Christmas lights, 7:30 a.m.

Somewhat more impressive than our home-made version. But fleeting: in the 30 seconds it took me to dash downstairs, get the camera, and run back upstairs again, it had already diminished by half. One release of the shutter, and they were gone altogether.

I had a slobbing out kind of day today. Made some bread, read Slightly Foxed (gift subscription) by the fire. A cosy early evening aperitif significantly enhanced by a) fizz (left over from yesterday!), b) foie gras on sourdough toast, c) Oscar Petersen, Sarah Vaughan, and Betty Carter. Coming up: very superior leftovers for dinner.