30th November 2020

UK deaths: 205. Current Market Harborough infections: 448, down from last week’s 237.

Officially, Santa is off the hook regarding masks in grottoes this Christmas, provided he’s running a ‘Covid-secure’ operation, Downing Street announced today. However, I have it on excellent authority (from Mrs Claus herself) that Mr Coronavirus is on the naughty list. The elves have been briefed, and he’ll be getting neither entry to the grotto nor a stocking this year!

Lee headed south to Dover over the weekend for a series of work meetings, leaving Sarah, Alice, and Mia to fend for themselves. He’s dashing back today before Tier 3 kicks in tomorrow.

Meanwhile, here in Harborough, the weather continues its long-running impression of a damp dishcloth. To counter the gloom, I set up our Christmas display in time for the 1st of December. We now have a projected snowstorm merrily swirling on the side of the house, ready to go! The projector is securely mounted on the garage roof, and while wiring it up, I took the opportunity to sweep off a sizeable moss colony that had taken up residence. Keen to keep moving (and avoid hypothermia), I also tackled the ivy, attempting a hostile takeover of the garage wall.

With Leicestershire staring down the barrel of more restrictions over Christmas, Sue and I have made the difficult decision to forgo a full family gathering on Christmas Day, too many of us to keep it safe. Instead, for the first time, we’ve booked Christmas dinner at The Swan in Braybrooke. The younger generation has drawn up a schedule and will be celebrating at Sarah and Lee’s. Unfortunately, this year will be devoid of the usual family panto, Greyhound races, walks, and shopping trips. 2020 has been a bizarre ride, and its final act looks set to be just as strange. Roll on 2021 and the vaccine!

1st December 2020: UK deaths: 603. Market Harborough infections: 403 (down from last week’s 378). The UK’s total Covid death toll has now surpassed 75,000.

In other news from across the pond, Donald Trump is reportedly considering a pre-emptive pardon for his personal attorney, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. Now, call me old-fashioned, but why would you need to pardon someone who, technically, hasn’t been charged with anything and who has sworn an oath to uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States? Crazy or just plain crooked? I’d say both!

Sue and I went walkabout today. After a frosty night, the day dawned cold but gloriously sunny, perfect for a ramble through the villages and fields of the Welland Valley.

We started in the heart of the picturesque Leicestershire village of Great Easton, right beside the ford. From there, our route meandered through the village before leading us out into vast grassy fields dotted with sheep, all of whom seemed rather unimpressed by our presence.

Following the course of the Great Easton Brook, we trod a well-worn path towards the hilltop hamlet of Neville Holt, its magnificent Hall standing proudly, a landmark visible from miles around. A proper winter’s day walk, crisp air, stunning views, and the satisfying crunch of frost underfoot!

As we made our way up the slopes towards the hamlet, a cyclist on a mountain bike whizzed past, accompanied by an eager dog bounding alongside. We wished him a good morning as he sped ahead; if we hadn’t been walking today, that’s exactly what I’d have been doing (though perhaps not quite as fast, and certainly without the dog!).

Leaving the brook behind, we tackled the steep incline below the Hall before veering sharply southeast, descending through a small plantation of trees. A series of stiles and yet more sheep-filled fields made for a strenuous climb over the next hill, so we took a well-earned rest.

As we paused, we struck up a conversation with a fellow rambler who was watching large flocks of goldcrests flitting about in a mesmerising, erratic dance above a young plantation of trees. Eventually, the birds vanished into a neighbouring field of brassicas, and with that, we parted ways, each continuing our journey through the rolling countryside.

Clambering over a stile onto a country lane, we were delighted to find a perfectly placed bench, a true gift to weary walkers. It offered spectacular views across the valley, so we gratefully sat down, sipped our hot drinks, and enjoyed a bit of light entertainment as several cyclists puffed and weaved their way up the hill. With mischief in our hearts, we called out cheerful “Hellos,” fully aware they lacked the breath to reply. Such fun!

As we descended the hill, we encountered a rather dejected motorist who was eager to share his misfortune. He introduced himself as the security manager at nearby Deene Park and recounted last night’s ordeal: while driving home up this very hill (as he did every day), his Saab’s engine management light flickered on, and the car promptly gave up the ghost. Stranded in the freezing cold, he endured six long hours waiting for AA Rescue to arrive. By the time they did, he was half-frozen and thoroughly miserable.

The final verdict? The cam belt had snapped, the engine was kaput, and his once-trusty car was now worth little more than scrap. On the bright side, the AA at least gave him a lift home. Today, he had returned to salvage anything of value before bidding farewell to his mechanical companion. We couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. What a way to lose a car!

At the foot of the hill, we arrived in the delightful hamlet of Drayton, where the tiny church of St. James stood proudly on the green. A charming little structure, it consists of just a single stone-built room with a slate roof. Interestingly, it occupies the site of an earlier chapel that fell out of religious use in the 18th century and, by 1794, had been repurposed as a bakehouse, presumably feeding both bodies and souls in its way.

Leaving Drayton behind, we once again plunged into the fields, making our way up to the small village of Bringhurst. Here, we spent some time exploring the 13th-century church of St Nicholas (one wonders if he stops here for a quick breather on the 25th?). Inside, we discovered an intriguing 9th/10th-century gravestone cap, only recently unearthed during restoration work, a little slice of history hiding in plain sight.

We then turned our attention to another kind of treasure hunt: a Geocache, supposedly lurking near a water trough. Alas, no trough was to be found, presumably a victim of recent building work. Foiled! Perhaps St Nicholas had hidden it away for safekeeping…

 

 

 

 

Disappointed but undeterred, we pressed on through a particularly sociable field of sheep, whose friendly inhabitants trotted after us with hopeful expressions, clearly expecting treats rather than idle chit-chat. With Great Easton now in sight, we finished our walk, already making plans to return in the summer, perhaps accompanied by one of the family’s dogs for added entertainment.

Back home, after a much-needed late lunch, I set about tackling the ever-growing leaf situation in the garden with the leaf-blower. I made good progress until darkness forced a tactical retreat; nature would have to wait until tomorrow.

Later in the evening, Jamie returned Sue’s car, which he had been borrowing for the past month. He also confirmed that we’d been enlisted to look after Nala and Rocky while he and Ruth head to London in a couple of weeks. Clearly, our pet-sitting credentials remain impeccable!

2nd December 2020: UK deaths: 648 Current Market Harborough infections: 389 (down from last week’s 453)

A glimmer of hope at last, Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved, making the UK the first country in the world to roll out a jab. The road to normality may still be long, but at least we’re finally getting somewhere!

Like much of the country, Harborough officially entered Tier 3 today. Curious to see if the ghost town of last March had made a comeback, I finished my morning cycle with a quick reconnaissance mission into town. To my surprise, life seemed to be carrying on much as before, traffic was steady, and the usual bustle remained. Fingers crossed that the infection numbers keep heading in the right direction despite it all.

With the temperature stubbornly refusing to rise above 4°C, Sue took charge of the day’s most important survival tactic, cooking. She whipped up a glorious winter casserole, complete with a generous helping of dumplings to warm the cockles of our hearts (and our toes).

Inspired by the theme of hearty food, I spent the afternoon in much the same spirit, making some Cheshire cheese. It should be ready by tomorrow, though whether I have the willpower to let it mature until the weekend remains to be seen. Resisting cheese is, after all, a test of character.

3rd December 2020: It rained for most of the day, and the cold was thoroughly uninviting, putting an end to any notion of outdoor tasks. After getting thoroughly drenched on my morning bike ride, I turned my attention to indoor pursuits, namely, more cheese-making.

With 500ml of leftover natural yoghurt from yesterday’s Cheshire cheese experiment, I decided to try my hand at making Labneh. A teaspoon each of salt and mint powder went into the mix before I hung it over a bowl to drain for 48 hours. It’s about the simplest cheese-making process imaginable, and I’m already looking forward to rolling the finished product into little balls and preserving them in olive oil. Come Saturday, I shall be feasting like a Levantine shepherd.

Meanwhile, Sue braved the elements for a couple of forays into town, one for grocery shopping, the other to have some photos printed from a memory stick. Between us, we’ve had a productive day: one of us securing sustenance for the week, the other ensuring a steady supply of cheese-related joy.

In other news, Market Harborough’s infection rate continues to drop, and Britain’s first vaccinations against COVID-19 are set to begin on Tuesday. There may just be a light at the end of this very long, very damp tunnel.

4th December 2020: A truly bitter day. While most of the UK saw snow, Harborough endured relentless rain. Sue and Charlotte met up in the morning to do some food shopping at Fosters, and later, Charlotte made a brief stop at Willow Bank to drop off some presents and collect a pumpkin.

Meanwhile, I braved the miserable weather for my morning ride, though ‘braved’ might not be the right word, considering how cold, wet, and thoroughly miserable I was by the time I got back. The ground was treacherous, the rain icy, and visibility poor, thanks to both the murk and the hood pulled tight over my head. Suffice it to say, once back indoors, we had no inclination to step outside again for the rest of the day.

Charlotte shared a wonderful short video of St. Dionysius Church in the centre of Harborough, a bright moment in an otherwise bleak day.

5th December 2020: Another crisp, cold day, but at least it stayed dry. Jamie was in London conducting a binary trading session for his clients, so he stopped by to drop off Nala. The little dog wasn’t feeling too great and was on antibiotics from the vet. Despite that, she was full of bounce and energy for most of the day. We kept her toasty by the fire and only ventured out for little walks around the garden. She was a bit picky with her food at first, so we got clever and hid her tablets in bits of cheese; she gobbled them up without a second thought!

I finally finished making the Labneh, rolling it into little balls and packing it into a jar with some virgin olive oil. The sample I tried was tangy and absolutely delicious! Yum, yum!

The rain we had all through yesterday and last night finally brought the river levels up, something we hadn’t seen in quite a while. But by lunchtime, as is often the case, it had dropped right back down.

6th December 2020:  UK deaths: 231. Current Market Harborough infections: 230. Down from last week: 275. Italy’s death toll passes 60,000.

Another chilly day, but at least the sun made an appearance. I settled in to watch England take on France in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup with Nala curled up on my lap. England was fortunate to snatch a win in extra time against a young, inexperienced French side. It was an exciting match for neutrals and the 1000 or so lucky spectators allowed to attend.

By early evening, Jamie was back from London and collected Nala. She was over the moon to see him and jumped into the car, ready to head home.