To Escape ... or not?

I don't sleep well when I'm too hot. Another night of waking around 4am and wondering if it was time to get up ... and then not getting up for ages after my tea arrived. It was that Italian in my bed again ...

And then Pilates. I had some new leggings - bought, fortuitously, in the nonsense of price reductions known as Black Friday - in a different colour scheme from the black, orange and red of my usual pair. The company claimed they're an improved design, though I found they had a tendency to slip down in moments of exertion. And they had jaggy labels (now removed). In a reversal of the usual pupil/teacher Christmas end of term custom, our lovely teacher gave us all little gifts - we were all very touched.

The weather had deteriorated to wind and rain when I emerged, so it didn't feel too awful to watch a bit of afternoon telly. I'm glad I don't do this often - the only reason today was that our former Rectory was featured on BBC1's Escape to the Country. Three were two other Argyll properties given rather more time before we arrived at the rectory, though they spent a disproportionate time on the West Bay with the house-buyer picking up what looked like carefully-planted bits of rubbish on a pretty spotless beach. In the bit I was watching when I took the rather dreadful photo above, the presenter and the prospective buyer are approaching the house while talking about the midges and exclaiming at how big it is (the woman had previously thought the houses on show were a tad small). The presenter told my story about the bishop's bedroom in the basement ... but I tell it a lot better. 'Nuff said - except to reiterate that afternoon telly doesn't float my boat. In fact, all that vapid dialogue sinks it comprehensively.

After that we went out briefly in the wind and rain to look for random objects (a watch battery, some spare Christmas cards) and post some letters. Half the shops in the main street were already shut. It was 4.30pm and dark. We scuttled back up the hill home. 

And that was the day, really. The tension headache came and went, though I finally relaxed after dinner (except for watching the last episode of The Mirror and the Light, where Cromwell meets his end.) In the next few days I have to put up a Christmas tree, ice the cake and wrap a load of presents. Anything else?

And maybe, when it's all done, I can get back to visiting other blips - I've been a very poor blipfriend these last few weeks.