Goodbye 2023

 What to say at nearly the end of this year.

There is so much negativity going on so let's put that to one side and focus on some positives.

Well, we had a bumper crop of apples and even the very old tree that suffers from codling moth had much fewer spoilt apples this year.

We seem to have had a good variety and plenty of birds visit our garden. Whilst we do have a large selection of plants, I think that it helps that we don't use any sprays.

A street party was great fun and the weather was reasonable the whole time.

It was pleasant to see so many Christmas lights and decorations around the town.

Let's hope for a better, happier and safer New Year.

Another week till the shortest day

Not long till Christmas. There seems to be lots of outside lights and decorations this year. Is it because led lights are much better at being used outside than the old type? Or is it because people want some relief from the unrelenting doom and gloom projected in the news?

There also seems to be plenty of events going on, particularly for children. Which during these short days helps.

Rain and wind, it would be prettier if it was snow but obviously not for people travelling or with limited mobility.

But I do like fog. The mysterious effect and deadening of sound I find enchanting. But I do appreciate that it brings many problems.

Will it be a white Christmas here? No.

Christmas shopping

 We have already done some Christmas shopping as we have had to post presents abroad. But there is something totally enjoyable about buying presents. 

Plasticine

 We found some plasticine, well not plasticine that I remember. The original mixture I seem to remember had a smell to it - linseed oil? But this modern version has no smell and is just as good if not better.

There is something quite theraputic about moulding it into various shapes.

Toffee or not toffee

 I used to enjoy going in to a Thornton's chocolate kabin not only for chocolate but my favourite - toffee.

Although the chocolates were great, particularly choosing single ones to make up a bag or box and the nougat casket was a fantastic treat, for me there was nothing to beat toffee. Whether original, brazil nut, nut and fruits, liquorice or more recently chocolate smothered.

I didn't like that it used palm oil/fat. Surely the recipe originally used butter? Was palm oil even around when Stanley created his recipe?

Thornton's has beentaken over by Ferrero but doesn't seem to be bringing back the variety or the shops.

Flying

 We were flying today but the plane was delayed due to bad weather at the airport we were going to - strong winds.

After we landed and got of the plane it seemed to us that there was still a strong wind - a side wind but the landing was very smooth.

I am not a frequent flyer but the flights I have been on have been fine. Only a couple of times we had some turbulence but nothing drastic. One of my friends flew one time and the flight was so scary that he seriously considered returning by ship.

Esso blues

We have a lot of small plants in the greenhouse so trying to be ahead of the game we bought a heater for it.

It does not seem worth the money to install an electric cable just for the few days and nights that heating will be needed. Particularly as it will have to be installed by a registered electrician in a protected sleeve etc. 

I thought paraffin was cheap but was it? It seems to be dearer per gallon than petrol or diesel now.