought up as Methodist. I blame it on being a rebel and being forced to sign THE PLEDGE at the age of eight.

Now late afternoon and at least two people have crashed out. Our grandson lasted right up till the last present, had to be peeled off the car and took off for a nap. So he now has his second wind.

I have done really well this year, didnt start on the sherry till 10.45. shared a bottle of wine with Mike, when sharing bottles of wine does not come within my understanding, and am still upright, although ready for more - in a bit.

Got lots of lovely presents - though there's always one isn't there, where you think, what the hell is this? Do these people know me? Do they care? And the New Year's Resolution begins to form in your mind...............

A White Christmas.

Amy, Zachary and Jonathon build a snowman. Apparently this is not the right sort of snow for building with. Well, that was the excuse for him being so small!

There is enough of it. We have had a lot more snow since I last wrote here. And it continues. Heavy snow showers early afternoon today, and more promised up till Boxing Day. Mike had to drive to Aberdeen yesterday to collect the above three. But once down our road the roads were okay. Or, as they say, passable with care.

Sensible Grandma back in the warm. Zach and I made the playdough yesterday. And had a lot of fun washing up afterwards. Today we tested the playdough. And again, had a lot more fun washing up afterwards.

Aunty Emily arrived in the afternoon. Another journey for Mike into Aberdeen.

I should say here that there was no delay on the trains today, just a small delay yesterday. All this doom and gloom at Heathrow and Eurostar, how come we cope in Scotland and have far more snow and lower temperatures?

Although less than half the family here the house seems full to bursting! So I am having time out just now before re-entering the fray.

Our friends, who normally spend Christmas Eve with us have chickened out. So we have rather a lot of savoury snacks, sausage rolls and mini pizzas, Christmas cake, chocolates and cheese etc.etc. to wade through this evening.

But then, there's more booze for us also!

A Happy Christmas to you all.

It is beautiful isn't it.

All the trees are totally frozen. Or should I say the snow on the trees is totally frozen. We were minus 17 this morning and had to, yet again, defrost the outlet pipe for the washing machine and utility sink. But really lovely to look at. Sunshine all day with swathes of fog, magical vistas.
The heating is going full tilt so when you do go outside it takes your breath away. Literally in my case. Had to use the emergency inhaler once in to Peterhead.
Yes I finally made it out in my own car, not a four wheel drive, and it behaved impeccably. I am still amazed that this car starts every time no matter what the weather. It defrosts the windscreen in minutes. It also has a brilliant cd player so I have Il Divo full blast.
So I went into Peterhead to the sorting office. Produced my i.d. my driving licence, which does not look anything like me at all any more, but the bloke didnt even look at it. He then disappeared out the back and then handed me a few envelopes. "What, no parcels?" I said. "Oh" he said, disappeared again and came back with THREE parcels. Doh.
So I think no-one needs to panic anymore we are all parcelled up.
I found that Peterhead was far worse than even our village. We have the digger dumping snow into the back of a lorry and being carted off. We have snow ploughs. Peterhead was appalling. Anyone in a wheel chair, or with a push chair would have had no chance. Even I struggled as there were no footpaths cleared or steps. I staggered into Argos and that was where I had a couple of puffs on the emergency inhaler. Hurtled round New Look, what a load of expensive crap. Dorothy Perkins, in desperation bought two jumpers and two t shirts. Then drove into Asda, queues out the door, so left. Into the village round the digger, to the village shop, bought two bottles of wine and came home.
Tonight is a night off, last night was paying guests, tomorrow is non paying guests. Far more demanding.
Now then - back to business. I had a phone call this morning from a company wanting rooms for workers from the 1st February to the 31st March. They have to get accommodation for 100 workers. This is not going to happen! But for us that would be all three rooms, six workers, for two months. So as my current two chaps on a vastly discounted rate are returning in January and their company are not keeping up with the payments - I have a rather wide smile on my face.

Sun rise - and freezing fog.

Got up to minus 10 today. The freezing fog cleared and we had a bright sunny day. But so cold.
The outlet pipe from the utility froze and all the water draining out of the washing machine, filled the sink and then flooded the floor. What fun.
I had so many layers of clothing on I found it difficult to move freely!
Didn't do very much other than what I had to. Cleaning guest rooms and making beds. The two chaps are off home tomorrow. It must be difficult to dig drains in this weather.
Tomorrow I shall be preparing the rooms for family visiting for Christmas. Just hope they get here. Though in Scotland we do seem to cope better than in England. Despite us having far more snow our trains and even airports are functioning.
The digger and the lorries are back in the village, digging up the snow and carting it away.
No postal delivery today, not even from our neighbour across the road. I shall probably leave it till Friday and then see if I can collect what is sitting in the sorting office in Peterhead. Most of my grandson's presents are coming here by mail from my daughter, his Mum, and obviously she is stressing about it.
We keep finding frozen bird corpses. In fact we could have made a pigeon pie, but one is never sure that they haven't just died of old age. Survival of the fittest and all that and, of course, the dead ones might be a bit tough....

Sometimes it's fun - other times.....

Sith, our beast of Buchan, who is a very large cat, up to his hocks. He goes out waits patiently near one of the bird tables and sure enough out comes a mouse. If only he wouldn't insist on giving me first taste. And he still hasnt worked out that if the offering has fur he gets praised, if it has feathers he gets shouted at.
It snowed all night. This was the scene which greeted us this morning.

The rear of the house.

It carried on snowing till about 11a.m. when we decided to have a trip out together. Wow.

Mike had spent most of the time before this digging us out.

So off we went. Into Peterhead and Morrisons. Which was surprisingly empty of customers. Apart from my friend Albert and his wife. Albert is not a new man, and was leaning on the trolley, while Laura, his wife was zooming around dropping arm fulls of veg and fruit into it. We discussed the fact that neither of us made it into Aberdeen last week, to sell raffle tickets, which made me feel a lot better. And bemoaned the fact that we hadnt had any post.

Its funny isnt it when you meet someone in the supermarket and its, "Well have a lovely Christmas, see you in the New Year." and then you meet up again by the meat, then the milk, then the booze and everyone gets really embarrassed as their trolley groans under the weight of all the bottles!

We decided to have lunch at Morrisons, there named and shamed. I dont think I have ever tasted anything so disgusting. And sorry to say I longed for a Macdonalds. In fact, if we get out again, thats where we are heading.

Coming home was a real adventure. As we got onto our road I said, "I cant see the road." Mike said, "Just follow the telegraph poles, keep them on your right though!"

He then spent the rest of the daylight digging out the snow that had fallen while we were away, and the drive, so our paying guests could get in. They come from Glasgow and said they had no problem till they got here...............

But we finally had a mail delivery, courtesy of Jane across the road.

Unfortunately no cheque from our paying guests company.

Might just be naming and shaming them soon.

Like a caged bird...

Phoebe, my feathered daughter. Now twelve. We got her when she was three months old. She has ruled our lives ever since. We didnt know whether she was male or female, but just assumed she was a she. Proved right last year when she began laying eggs. Yes, she does talk. Does a good imitation of the fire alarm, my cough, and a manic laugh.
We have to make sure we tell guests we have a parrot, otherwise they might think part of the house is an insane asylum, well it is, but then..
I apologise to my readers about the snow report. But, when you live in the wilds as we do it does have a strong impact on one's life.
Watching the oil level go down is not exactly the high spot of the day either! Rumours of shortages and high prices don't help. I am trying to work out if we have the heating on as much as we are at the moment, will it last through Christmas? We would survive as we have an open fire, plenty logs, and electric heaters. Electric showers and a dishwasher. So long as there isn't a power cut.
I decided after lunch today that I was going out. Took Mikes 4 wheel Subaru and got to the village shop. Watching other cars slithering about I realised that though I might get to Peterhead safely the way some of these idiots were driving and the state of the roads my safety was not in my hands. So I went and had a chat to Jennifer in the shop. Some of her shelves were empty, and I know she is a manic shelf filler upper, so asked if the weather was doing her business a good turn. Now I wont use some of her descriptive language as this blog might get removed by the adult content police. However her reply was basically that she has seen people she has never seen before, from the new estate, who have just hoovered up everything and anything. So far she has had few problems with deliveries. But she does gear herself up to supply her regular clientele who dont have cars and/or are loyal customers. She also told me that as the shelves were emptied by these incomers (my polite version) she did not re-stock the shelves. The stuff was all there in the back ready and waiting! And as she shot off - to the back - and returned clutching my favourite bottle of red, what else was I to do? Buy it of course. And then chug home again.
I passed the postie on the way and stopped to ask if there was anything for us. "Oh, yes! And a parcel. But I havent got it on the van as your road is impassable, perhaps tomorrow."
As it has only stopped snowing for about half an hour here and there, I doubt tomorrow will be any different.
BUT here is where country life really makes itself felt. Mike walks the mile there and back down to get the paper every day and today asked our neighbour across the road if he wanted anything. Our neighbour lives in the 'farm' opposite, like us, no longer a working farm, and he is the Fire Safety Officer for Aberdeenshire. In fact he does our fire inspection for us being a b&b. But his mode of transport is an 'ordinary' front wheel drive, low in the body, so gets grounded in the snow. He is 'working from home', not sure how you inspect places for fire safety 'from home'. Anyway Mike fetched him a paper. Now (confusingly) Mike, across the road, is married to Jane who works in the sorting office in Peterhead. So - in return for us fetching the paper, she is going to bring our mail tomorrow, IF she gets into Peterhead. So, there you go. Well you would if it wasn't snowing.

A Christmas Long Time Ago.(no snow.)

I guess at this time of year, more than others, one's mind goes backwards. Then again it could be early signs of Altzheimers.
The blonde on the left with fag sticking out of her cheek is moi. Next to me daughter number two and the blonde with her back to the camera daughter number three. The other small body is, I think, one of my nieces. And the whirlwind in the back is my, long gone, Mother in law.
Don't we look to be having fun! It was always my job to entertain the small people when we visited the in laws. We had four, my sister in law then had 2 and my other sister in law had three. The picture is from a video that goes on and on for hours with this peculiarly strong Yorkshire accent telling them all what to do, and far too often - singing. I dont do that any more.
Daughter number three is 26 tomorrow. She just had a week being the same age as daughter number four, but we draw a veil over that one! Well, my excuse was I was a late starter and couldn't stop.
No pictures of snow, but there has to be a mention.
First time ever since we came to live here our road has had stuck cars on it.
The farmer used to be paid by the local authority to clear it, and he did our drive as well. No longer.
We have had a snow plough, but the driver is not au fait with the quirks of the road. Like there are two deep dips. So he has gone merrily along taking the top few inches off not realising that there are those two parts where the road dips and is therefore very deep in snow. So a constant sequence of vehicles getting stuck. People from round about have all come out and dug them out, but just before it got dark there was another one. This one must have phoned a friend as the next thing, as everyone was coming out with their shovels, a JCB with shovel attachment appeared and moved quite a lot of snow off the road. Three cheers.
The temperature reached a high of minus 6. It has continued to snow during the day. No post, though we saw the van go past (?) And I really am becoming stir crazy now.

It is one of my friend's wedding anniversary today. She and her husband are setting off for their celebratory meal in wellies and shovels at the ready. Let us raise a glass to them. Any excuse.

Today it snowed.

and snowed. Picture above taken this morning. This is called a white out when you cannot see anything, in this case a field and the village half a mile away.
This next picture is taken this afternoon, just after Mike had set off walking to the village to post some cards. It wasn't snowing when he left, a brief, very brief as it turned out, respite. He returned looking like a snowman.

Our paying guests left this morning. I have been busy stripping beds, washing, and ironing. Our third guest room I have set up with twin beds for their stay next week. Currently they each have a room. But on Thursday part of the family are arriving. Daughter and partner in one room, and grandson next door. So our chaps are sharing a room for their last night's stay with us next week. Still having a room each till then. So mounds of ironing. Cleaning. Setting up. Also gave my bed sit /our bedroom a good clean. Presents piling up in there, all wrapped.

Still racking my brains as to what I have forgotten. I really have never been this organised. Even remembered to give the Christmas cake its weekly glug of brandy.

No postal delivery today, nor yesterday. Daughters who have ordered stuff to be delivered here now in a state of panic.

I was supposed to be driving to Aberdeen today to sell raffle tickets for the Rotary. As the day has gone on I am more than glad/relieved that I said I was not going. I hate to let people down, but it's not worth risking life and limb for. My shift was for 1p.m. till 6p.m. So I would have the rush hour home to contend with as well, in the dark. Whoooo, doesnt bear thinking about. Last night Aberdeen was gridlocked at rush hour time. As there's been loads more snow, and below freezing temperatures all day, I can't see there will have been an improvement.

I have decided that next year we will have our celebrations in June. Midsummers Eve, which is also our wedding anniversary. Instead of Father Christmas we will have Oberon, and Titania can get on top of one of the fir trees, fairy lights everywhere, fancy dress (I still have my wedding dress!) Magic. And no-one needs to worry about getting here. So far it hasn't snowed in June. Though there might be floods - or pestilence - or plague. I think I'd better think it out again.

It did exactly what is said on the tin ( ok -the news!)

Strong Northerly wind bringing ice. This isnt snow, it is ice. It hurts. Blizzard of this stuff one after another, and still going. (4.4.5p.m.) All as forecast. It is supposed to turn into snow overnight.

We took the three cats to the vets this afternoon for their annual jabs and check up. On the news last night it also said that no way were the Scottish roads to be in the same state as last week. Well, today, not one road had been gritted and that includes the main road to Aberdeen.

My theory is that all the gritters in Scotland have all been sent to the motorway pictured on all the news where people were stuck and had to stay in their cars for hours. Just so the new Minister of Transport doesnt look like an eejit.
Meanwhile the rest of us in Scotland slide and slip, risking life and limb. What is coming down from the skies is drifting in the strong wind.

And no, we didnt get any post today, despite emails promising delivery today of this that and t'other.

I am supposed to be going to Aberdeen tomorrow to stand in one of the shopping malls selling raffle tickets for Rotary. Somehow I dont think that is going to happen.

No surprises!

How is that for an orchid! Now in its second month of flowering, and I do mean this particular bloom. The pot it is in is the same size as a potty - just to give you the idea of the size of the bloom. The plant itself is more or less ignored, seems to work!
I put this as my picture of the day as you can guess what the next one will be. A severe weather warning for the next few days. I keep glancing out of the window waiting for it to start. We still have mounds of snow that hasn't gone away. The weather at the moment is so gloomy - its as if everything is just waiting.......
Parcels are beginning to arrive. Don't people wrap stuff anymore? I have just spent a good hour wrapping and labelling presents from other people! No surprises there then.
And the other event that was not a surprise. Our couple from Ukraine have just discovered they have sent me a cheque for over £6000! Would I mind sending the difference to their travel agent, once the cheque has cleared of course.
Well, if I get the cheque, I will be phoning the fraud squad or whoever.
So a day of no surprises.

I'm a little bit worried....

as to what exactly I have forgotten.
I seem to be so well organised this year and this is a first. It has taken me over 60 years, admittedly, but I cannot think of anything I haven't done.
Parcels sent, cards sent, all decorations up, all shopping done, apart from fresh stuff. And still 10 days to go.
One worry is that I haven't received any parcels. But as the internet sellers seem to have written off Scotland totally I am not alone. I tried to order a box of wine only to be informed that deliveries to Scotland could not be guaranteed for Christmas. This was two weeks ago. Three day delivery for anywhere else in the U.K.
Have we suddenly been surrounded by a new ocean? Has Hadrian's wall become a moat? Or manned, yet again, by the Romans? What is going on?
All the daughters have sent their gifts to us (presumably to wrap as well!) none received. I have sent off for stuff - nothing in the post but a load of junk mail and the odd Christmas card.
And another ton of snow set to be dumped on us from tomorrow night and continuing up to Christmas.
Wish I still believed in that chap on the sleigh.
On a more mundane note. We received an enquiry from a couple in Ukraine, wanting a week in January. Well a week in January in North East Scotland does throw up a few alarm bells. However I replied with terms. They want to pay by cheque in the currency of this country. Right. At this point I emailed around to see if anyone else had had this couple make enquiries, and sure enough quite a few had. So far they intend to stay at at least three of our establishments on the same date. I am now awaiting the cheque which I expect will be for far more than the price I quoted and they will then email me to say an error has occurred, once the cheque has cleared would I please refund them the balance. And of course if I did, as soon as I did, their cheque would still bounce. So - I remain, yours in anticipation!

Where is Noah?

Along with the snow melting, and the welcome higher temperatures, we have this 'orrid blustery wind. Poor birds. Frozen for weeks, now they can't get a grip on the bird feeders. Although the fact they are mostly horizontal means all the seed has spilt onto the floor, so they can get it from there.
We are a bit worried about our two hens, we havent seen them for three days now. One I could see turning up its toes, but not both of them. Hopefully, they are sheltering at our neighbours. Now the snow has gone they have plenty to feast on. Fingers crossed they are just at a worm orgy.
Our postie, who we have not seen for three days either, made it up the drive today. Among the junk was the payment from the construction company for their workmen staying here. So I will not be demonstrating just yet, praps as well given the wind, my placard would have blown away.
Ironing bedding all morning, Christmas card writing in the afternoon. Think they are all done. Although once the last posting day has gone I find that's when I get the cards from the people I have forgotten....I wish they would post early.

Tonight - the sunset.

Well actually this was about 3.30p.m. Red sky at night - just.

The two above are showing the melting snow, and the tracks of the tractors from some weeks ago. So as to show you that the snow is melting. As you couldnt see any tracks due to the snow fall the last two weeks..

Our road, at the end of our drive, which we use to go into the village and then onwards, is still a sheet of ice, very bumpy sheet of ice, and the snow melting is flowing down it.

To drive on this road is something they do not teach you on a driving lesson. However, you learn, second gear, no revving, not a foot on any pedal, just steer. With any luck you make the village and the treated road having not slid into the field from which there is no return.

Once there, in the village, you pray that no-one is coming from the opposite direction as the options are, steer into the pile of snow at the side of the road where you will remain till next March, or make them do the same on the other side of the road. If its a 4x4 coming towards you, even if its a yummy mummy driving it which is usual round here, go for it.

Once on the main road, remember where 5th gear is. Wow - a few weeks since you used that one!

Then its all pretty straight forward. On to Peterhead. Where they have had very little snow and still find it hilarious that you have snow on your car roof.

So a bit of retail therapy. And a tour round the charity shops.

There was a bit of an unpleasant side to today. I discovered that our local construction company who have been lodging their workers with us for some weeks now, and paying promptly, now owe us two weeks. As we are already giving them a discounted rate I am not amused. I have asked that they do a BACS payment (straight into bank account rather than a cheque) be made and there has been an ominous silence. This could be down to a local inefficiency of the accounts department. Could be down to a lot of things. However - this grumpy old woman is NOT going to stand for it.

Indeed, icy, slippy roads or not, I may be making my own personal demonstration across their entrance with placards.....watch this space.

So near, and yet, so far.

The temperature is now above freezing and all the roofs are dripping. Later in the day we had rain. So the snow is going but on our road, underneath that snow, is still solid ice. The main roads are fine.

I went to the next village, in the afternoon. Chemist, Garden centre and Post Office. That was the plan. First I had to negotiate a calf deep puddle outside the chemist. At the garden centre there were so many builders vans there was nowhere to park within walking distance (for me). Presumably their roof was threatening to cave in, or sprung leaks with the thaw. So off to the post office. Succesfully posted off a couple more parcels then asked for 30 second class Christmas stamps. Not a second class stamp to be had with or without pictures. As I hadnt got into the garden centre to buy the cards I wanted I wasnt too fussed.
On the way home driving up our road, sliding, got stuck getting up the drive, what a waste of time!
Hoping for better tomorrow ......

No slipping and sliding today.

There is a road there somewhere.

One of these icicles is 4 feet long. This corner of the house catches the sun first thing, after that its back to freezing, hence the icicles.

Snowed in the night and blizzards all morning. Watched a very large lorry, carrying animal feed, slalom down our road, which is only wide enough for one lorry, so that was quite exciting to watch. So as any of my journeys were not completely necessary I didnt go anywhere.

Got all my chores done. Wrote some Christmas cards. Realised I haven't got enough.

Did my round robin effort, this to those who always do me one. Theirs is usually how well they and theirs have done in the year which makes you want to vomit, or alternatively there are the doom and gloom merchants - who has died, who has the most awful illness (in graphic detail), who isnt expected to live the year out and so on.

Mine is usually headed by the best photo I can find. The words consist of, "Still here, still for sale. All well."

Which I suppose I could write in the card, some of my friends and family I do limit it to that. But I do enjoy the excuse of sending a photo of me looking glamorous and beaming, well sending it to some people I do!

Then I wrapped up parcels. Why do I always get backache packing parcels? I have learnt over the years just to do a few at a time. Is it wrestling with the sellotape, which usually takes the top layers of my lips off? Finding the piece of paper I measured and cut has shrunk? It doesnt matter how hard I try my presents always look like something the cat dragged in and I am put to shame by the beautifully wrapped and presented gifts I receive. At least no-one hesitates to open mine whereas the beautifully wrapped ones one feels one should never touch let alone tear the paper. And very often what's inside you find should probably have been better left wrapped. Aren't I awful.

When ? Is it going to stop?

This picture was taken at 9.30p.m. Temperature has never got above freezing since it all started.
Those poor people stuck in it in their cars for hours.... I couldn't last an hour without needing the loo, what does one do? Along with the shovel you pack a funnel and an empty plastic bottle? Good idea, must remember that next time I journey to the post office.
Only found out today that when they put salt on the road it dosnt work if the temperature is below -10. Thats why we are all sliding all over the place.
One couldn't really say we were snowed in, as the snow has been moved by Mike and the snow plough, but that leaves the surface of ice. No car journey at the moment is without its sideways slide, or slalom, wish I knew the correct terms for all these, but I always found skiing/skating programmes totally boring.(Apart from the Bolero thingy) Fortunately I do remember my Dad's advice on driving in the snow, "drive into the skid," problem is you end up facing the way you have come from.
I also have a memory from many years back at braking on seeing a dog amble across the road in front of me, car went into a skid, I drove into it, hit a car parked at the side of the road and watched a huge shower of newspaper go up and cascade down. Them were the days, "Bit of fibreglass and newspaper, good as new." The owner of the car did not want to take the matter further! "Just done it up, no problem, soon fix it."
Still the snow comes down, and freezes, you actually need a pick axe to move it now. Mike bought one of the snow shovels, the large plastic ones. What a waste of money! Might use it as a fan in the summer.

Fed up of the cold.

Picture courtesy of the RSPB.

At least I can be inside!

Our local authority is going round the village scooping up the snow and putting it in the back of lorries and they then are taking it away. Where to? The mind boggles. The ski slopes have plenty. We have plenty. So where is it going to? So today as I went to the next village for the post office I had to wait while this lorry was filled with snow before proceeding. So, yes, road blocked by snow!

Started posting off parcels. I have three quite large ones, so just took one of them today. All I could carry. Another one tomorrow, weather permitting, then the last big one. Then down to smaller ones, yet to be wrapped. Still haven't done the cards. Changing beds and cleaning rooms took up most of the day.

A friend of mine talked about tweaking her Christmas tree. Ours went up on Saturday, since then we have spent some considerable time trying to make the damn thing straight. We get it straight. It is stood in a special holder and bolts screw into the trunk - so how does it manage to move at all? This all happened since the fairy went up......Now that fairy is as old as me. Each year we give her a new crown, this year she has a tartan cummerbund, perhaps she doesnt like that? Whatever, come back into the sitting room and there she is pointing at the floor.

I think she has become - like me - a grumpy old woman.

That's better.

Christmas tree - done. And banister.

I have told Mike that next year he must stop me from buying any more decorations. I actually have enough left to do another tree! Of course there is always the hope we will be in different surroundings by next Christmas, yes, I know I said that last year.

We have had more snow today. Not a lot, but there is more threatened. Some of the roof snow was melting and as the ice had brought down a gutter we have had some leaks into the office. Bucket in place. Mike is fighting a cold but even so, had there not been more snow, was going to go outside to fix the gutter. All he has managed to do is feed the birds, ducks and hens at least twice, and then dosed himself and stayed warm.

Apart from finishing off the decorations (possibly!) I did some more ironing. Tomorrow, weather permitting, our paying guests are back so I have two rooms to change and set up.

Because of that I still don't feel particularly Christmassy! Surrounded by bags of cards to write, presents to wrap, lists of more to buy, as always its become more of a chore. Vying with the lists of work to do for guests.

So in the meantime, I am sitting in the warm. Looking out onto the cold, cold snow. Ah but theres a star!

Whooooo.

More snow.

Did some ironing of the bedding this morning. Nothing new there then.

Then we went for the Christmas Tree. Up to Auchtydonald, or Berryfields Farm Shop as it is now called. Its where most of the year there are strawberry and raspberry plants growing in poly tunnels, remember my photograph, Strawberry Fields Forever? There is also a farm shop there now, where you can buy frozen raspberries and strawberries so you can carry on jam making throughout the year. So we got some of them as well. The trees used to be from the farm, some of them still are, but the taller ones have had to be imported as the farmer went a bit mad with his own and is now having to wait for a few more to get bigger. The trees were in a barn at the back, we then had to return to the shop to pay. I got stuck on the incline up to the shop car park and after a few goes managed it - to a round of applause. Why do some men think women can't drive?



Here is Santa and one of his reindeer. Halfway up the first corridor.

Sith not impressed with his new mates on the boiler cupboard in the entrance hall.

And a half dressed Christmas Tree.

Part of the banister. Also unfinished. It will have some tinsel type stuff wrapped round as well.

But you get the idea.

Whilst decorating the tree the snow came down again. Before that it had been rain which, landing on the ground, instantly turned to ice, so I was glad we didnt have to go out again.

Then it turned into proper snow.

No excuse or escape for me - I will have to carry on with ironing.

Far away Family.

My grandson Zach showing me where his cheeks are! Via Skype. He also said, "Grandma" for the first time. Which doubled the pile of presents for him under the tree in an instant!

22 days to go. As I had been indoors for two days I decided this morning to go out. Our nearest supermarket is ASDA. Quite a small one. So that is where I headed. First I had to be dug out, well hacked out more like. The snow is now solid ice. We were minus 15 at 9a.m. this morning with the sun up. I reversed okay but when I tried to then turn and head off down the drive I got wedged. Mike came and did the necessary (with a fair bit of shouting - not that way!) Off I tootled. Down the road which was white all over, into the village, and onto the main road, which was almost the same. Where was the plough? The gritter? Stuck somewhere, or busier elsewhere...At a sedate pace I made it to ASDA. If they can clear their car park and walkways why can't the council? It was like being in the desert and coming across an Oasis!

Spent quite a while in the supermarket looking for costly gifts, came back with a few, and some wine....

Mike spent the afternoon hacking away at the ice/snow so I dont get stuck again, nor does anyone else. Havent seen the postie today. But tomorrow we go and get the Christmas Tree. It has to be my car as Mike's has a flat tyre, that being the four wheel drive too, but after hacking away at the drive in sub zero temperatures he does not want to get out the foot pump.

In the afternoon I again Skyped this time my daughter Polly in Lincoln. She has a bad cold and throat and cough probably not helped by a 5 hour journey to get home Wednesday night for a 9 mile journey. Also the Christmas Market in Lincoln has been cancelled. First time in the 25 years it has been going. The local shopkeepers make more during that market than the whole of the year, my heart goes out to them. Yes the snow is pretty but what damage it can do.

We have been lucky that our two guests only missed one night here. Due back next week and right up till Christmas. Which means I can afford to go to ASDA again!

The Last Supper!

Taken at 3.45p.m. today, a wee blue tit stocks up for the night.

Snow report. More of the same for most of the day. Probably two foot of it now.

We had the snow plough this afternoon. What good it did - not a lot - it goes so fast. Big tractor with a pointed plough effort on the front. Went up then down, the few of us who live on this road and dont just use it as a short cut then had to go down to the bottom of our drives and remove the snow that the plough has cast to it's side......so we can get out and use the road. Hooray.

Mike walked the half mile to the village to get the paper. I cleaned and placed my decs aroond and aboot. These are the Santas, snowmen and reindeer which are about 18 inches tall. I will do a picture when I have decided they are to stay where I have positioned them. Hopefully we will get the tree this Saturday and the rest of the stuff out. I usually decorate our stairs as it has a lovely banister.

Do I sound organised and calm? Well I am not. I havent done the cards, havent got anywhere with buying of costly gifts. Just considering whether to panic now or later.