19th January 2024 As the month progressed, the rain gradually disappeared from our daily BBC weather maps, replaced by temperatures hovering around a chilly 0°C. A high-pressure system had settled stubbornly over the UK, bringing overnight frosts and the occasional snow flurry to the east of the country. It was on one such day, the… Continue Reading

Rant: With Jamie and the family spending New Year’s in New York, it feels apt to reflect on the ongoing debacle in the United States, specifically, the alarming prospect of Donald Trump being permitted to stand again for the presidency. Despite his sustained and aggressive attacks on the legitimacy of democratic institutions, the judiciary, the… Continue Reading

14th December 2023 The day after returning from Bulgaria, I had a dentist appointment while Sue attended a U3A Wildlife Group meeting at East Carlton Park, which included a visit to see the reindeer and lunch with the group. Shortly after I got back home, there was a knock at the door; it was our… Continue Reading

8th December 2023 A light sprinkling of snow had fallen overnight. Neither of us was keen to make an early start, so I took Ritya for a walk down the lane before branching off along a trail through the woods, which loosely followed one of the power lines. Light snow continued to fall, though it… Continue Reading

4th December 2023 We woke early to a light sprinkling of snow and a frosty morning. By 9 a.m., when we stepped outside for our now customary amble through the village, the snow had already melted. We collected the ever-waggy-tailed Ritya along the way, who happily accompanied us back to the house for some treats… Continue Reading

30th November 2023 The final day of November began with no power in either the house or the village. Without warning, sometime overnight, the authorities must have disconnected the electricity. Neither Mark nor the 82-year-old gentleman who also lived along the lane knew the reason when we met them during our now customary morning walk.… Continue Reading

24th November 2023 Today began with a late start at 9 a.m., and the forecast predicted heavy rain from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. The first task of the day was to sharpen the chainsaw blade. Although David only had a small, broken round file to hand, it took just 15 minutes… Continue Reading

19th November 2023 Late yesterday afternoon, the temperature dropped noticeably, and Mark, with a gleam in his eye and a tone of foreboding, declared that we would have snow overnight. We did not. David and I eventually emerged from beneath the warm bedclothes at 9 a.m., relieved and rather pleased to find a cloudless, sunny… Continue Reading

15th November 2023 Today marked the start of my journey to Bulgaria. Sue, ever the trooper, dropped me off at Market Harborough station with my suitcase and rucksack before heading off to Corby to enjoy a film and a spot of shopping. I, meanwhile, was embarking on the grand railway lottery, which is the British… Continue Reading

  14th November 2023 On Friday, 3rd November, Sue and I revived our much-enjoyed family get-togethers, which had last taken place before the Covid pandemic lockdown in March 2020. As it was a fairly last-minute decision, the Newbold Verdons were unable to join us, having already made plans to attend a Bonfire Night display at… Continue Reading