Snowy bonhomie and keeping cozy

I spent the next two days trying to sort out small gifts for friends and neighbours, and wrapping them. The weather being colder we cooked warm soups for lunch, and baked things in the evenings.


On the way to the post office I saw Maheena and Glen, and we were joking with each other. It had snowed again overnight, and I walked very carefully to the post office as there was black ice on the roads. I met another neighbour, and we chatted and joked. Complete strangers were telling each other to be careful and not to slip, and there was a lot of bonhomie about. While washing up, from the kitchen window I saw one neighbour in his 90s walking up the road to take his younger friend the newspaper.


On Saturday it was still snowing on and off. I noticed that we had paw prints of various sizes all over our garden, and bird prints. These were also over most neighbouring shed roofs, but our vandal neighbour's garden was pristine, no living thing had entered his space at all; it is as if the area has an invisible barrier around it.


In the evening we watched 'Merlin,' Colin Morgan plays Merlin, and he did a great job of acting when he found out that he was a dragon lord. We also saw another excellent Wallander, but the snowy wintry scenery seemed a bit too real and familiar.


On Sunday morning Poppy called round to say she was going to the shops and would we like her to get us some shopping too, we did not need anything, but thought it so kind of her to ask us. Lilu the dog has got a chest infection, and Poppy thought she may have got too cold with snow on her fur, and she ate lots of it too.


I have been listening to lots of music on Bing.com, especially crisantemi (Chrysanthemum) by Puccini, and all the spaghetti western music by Ennio Morreconi. The weather is very cold so we are keeping ourselves cosy during the evenings.

A Taste of Spain and other meals

Tania drove to Edgware, and then we went off to Baker Street where we met Evelyn. We walked to Regent's Park, had tea and a piece of cake at the Garden Cafe there, then looked at the rose garden.

Later we walked to Regent Street, which had been cleared of traffic for the day to host 'A Taste of Spain'. This was a promotional event for various regions of Spain to show their cultural heritage and sell things too. There were huge crowds attending, but everyone seemed in good spirits. Later I heard that the weather was warmer than Morocco at the time.

We had an enjoyable day although our feet were sore from standing and watching different displays. We went to Nando's and had a welcome meal and bottomless drink which revived us somewhat; we were too hungry to wait for the giant paellas to be cooked.

When we had seen everything and were really tired Tania and I decided to go home by bus. Evelyn, who is made of stronger stuff, went on to do some window shopping. As we bussed home we were pointing out places of interest to each other. Tania phoned Robert to say she was coming home, and he said that he was driving down to Mason's so that we could all go out for dinner!

We had dinner at our Man in the Moon which was fun, then we went home. As Tania and Robert were about to leave Poppy and Ben came out and were talking to us too. It turned out to be a very sociable day.

Self medication, masterful Myk and more music

On Saturday I had to give myself one of the mistletoe injections which went well, but when I had done it I stuck the needle into my hand by mistake which bled and was a bit painful. I was supposed to rest for an hour afterwards, so Salty and I read in bed for an hour, but as the story was a bit complicated for him he fell asleep.

Myk Tucker called round for signatures on a petition to stop huge trucks using our road as a shortcut when they have an alternative route. Myk in my opinion deserves a medal as he is constantly trying to protect our neighbourhood and environment and is tireless in his efforts.

Later I walked off to the library; by mistake I had returned the CD case to them, but had not returned the CD, the library people were very kind and, as I think I was looking a bit vague, they did not fine me. I took out two more music CDs and a book about alternative therapies on trial, then walked round the Broadwalk shopping centre before going home. Mas had spent all day trying to get his computer to work properly and fixing our garden swing.