It will soon be Christmas.

 What do you enjoy at this time of year?

Family, feel overfull, presents?

For some time now we have enjoyed making Christingles. It's very friendly of course and can be quite a production line. I just hope that the oranges and sweets/dried fruit are eaten. But it is a pleasure to help behind the scenes.

Another pleasure is the main Christmas meal with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding. I really enjoy brussel sprouts and would happily eat them at many more meals during the year. Even more so when it is someone else who has done all the cooking.

Tis the season...

 ...for coffee and hot chocolate flavourings.

I always like to try something, either one I have already had or a brand new flavour.

This year I tried a new one, Black Forest Hot Chocolate. I won't say where it was from as it was like drinking liquid sugar. Oh dear.

Jack is here

Isn't it always the way, that when you need to be up and about early; that something happens to stop or slow you down.

Today's event was a frost. Not too bad, just enough to be annoying.

Cooks.

 We had Yorkshire pudding today - not easy gluten and dairy free. I expect everyone has a favourite recipe and sticks to it - if it ain't broke. But we use an adapted Delia Smith recipe to compensate for the lack of gluten and fat in non milks.

It's a bit the same with roast potatoes, do you boil them then shake them up a bit and put them in hot oil/fat? Or do you do the above then leave them to go cold before the hot oil/fat? Do you add flour? So many variations but I do think the one essential is to use either King Edward or Maris Piper potatoes and older/larger ones - we also leave the skins on as it adds to the texture and flavour.

Books

 Just over 150 years ago local county libraries were established. What a marvellous opportunity for anyone to learn and discover.

It is wonderful to see libraries thriving today and adapting to modern times. For youngsters there is Lego club, board games and coding club as well as the reading and rhyme time groups.

It allows us to try out new authors which gives the opportunity to reserve more or better still buy knowing they will be a worthwhile purchase.

Food, (not so) glorious food...

It is surprising what ingredients pop up in many different products.

For example barley malt extract. It crops up in cereals, 'Mars' bars, Horlicks, sauces.etc.

One has to be very careful when trying to avoid eating barley malt extract.

Webbed feet

 Another weather update but I think that it is worth noting.

During September we had three time the average rainfall. On just two days we did have the average September rainfall.

The only real surprise is that the water company hasn't introduced a hosepipe ban.