My it has been perishing cold has it not? Our trusty log burner has been wonderful and a nice hot water bottle has been most welcome during the chilly nights. For some strange reason I have had some lower back pain which has been annoyingly persistent. I think it may be due to the fact that I have not been able to engage in my usual exercise classes and swims after having flu over the Christams season. My dear friends I have seized up ! Happily this morning I returned to my Aqua Oki class, yes, we sing (loudly) as we cavort, a lot of fun.

In other news I have been using up some of my mixed fruit stash, inherited from my late mother-in-law.  I don't often make cakes but decided it was time for a fruit cake, to have with a good pot of tea or two. A simple recipe from the kitchens of HRH Queen Camilla. This particular fruit mix had cranberries and apricots in, very tasty.

I also wanted to show you the latest member of our family. I found him at a local auction house, and after my initial fear of his grumpy chops, I found him most friendly and needless to say charming, with a lovely energy about him. The name Mephisto popped into my head, but having subsequently researched who Mephisto was , I have decided to call him Maestro. He is Victorian and quite a large chap with enormous hands. I told my son I would smudge Maestro with a large amount of sage before he settles into our home. Our son is convinced I am bringing the Devil in, ha ha. But I am smitten. What do you think?

 My besom was busy today, brushing away the bad luck from the house, straight out the backdoor and brushing with intent the good luck in through our front door. A feeling of a job well done. A fresh beginning with a new year to look forward to.

 

Charming image by Shawn Braley

 

A sweet and intoxicating rendition. I hope you enjoy this my chums.

The Madonna of the Magnificant by Botticelli

I'm here to wish all of my blogging chums a very merry Christmas and a happy new year in 2026. 

But I have to say in this particular countdown to the season I have felt bombarded by the hustle culture, you know the one that tries to get us to over consume and buy huge amounts of rubbish we don't need and certainly should not be gifting to our friends and family. 

One of the worst offenders is Gobal Player !! I normally enjoy listening to Classic FM, but for weeks now anyone tuning in has had their musical enjoyment poisoned by an aggressive campaign to sell tickets to enter a 'competition' to win increasing amounts of money. Literally every 20/30 minutes the presenters have been banging on about it. I tried to change to a couple of my other favourite stations but they too are under the Global Player umbrella, and so the 'message' was the same. The whole thing really saddens me. It feels like their overriding message for this season of goodwill is GREED.

Anyway, this for my blogging chum Cranky Crow, a bookmark of someone she will recognise.

And a message for the universe.

 

 

 

Oh my.

 Greetings lovely blogging chums. I have succumbed to the dreaded December lurgy. Which of course is beyond irritating. It has been with me for a few days but I'm hoping it may not take hold fully and I can simply brush it off ere long. Regular doses of Echinacea will help me in my quest.

Like everyone I have a few things lined up in the run up to Christmas including meeting up with friends I haven't seen in a while. Fingers crossed I manage to chase off the pesky germs.

I may have mentioned that I haven't gone overboard in my house decorating this season. I find year on I want less fuss about the house. But this year I feel as though my house is calling out for a very large bunch of Mistletoe.

I will try to secure said bunch today. I realise it is not widely available and supplies are limited but I can't abide plastic and faux versions, they are completely pointless in my view.

This morning I stumbled upon a little film, via Imogen Ashwin of Bracken and Wrack, about the wonderful tradition at York Minster where they bless a large bunch of Mistletoe and hang it up at the altar there. Of course they present it as a Christian practice, but we all know don't we? And anyway I really love the Very Revd Keith Jones talking about fellowship and home.

I also found on Youtube a roaring fire from the library at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, 6 hours of it! I loaded it up on my television last night and I thought it added a certain something. I do have a log burner but I thought it would be a great thing to have on in the background if you're hosting this season and  you don't have a real fire. A little bit of fun anyway.