That was a very pleasant Christmas. We enjoyed a very tasty Christmas lunch at home along with a friend and her dog. The loin of pork, from Mundesley Butchers, was excellent with crunchy crackling and all the usual accompaniments – crispy roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts and apple sauce, all followed by my homemade sherry trifle. While we ate, the dogs worked at removing the stuffing from their marrow bones and then gnawed the bones. In the morning we Skyped my Mum & Dad and spoke to our youngest son on the phone. More Skyping on Boxing Day when, our eldest son, our daughter in law and our grandson joined our youngest son and his fiancé for the day.

Boxing Day Line-Up

If anyone had considered joining in the Boxing Day swim, then this year had to be the year. The conditions for a December dip were just about as perfect as they could be. The thermometer in the garden was nudging 16ºC; there was a good expanse of sand, thanks to the recent overland winds, plus the tide was a relatively low 1.7metres. There was an excellent turnout of around forty swimmers plus spectators lining the top of the cliff, the zigzag and promenade. While the swimmers ran into the sea and emerged after their plunge into the North Sea, Peter captured them on his camcorder while I took photos. Peter’s video is on YouTube and I have posted some photos on Facebook as well as here in my Diaries.

Boxing Day Dippers

In the afternoon we took a walk with Barney across the back of the allotments and fields. We have had so much rain recently we have not walked this way for quite a few weeks. We have also avoided one of our regular walks to Northrepps because of the state of the paths. Peter had to carry Barney over sections of mud and because I was not concentrating on where I was putting my feet, I slipped. Fortunately I slid somewhat gracefully towards the ground and only the palms of my hands got muddy. ‘Wet’ and ‘warm’ are probably the best two words to describe recent weeks.

With Christmas over, it’s time to think about the New Year. With 2016 just days away, I am looking forward to the longer days, some home projects and a couple of family celebrations.

I find I tend to lose track of the days of the week between Christmas and the New Year. I was heartened today to find I am not the only one; the butchers at Mundesley were not sure whether it was Thursday. No doubt this time next week when the Bank Holidays are over and we are all back into the swing of things, returning to our normal day to day routines, we will once again be back on track with the days of the week.

We have enjoyed some good walks in the afternoons along the beach with Barney. There have been quite a few people about with their dogs; probably walking of the excesses of the previous few days and that includes both dogs and their owners. We also took a walk across the back of the allotments and along the field paths the other afternoon – this time I looked where I was going and did not slip up in the mud!

When we have not been out and about, I have been catching up on end of year paperwork, transferring photo files from CD/DVD’s to SD cards and publishing my novel, On the Verge, on Kindle. I have some good feedback from both Timotheus Pserimos Puss and On the Verge, and have been have asked for ‘more please’. I have only just started on the first short story that will form part of a compilation of tales from a Greek island but before I can give this any serious attention I need to publish my Greek recipe book, plus tackle a list of other ‘to dos’.

Last 2015 Field Walk

Despite there being a disco at the Conservative Club and Cliff as If (Cliff Richard tribute singer) at the White Horse, we are not planning to go out for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Neither of us likes loud music, which either makes conversation difficult or stifles it completely. We will be staying at home and Peter is going to barbeque steaks for dinner. Yes, you did read that right – a barbeque in December! Peter is an ace and tonight will be using a barbeque we purchased some years ago from a shop in Green Lanes, North London. This area of London is home to a thriving Greek/Cypriot community. We used to drive there to purchase Greek provisions and other delights, such as the barbeque. This is a particularly strong construction and can be used for souvlaki (kebabs), straight on the coals as well as having a rotisserie for joints and chickens (don’t worry Cate, you are quite safe)!

So all that is left now, is for me to –

New Years Eve BBQ

WISH ONE AND ALL,

A VERY HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR

© 2015 Overstrand Life - Janet's Diaries