My Tree is Up

 Living alone as I do, I never really put much effort into Christmas.

Frankly I get Christmass-ed out, as my entire life at work is devoted to nothing but during December; parties, events, competitions. Even organising a hoopla contest. Hence I can't really be bothered to do much at home. 

I haven't got enough room for a tree in any case.

However, this year I decided to be not so much of a Grinch, and bought a tree ideally suited to my accomodation. It's a 20 centimetre high mini tree, in a highly festive little pot, which is now parked on the top of my bookshelf. Hopefully it will be quite happy there for a nice long time, parked between a drooping lily and a crazy swiss cheese plant.

Ha, not so much of a misery guts after all.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.12.22

Christmas Eve

 I was grateful to be allowed to leave work early, and so took a walk to the park, where unlike the albeit very high Trent, The Devon has burst banks.

Happy Christmas everyone, doubly so to all spending the day alone in this insane year.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.12.20

Practicing the Christmas Lights

 I had a sharp little 5km run before my online spin class last night - a mistake, as usual - and as I went through the town centre I found they were putting the Christmas lights up there and testing them out.

You've seen it before on here I'm sure, but I make no apology. It's very pretty and glittery, and there's not very much of that to be found at the moment.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.11.20

Walking Long and Getting Fat

I spent Christmas away with my Stepfather at my sister's nice little house in Bristol, where I had a lovely time and ate a lot. Far too much in fact, despite trying to keep an eye on things and not go to the pub.

We just wanted to be happy together after the crappy few months we've had as family. And it worked.

In my defence, I did stay active, taking in long walks around Horsfield Common and right out to Westbury on Trim to climb the mud up to Blaise Castle while sweletering in a boil in the bag set of waterproofs as the rain hammered down.

I would have been drier if I'd walked around naked, until I got arrested at any rate.

Blaise Castle isn't a proper castle at all, but rather a mini french style chateau folly that was very popular back in the day for folk with more money than sense to plonk on their estates to say they were the big "I am". It does have an imposing setting however, and I'd quite like to live in it. There's a pub not too far away.

There was also Badock's Wood with its Bronze Age burial mound I've shown you before. Saw a lovely grey wagtail on the Trym in this little reserve. I also saw a jay, a bird I've not seen in a very long time, on the golf course.

The most stunning of our crows, but a very retiring bird.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.12.19

Christmas with the Animals

It was the annual Christmas party today, the one we organise for our staff's kids.

This year, on my suggestion, we decided to hold it at White Post Farm, the little sort of petting zoo long standing readers may recall me visiting a few years ago on a bright day in October. I thought it might be nice for the kids at Christmas, and so it proved, with 200 or so of them meeting the reindeer and baby goats, and going to Santa's grotto and attending Elf Academy.

Obviously, this being an event organised by me, the weather was cold and wet, with me and my manager having to stand outside for 90 minutes collecting tickets while freezing our asses off while the little ones had a good time.

However, they were the important ones and seemed to enjoy themselves a lot, so I was happy. And it is a cute place.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.12.19

The Lights go on, Night and Day

Life goes on, the Christmas lights go on on. It comes around every year, the day when the market square is filled with stalls and music and stands selling luminous spinning thingies, and every year I go and have a look around and miss the fireworks.

Well this year I didn't, as in my new flat all I had to do was go out onto the street and watch the various fusillades being launched into the sky and filling the sky with orangey smog and the smell of sulfur.

It was actually quite impressive, wasteful though the virtuous side of my brain thinks fireworks to be, and the whole day seems to have been very successful judging by the crowds.

I'm starting to try and do a bit more running again after the last few weeks, managed a 32 minute 5km yesterday which is hardly earth shattering but still felt decent, and every night I jump on the exercise bike while watching youtube videos.

I'm not sure what else to do at the moment.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.11.19

Christmas Still Ongoing

The family are all still here, and of  course the two bengals, who last night spent literally two hours going completely mad and fighting each other for domination of the mini fishing rod. Dusty, the smaller and shyer of the pair constantly tried to get control of the sofa where the rod was wedged from Ziggy, the rather more bengally of the two brothers.

He had his backside kicked every time.

Now the two of them are sleeping next to each other on that sofa, where they are allowed to rest and strop as it is already falling to pieces.

I've been out for a walk for an hour to look at rubbish sales. Nothing good out there.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.12.18