January 12th

It has taken until 11th January for the winter to arrive as we are now entering a prolonged spell of wet weather.   It is fair to say that we need it.  The pool needs topping up and many of my plants which are in pots could do with a good soaking with fresh rain.

It is also a good time to sort the house out after the Christmas and New Year Festivities.  I haven't been able to get near the surfaces of the spare bedroom for Christmas Wrapping, gifts, boxes, ribbon and sellotape.  They have all now been found a home.  The bed has been made up so that should one or other of us fancy a less interrupted night's sleep.  It looks clean and tidy again.

I wasn't feeling my best today.  Something was giving me chronic hearburn even though I had taken my medication.  I can't really work out what is the trigger but on a bad day I feel like I have a combination of sea-sickness and a massive hangover.  So having done a few chores John and I decided we would settle on a snuggle duvet type day watching the TV as it was grey and wet outside.

I had a lovely surprise phone call today.  Actually a WhatsApp from a number I did not recognise but which turned out to be Linda Gerraghty (Linda I know that you read the blog so I just wanted to say how lovely it was to hear from you and to be able to see you).  Our paths have only crossed on a couple of occasions but we shared the most amazing mutual friend (and Soroptomist) in Joani Stansell who sadly passed away last year.  Without Linda I am sure that we may well have lost contact with Joani's husband Roger who admitted that communication via email would only be possible if he was able to remember how to log into his laptop!  Linda has made this possible for which I am so very grateful.   John and I felt so very blessed to have met and made friends with Roger and Joani.  They were one of the most warm and generous couples we have ever had the pleasure to meet.  Joani always used to refer to Linda as her 'sister' and I can see why, she has clearly been the best friend a friend can be before, during and after Joani's terrible illness.   I do hope our paths cross again in person but failing that WhatsApp will have to do.

After a lazy afternoon binge watching a new to us series called Succession (I know we are late to this party) I actually stopped feeling nauseous and consulted our weekly menu.  Penciled in was some sort of pasta dish using up the Gammon which we had had over Christmas.  It was turned into a sort of carbonara affair with bacon and onion, the remains of a packet of penne and spaghetti, some leftover cheeseboard cheese (one smoked, one with chili) and a bit of cream and orange juice.  Even it I do say so myself it was absolutely lovely.  Our evening was more binge watching it is a great series.