Horizontal snow

Brrrr... it turned cold and it wasn't particularly inviting out there, but Fred needed to collect some cone spanners from Halfords, so off we trotted, wearing many layers, over Brockwell Park to Brixton. The wind wasn't so much in our faces on the return journey, so that was more pleasant. The snow was clinging to the sides of trees, fences, hedges, buildings, and leaves. It's too wet to lie properly.

It's Rory's birthday today. We planned a video chat with party food reminiscent of Granny Brown's Sunday tea: white bread sandwich fingers with fillings of cheese and tomato and cheese and apple. I should have had egg and cress, too, but cress isn't in abundance in West Norwood. I also made Granny Brown's cake for the first time – it's very light and has to be eaten in a day (!) because it doesn't keep well. Needs must. Fred ate half the cake in almost one go. Before the cake was decimated, I took a picture with Rory and his Mickey and Minnie buddies (see extra).

We played guess that tune in 10 seconds and Rory is incredibly fast, guessing most of them in half that time. His powers of recall are really something.

Happy Birthday, Rory! Hopefully next year we'll be there in person. 

Strange to think that this time last year Rory wasn't feeling well – a sore throat and a cough. He ended up in hospital on oxygen when he very suddenly became really ill. Knowing what we know now, we do wonder...

We went to the virtual cinema (pressing "play" on the computer at the same time) with a friend to see Ratcatcher – brutal, but wonderfully acted. This one will stick with me.