Clarissa et al.

The snow brought the usual flock of fieldfares eating up the late apples which we allow to lie on the grass waiting for this day each year.

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It also brought a flock of about twenty partridges - not in a pear tree, but under a laurel bush.

I had to take these pictures through glass as the birds flew off no matter how gently I opened the window. Every now and again I wish that I had invested in a camera with a more powerful zoom, but I do like to have a camera I don't have to worry about in my pocket, handbag or car.

What the snow did not bring was the Tesco van. They postponed on the 28th, and then rang again on the 29th to say they weren't doing any country deliveries because of the weather! I said, 'Why on earth not? The main roads were now salted and gritted, the snow had stopped ages ago, and people had been zooming up and down the lane all day. Moreover Calor Gas and the postman had both managed to deliver.'

"Well the RAC advised us it wasn't safe."

"Their information is out of date. I'm on the spot and it's fine."

We discussed this for a while, but she was just a jobsworth. In the end she said that I could pick the shopping up if I wanted. Now, I admit that I am a fairly windy driver when it comes to adverse weather conditions, but then I would never apply for a professional driving job. (Which is why - along with a distaste for crowds and queues - I like my new year groceries delivered by a professional driver.) Father (80 next year), on the other hand, is not at all windy and made the 22 mile round trip to collect a grocery order which, as it turned out wasn't even complete! Tesco has received a very stiff e-mail. Next time I'm going to try Asda!

I was so organised this year that I was sure something would go wrong and I would discover a great hole in my preparations for Christmas, but everything has run smoothly so far (touch wood).

Christmas proper started with Midnight Mass where, among the congregation, was a chocolate labrador (with his distinctly drunk master). Not wishing to spoil everyone's Christmas by letting Fudge get run over (as can happen in even the smallest of villages) I decided not to turn him out, although, as Churchwarden, it was probably my duty to do so. He was better behaved than his master who had difficulty keeping up with the 'amens' let alone the complexities of the creed, while Fudge lay quietly at the rear of the nave. Apart from Fudge, it was nice to see so many young people in church. At the morning service there were numerous children, all well-behaved, but the excitement only just kept in check.

Having started Christmas properly we could get on with the secular celebrations with present opening and lunch planned to end in time for the queen's speech. (Ooops! Minor hiccup - no crackers!)

This is this year's Christmas cake.

This morning we woke up to this view (Next minor hiccup - no Tesco van with groceries: they will try again tomorrow, but I have had to 'borrow' cat food from Helen.)

Jess made (at the age of 11) her first solo snowman. This is no defect in Jess, just the quality and quantity of snow in recent years (and the fact that her brothers like to take over).

These were taken a couple of years ago, but they show a couple of the groups of people I hope will share this blog, namely friends and god-children.

And some of the rest - family in Canada.

And finally, me at work.
I didn't take any of these photos, so thanks to those who did.

Dramatis Personae
updated August 2007

In same house
Father - Tony
Cat - Albert

Next Door
Sister - Helen
Brother-in-law - Glen
Nephews - Joe, Jake and Josh
Niece - Jessica
Dogs - Daisy (dalmatian), Tilly and pups (border terriers), Rowan (springer spaniel.
Horses, Guinea pigs, Bomber (Harris Hawk), Ferrets etc

Best Friends
Liz and Ed (in Croydon)
Becky and Paul (in Preston)
Issy and Mark (in Lincolnshire)
Inge and Nigel (in Lincolnshire)
Carolyn (in Lincolnshire)

Godchildren (and their siblings)- same order as parents listed above
Rick - now married to Kris
James (Hannah)
Jenni (Esther)
Callum (Joel and Tilly)

Colleagues
Hilary, Sharon, Linda, Rachel, Margaret, Lauren, Vicky, Anne, Dianne, Kristan.

Neighbours
Joyce and Basil (Glen's parents)
Guy (Glen's Uncle)
Fred (Denzil) (Glen's brother)
Roger, Kirsty and George (Glen's nephew and his wife and son)
Christine and Stuart
Veronica and Paul
Geoff and Polly
Garry

Family (those I keep in touch with more-or-less) - in each case the closest blood relative is listed first.

In England
Auntie Clare and Uncle Gordon
Uncle Steve and Auntie Carol
Aunt Marion (Uncle Frans's widow)

Pam and John (Neil, Peter and Emma - grown-up children)
Susan and Simon (Adam, James, Pippa, Peter and Madeleine)
Steven and Sue (Teagan, Ben and Olivia)
Janine and Lawrence (Liam and Sophie)
Alison (and family)
Tim (and family)

In Canada
Uncle Peter and Auntie Barbara (mother's brother)

my generation
Shelagh and David
Jackie
Richard and Claire
Patsy and Don
Robbie and Mary
Paul, Tammi and family
Phillip
Lily, Gary and family

Next generations
Jennifer and Kurt, Kya and Teddy
Wendy and Jason, Luke and Carter
Kaylie
Angie, Jesse and Kory
Katy
Robyn

Having enjoyed reading other peoples' blogs, I thought it would be a good idea to start my own: not, I hope, so much as an ego-trip as a way of keeping in touch with my numerous cousins and friends around the world. We have done quite well with e-mail, but I thought it would be even more entertaining to share our thoughts and news.