Happy New Year

For the Annual Ramblings, please click here.

Well, here comes another one.  I'd love to enter each new year full of optimism, but the political climate does not help.  At least I no longer have the expense and worry of a second home, and am glad to report that the new owner, a thoroughly likeable Belgian doctor, tells me that he is feeling at home there.

Sorry to have been silent for so long: we seem to have caught the lurgy on our complicated journeys to and from London in mid-December, and are only now starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.  Martyn took to bed for a couple of days, and I had a few extended afternoon naps under the quilt as well.  I abandoned a day at the hobby at half-time one day between Christmas and new year, handing over to a colleague who could take the middle chair, and scuttling off home.  Yesterday's hobby session was better, but I was hoarse and coughing throughout, and the hour's tedious drive at either end of the day was Not Welcome.

We were Darby and Darby at home on Christmas Day, abandoning plans for a slow-cooked joint of beef in favour of a simpler roast-in-the-bag chicken from Fortnums.  At New Year we spent a pleasant evening in Gillingham with Marion, John, Dorothy and Derry.  Marion had prepared a delicious supper of Châteaubriand with a perfect potato gratin, thus setting a high standard for our catering in 2018!

So, as we embark on the interminable January, we are plotting adventures for later in the year, flying to Switzerland in June to explore the Graubünden by train, to the Baltic in July on our familiar big boat and then a long weekend in October at the flat we enjoyed so much in Porto, only taking Annie with us this time.  We might try to fit in some relief from the winter gloom, but have no firm plans in that direction.  Memo to nieces, nephews and charities: forget the inheritance!

We found Seville oranges today at Sainsbury's, so I shall get cracking on the marmalade tomorrow while Martyn is in London helping Kate with the Historia Facebook page.  So supper will be something that can chunter away gently while I do the marmalade.  Brisket joint thawing...