Bee on mahonia

Despite the howling wind bees were out foraging on the mahonia in Mote Park. No rain just severe gales that blew you to a standstill or blasted you over from the side. Fallen leaves racing each other across the grass and piling up in drifts along walls, fences and steps.

We had planned to visit Leeds Castle this morning to see the Nutcracker exhibition in the castle rooms. When we arrived a notice at the gate said the castle and grounds were closed due to the high winds and tonight’s lights spectacular cancelled too.

We can go tomorrow, which promises to be a better day although the Nutcracker scenes only have actors in place at the weekend. Our annual ticket runs out next Friday and we don’t want to buy another given our plans for next year.

Instead, we walked around Mote Park, again. We mustn’t be blasé about the park as it really is Maidstone’s jewel and were fortunate to have it on our doorstep.

While Susan work on her Christmas card in her studio I was busy inside peeling onions for pickling, replacing an electric clock mechanism, doing the menus and shopping for next week and preparing dinner.

It’s still a wild night out there, rain is now spattering against the window. Hope all of you are safe and secure