Christmas Eve Sights

We got up early today, as Andy had to work and I had to do the things I couldn't do on Saturday. It was blustery and mild with rain on and off. I went to Sainsbury's and Hobbycraft first, after dropping Andy off at the station. I got there about 8 and Sainsbury's looked as it does in the middle of any normal Saturday. Everyone goes mad at Christmas. Hobbycraft however was empty, apart from me, the cleaner and the manager. Crafters maybe have more sense. On the way back home I was approaching a junction near where I live and a horse trotted past really quickly. It was followed by about thirty more, some with riders and some being led, with one horse and trap at the back. They were a joyous sight. I drove to a road nearby where I could cut through to where I thought they were going so I could watch them and maybe get a photo. I love seeing horses and it was a treat to see so many together. I also discovered a track behind some of the grand houses around the edge of Blackheath that I had never walked down before. Another world of little garages, some in good repair and some not, windows into huge sitting rooms and some little tiny sweet houses like something from a fairy story. As was the tiny gate below.

 Canada geese, pigeons, starlings and gulls all happily eating together on the heath.

 One of two beautiful swans who looked as if they hoped I had some food, but sadly not.

Later I joined more queues to collect the turkey and other necessary items for tomorrow. We are having my family over instead of going to them, for the first time can you believe, so it has been busy preparing-just like everyone else I suppose! In the carpark there is a fig tree behind where I parked my car. When I came back this cat and a magpie were having an argument that I think the magpie was winning. I helped by putting the cat off its chase by taking photos of it, which it seemed to find disturbing.
Thanks for the good wishes on the previous post. I am much better now I am pleased to say.
I hope everyone has a happy and peaceful Christmas. xx

Bah Hum...

bug.

 A pre-Christmas moan as my weekend has been impaired by this snow-like looking thing-Noro-Virus. Pretty isn't it? There were some other pictures that made it look more like the monster it is. Spiky, orange and green, like a wild space mine, but I preferred these snow like images. I have read all about it, and realize that it was fairly inevitable that I get it, considering how much of it there has been at school recently, and how many parents think it is ok to send their children back into school without the 48 hours recommended since the last time they were sick. Ah well, all better now, more or less. Enough to wrap presents and clean anyway!

Some real snow would be nice...

Tough Stuff

A view of the school being flattened.
Tools. The silly one is for my brother for Christmas. He doesn't think he needs anything but who doesn't need a crocheted hammer? It made me laugh anyway. After I thought of it I googled crochet tools , and as usual I am not the first person to have had this idea. My favourite tool was a saw. Possibly even more useless than a hammer!

Santas

We became workers in the Santa factory yesterday and made these. I love the way they turned out.

Such a tragic event is hard to comprehend, well impossible to comprehend really. My heart goes out to those poor children and teachers and their families, friends and community.

Joyless Signs

This may become a series, but hopefully not as I don't want my day to be marred by too many of them. This is the table outside the office, which suddenly got into festive mode this week when the poinsettia appeared. The ambience has since been ruined by the appearance of the sign. Ways to improve the sign might be the magic word we bang on about all the time, or the use of the 'plant's' lovely name, or even the reason why we shouldn't water it. Or maybe the use of a pretty cursive font. But no. No learning there then. Just joylessness.
I see that please was used. Still joyless.

The Only Picture

There was freezing fog this morning and a strange ice layer on everything-not like normal frost, very thin and hard to remove. The trees looked beautiful but I was late and couldn't stop. I parked next to a car with this frozen spider's web attached. Not pretty at all, more like something from 'Alien'!