Roll on 2021

So that’s that, then. We had a good time, just the two of us. It was the most relaxing Christmas we’ve ever had. OK, so it lacked that additional love and warmth (and the odd friction) you get from having additional loved ones around – and we missed all of you. But there was something special about just being together. The last and only time we’ve done that before was on our European tour, Christmas 2014 … we were in Sicily. That was different again, but fun. Anyhow, it’s over, and now we all have an uncertain 2021 to look forward to.

Bottom of the Red 8, Alpbach, Christmas 2011

Oh … just for the record we held a Zoom quiz on Christmas morning. My round was eighteen old photos of the kids and their spouses, where they had to tell me and C where the photo was taken and when. It took us most of Christmas Eve afternoon to go through the photos, of which we have thousands. That, in itself, was a scream until we ran out of the will to live and put the albums back into the attic.

Santa brought C a Henry replacement for Christmas …



… and me a gig guitar.

The weather, which is lovely at the mo (I’m just back from a 5 km run), has been topsy-turvy. We have had a lot of rain. Thankfully we live next to a nature reserve which is a good couple of metres lower than where we are and the water always manages to make its escape before it accumulates unnecessarily. It looks set fair for a good ten days from Tuesday so, hopefully, we’ll all be able to get out for our walks/runs without fear of a drenching.

Of course I haven’t mentioned politics. Nor Brexit. I have, in my own way, run out of steam; worn down by the relentlessness of it all. However … I saw a comment on Twitter the other day saying most Brits don’t consider themselves European? If that’s the case, which particular continent do they align themselves to? Geographically I am European … of course I am. But, if you ask the more politicised question … yes, I am European. I still think that Brexit is a huge mistake and, unfortunately, we will live to regret a decision to which very few people really understood the question. And I particularly have little time for the politicians and commentators who pushed the Leave agenda. Europe was never a big issue for the general public until the right-wing press barons decided it should be. And, as a result, we find ourselves where we are. Ho hum.

Next, as I understand it, may be the reintroduction of capital punishment – Priti Patel’s baby. Well, I shall be on the streets opposing that one for sure. Maybe that’s what will take up 2021?

to cheer you all up



and to cheer me up.

Stay safe everyone.