Merry Christmas All!

A lovely start to the day snuggling with Juno followed by a walk to survey the floodwaters. The fields she’d usually run around in were under around a foot of water. I’d found some new wellies that I must have bought and forgotten about. After half an hour they’d rubbed my ankles raw so I limped home to put the goose in the oven while the boys went on to tire out the pup.

The neighbours spilled out in the street at midday with Prosecco and mulled wine. Then we went into full Christmas lunch mode preparing nine accompaniments to the goose which were absolutely delicious. It was our Venezuelan Lodger’s first taste of a British Christmas. Afterwards we all slumped in front of the TV in a ‘food coma’ watching Little Women.

In between all this we opened thoughtful and exciting presents and for the first time EVER the boys rated books as their top presents. Tom got a huge volume on architect Zaha Hadid from Josh and one on Mies van der Rohe. Josh got a copy of the famous interview of Alfred Hitchcock by Truffaut, and a lovely glossy hardback of Truffaut’s work. There may have been some chocolate too.

Later I went out with the pup to get some air and belatedly post some Christmas cards. We missed having Beewriter with us. Tonight we move into Tier 4. Tomorrow a storm hits and the flood waters will rise. I won’t be sorry to say goodbye to 2020 ... but looking at the bigger picture we have been hugely fortunate and have many blessings to count.