February

We have two family birthdays in January, no chance to shed the extra pounds that were gained during the feasting at Christmas. The family were all with us over the weekend. Himself had requested a small homemade chocolate cake to please be decorated by our grandson. The boy did well!

There were quite a few candles to blow out, although not the whole eighty-four!

Wee One, our younger daughter, prepared the meal. I got down the old meat platter from the top of the kitchen cupboard. No fish, fowl or flesh this time, all the food was vegetarian, a first, I think, for this platter.

A base of Greek yoghurt, a drizzle of vaious spices, herbs and sauces

and a topping of vegetables to roast. Delicious!

We ate a variety of other colourful salads

and finished off with a very indulgent tiramisu.

But now it is February and we are going to behave. The cold and wet continues but there is a very occasional glimmer of sunlight to cheer us through these winter monthe.

2026

The years race by. We've had some sharp frost and I threw fleece over the citrus for a little protection.

We have also had a bit, and only a bit, of very welcome sunshine. I like it in the winter when the sun is low enough in the sky to shine into the house. I took all the decorations down on Twelfth Night and sunlight lit up the various ornaments and a good layer of dust!

All these little objects, a motley collection assembled over many years, are now back in the Christmas box under the stairs. Thank goodness for a house with plenty of cupboards!

The tree is back in the garden and the house has been given a good clean, so it is a fresh start to a New Year. How sad that the Christmas spirit doesn't seem to have a chance in the world at large. Oh America, how low can you sink? Perhaps I should have kept my Christmas angels hanging.

We are all in need of angels.