The red coat……..

…….and me, out and about buying the last few Christmas gifts yesterday in Birmingham. It’s kept me warm and toasty when needed through the past 7 years.
It was surprisingly a lot quieter than we imagined as we walked from Grand Central to the main shopping areas.
We had a nice lunch in M&S. Their coffee is also very good!
Later I was chatting to a lady in Waterstone’s book store and we both mentioned we’d found it very quiet out and about around the stores.
She said it felt eerie!
We were very pleased however as there were no long queues at tills, and plenty of space to browse.
Mission finally accomplished we made our way back to the train station.
There’s now a pile on the dining table still to wrap ready for our three day trip up
North tomorrow. 2 nights in Grassington seeing Stephen’s brother and his wife, plus his cousin Jean who also has lived in the village almost all her life.Her daughter and family live nearby.
On Sunday we drive over to Knaresborough for a family reunion with my sister and hubby, and their two sons who will be there with their families. Jonathan, the younger of the two, is over from Sydney till the New Year visiting with his partner and 8 month old baby girl. After Christmas they will be back visiting his partner, Rachel’s family near London.
We then drive back later that day.
It was -4C first thing this morning and the moon was full in the sky hanging just above the frosty roofs across the back gardens, in a clear icy blue sky which dissolved into a beautiful orangey pink on the horizon.
I just gazed at it for awhile enjoying the loveliness before it slipped out of sight.
I will be sparse with comments after today, being in transit, but I will drop in whenever there’s an opportunity.
A beautiful gift of flowers for me with a vase arrived yesterday afternoon after we arrived home. (thankfully) sent by our former daughter-in-law in Dallas. (The usefulness of the internet!)
We spoke with her later on.
And there was a lovely surprise of homemade Christmas biscuits left by the wheelie bins in a pretty Christmas bag, from one of our friends. (We had a Christmas card through the door with a message written on the envelope to let us know they were there).
We’ll post the last of the cards (only a few now) in hopes they’ll arrive before Christmas! There’s a rolling programme from tomorrow of Post Office strikes.