Count down to Xmas!

Hi Everyone,

Only three weeks since the last blog but this is my chance to get in early and wish you every good wish for the coming season of festivities and goodwill to all! I hope that you are keeping well as many of you head into winter. I hear from the news that there are many severe rain warnings in place for the UK so wish you and yours well.

We are still waiting for Spring to arrive properly. We have had some lovely days but that South Westerly wind will persist in taking over and, coming as it does, from Antartica it is a little chilly. The temperature reached 31C yesterday and so far today it is 15C. Quite a difference! I have chanced my arm and have planted some tomatoes and hope that there is not a very late frost. So far, so good. Another few weeks before the chop I understand. Ash and Indie have, naturally, given them names - not Lamb Chop and Mint Sauce though.

Olive celebrated her 2nd birthday at the beginning of the month and had a party in the garden. Her hat in the photo is not her cycle helmet but that of one of her guests but she took a fancy to it and wore it for quite a while. Talking of anniversaries - I moved into this house two years ago tomorrow! I keep saying it - time flies!

Another 4 weeks of school and then it is the long summer holidays. Joe's school is busy practising for a Carol concert in the Cathedral on the 4th Dec and there is the Santa Parade in New Brighton the first Sat in Dec. He arrives by boat. Indie's class attended a performance by the New Zealand ballet of 'Peter Pan' on Friday. A rather different school trip? I will be going to see 'Anything Goes' soon. My Xmas preparations are moving along but the cards are just not at the forefront of my mind at present. Dentist this week - oh joy!

Thus finishing on a depressing note I will ask you all to take care of yourselves and thanks for keeping in touch through the year. All my love Carol xxx