where art collides philosoperontap

It is, as it says on the front cover, a dull December day. The period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve when we are all just hanging around, killing time. It’s too wet to play golf, almost certainly bugger all on the telly and although I’m sure I could find some jobs to do there is very little inclination to do them.

At this point I feel as if I should utter an audible sigh but actually this enforced lethargy is not too bad really. Everybody else is getting on with something. I could sort out my wardrobe. I just bought some clothes in the sales and need to throw a few things away so’s I can find space.

Hannah has taken John to play footy in Welton. Joe has gone to watch Lincoln City v Gateshead with some mates and Tom has just got back from a run around the block.

I do need to clean out the grate but I’m not sure we will be lighting the fire today. The problem with having the fire on is that if everyone else decides to watch the tv then I’ll be on my own in the front room.

The rain continues. One the wettest years on record apparently. Played havoc with the crops. We were alright until they declared a hosepipe ban and then of course it rained for forty days and forty nights. Twice! I’m sure the lawn will have even more moss in it next year.

Hannah and I just had lunch at the Burton Road Chippy. I had haddock, chips and mushy peas and she had fish cake and chips. A nice little meal out. We have her for another week and then she is off skiing with Durham University for 8 days. Just 1,400 or so close friends. You have to pity any other poor holidaymakers who might find themselves in the same resort. Nightmare!

This year for the first time that I can remember Dunham bridge is closed because of flooding. The Trent often breaks its banks there but I’ve never seen the bridge being shut before. Vindicates our decision to live at the top of the hill I say:)

For what it’s worth I’m off downtown in a bit to Maplins. Anne’s laptop has stopped charging and I want to make sure it isn’t the charger before taking any more drastic action. It might also be the battery but I don’t think it is. We haven’t had any trouble with this battery before. I’ll let you know anyway.

Overall it’s been a very successful family Christmas. I’m actually looking forward to January now and the chance to have a quiet time and renew the exercise regimen. It won’t happen of course. The quiet time that is. I’m pretty confident of getting back into the swim of it in the pool.

That’ll do for now. I feel a job coming on.

See ya.

Kids are doing some homework or quietly getting on with something. Anne has popped out to Tesco and is picking up the printer ink that I thought I was going to have to go and get myself. The fire is burning away nicely in the grate and the front room is pleasantly warm.

The freezer has been defrosted and is now switched back on awaiting contents. In the meantime the frozen food remains nice and frozen in a bin in the back garden. The temperature is below freezing and so it has been a perfect time to do the job.

In a while I’ll go in to the kitchen to get started on preparing the Sunday roast. It’s just me, Joe and John as Anne is off out to the Bishop’s Palace with the girls for afternoon tea. We are having free range organic corn fed chicken with all the trimmings. They got all the right buzzwords into that package.

Next weekend it’s the Lincoln Christmas Market and we have the exciting prospect of our usual Saturday night market party. We will have all the family back for that. Even though Hannah has another week of term she is making the effort to come home for it.

We are all looking forward to Christmas this year. It will be another full Davies family gathering with fourteen of us sitting down to a full rack of beef on the Sunday. Before then I have my usual trefor.net xmas bash at the Phoenix Artist Club in London – 150 – 200 or so folk coming along to celebrate the passing of another year. A few of the boys are coming down from Lincoln for it and it promises to be a great night out.

All is well and there is no tension in my world.

The lift at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel  prior to going to see the Rolling Stones in concert at the O2 on Sunday 25th November. The journey is from the 14th floor to Ground level taking in views of The Gherkin (St Mary Axe), The Shard and the Tower of London.