Christmas Day.

[Parsons Jack]

I hope Sally is OK Peter. It's always a worry when they eat everything they find isn't it.

Had a nice time yesterday. I supplied all the veg for the Christmas dinner. Potatoes, Leeks, Parsnips, Carrots, Sprouts, Brussel tops, and Celeriac.

Went for a walk in Ruskin Park and watched the ring necked parakeets squabbling amongst themselves in the trees.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear MW, I'm just about to tuck into a full breakfast.
And just starting to have thoughts about luncheon....

[Primrose]

Traditional Boxing Day breakfast here. - toast with cold bird, savoury stuffing and yesterday's leftover pigs in blankets. Funny how sometimes the simple leftovers are as enjoyable as the man meal. My system is badly in need of a brisk constitutional walk.

But I saw something which saddened and annoyed me yesterday - somebody In church checking their texts and emails in the middle of a communion service and I couldn't help reflecting what a strange world we live in where some people have no respect or good manners left for traditional values or customs.,

[peter]

One subdued little dog back home after vets breakfast which has probably pushed the last bit of apple through.

[retropants]

So glad to hear Sally is back home now Peter.
I can't quite believe this, but I am sitting here typing this reply on my new iPad, from my dh! Quite incredible! I am still in shock, I will have hours of fun finding out what the 21st century is all about!

[PLUMPUDDING]

Had a nice festive breakfast - sherry trifle and cream on my muesli.

[Motherwoman]

OH you will be rolling round the village if you don't watch it! I'm trying to be restrained as I'm starting to look the same shape as my grandmother... Nice bit of cold ham for lunch though. I intended to do not much at all today but wasn't in the mood for sitting about so cleared the rest of a hawthorn tree 'himself' cut down before the break and did all the laundry for the holiday cottage as it seemed a good day for it! And topped up all the indoor logs (5 barrow loads). Now I can have cold beef and fried up left-over spuds without feeling too guilty

Glad Sally is OK Peter, one of mine managed to swallow a burr when out this morning but a good chew on grass soon had it up and out.

MW

[oldherbaceous]

Dear MW, I'm back to work tomorrow, and i'm starting some of the huge hedges i cut, so i'll soon work the swelling off....

[Monika]

All the best to Sally, Peter. No doubt, she'll be ok now!

Have just eaten the last bit of turkey, made into a stirfry with the leftover vegetables .....

Eee, I'll be glad when we are back on the straight and narrow - can't do with all these celebratory upsets at my age.

[oldherbaceous]

Nearly got blown off the step-ladders this morning, so going to stick to cutting the hedges on ground level only, when i go back this afternoon. I've had to leave the Laurel hedge too, as the cut leaves are blowing all over the place.

[Motherwoman]

Yes, a bit brisk out there today! 'Himself' cut down the next Hawthorn just before lunch and we intended to clear it this afternoon but we've just had what you might call a bit of rain and it looks like there's more coming.

We're working our way up a row of about 20 thorn trees which might once have been a hedge about 50-60 years ago but are now about 20ft tall and skinny at the base. They are being cut right down to ground level and hopefully should all sprout back to provide a hedge again. At the moment all they do is let the wind through. There's some interplanting of Elder and Hazel whcih is getting the same treatment.

Happy hedge cutting OH!

MW

[Parsons Jack]

I managed to get some leeks and carrots from the allotment this morning, but an awful lot of the site is under water.

I've never seen it this bad before. No more winter digging for a while that's for sure

[Ricard with an H]

whilst you all have the problem go flooding we had a ridge tile ripped from the roof last night, I didn't have a clue how much dame we had sustained until light this morning so we both had a restless night wondering what the next gust would do.

just a little north of us had gust speeds of 109 mph, I wasn't going out in the pitch black night to check the damage with risk of another sliding off and hitting me on the head so it was a night of concern.

just one ridge tile off, half a slate gone and the neighboring tile has lifted but the wind is now dropping.

My little lady who often concerns herself over trivia went out in the pitch black to move one of our cars at a time the wind was so strong the glass was flexing in our conservatory glazing.

what a night.

[Geoff]

Our blow was slightly less than last time but still lost more pergola and three greenhouse panes, no chance of doing anything about them as it has still been too windy.

[robo]

Went down to the plot this morning to feed the chickens I was amazed our polytunnel was still standing the direction of the wind meant it was getting it full on , the pollytunnel is protected on 3 sides the 4th side was facing into the wind and getting battered