It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

The weather has been difficult this week …    We have had huge quantities of rain falling on the already quagmire-like field, making it almost impossible for me to consider walking around up there as now, with my osteoporosis, I cannot risk falling.  We have had bright sunshine too, thunder and hail.  Everything except snow has arrived in St André.

Last Sunday St Nicolas du Pélem had its Christmas Market in the town.  It was lovely!  Lots of different foods to try and a good atmosphere, as usual very well supported in spite of the weather.  

Alexi tried something from every food stall, I’m not sure how he managed to eat so much – a cheese and egg galette, six oysters, wine, scallops, wine and lastly sweet crèpes. 

Most of the week, outside tasks have been impossible so, Alexi, my current Workawayer, has been painting instead.  When the weather was kinder Alexi and I built new compost bins and he has been transferring the “still to rot” stuff into these.  

Dan has also been over and fitted a new landing floor and changed the base of the Middle Cottage bedroom basin, so we are now ready to finish decorating and start cleaning up. 

On Wednesday I joined a group of Facebook friends in a Rostrenen café to meet them face to face and have a coffee or, in my case, two hot chocolates.  

It was good to actually see people and have a pleasant and interesting morning with them.  We will do it again.

There is a small triangle of land at the end of my garage belonging to my absent neighbour.  The branches of the three trees on this plot, two elders and a scuffy small oak, were all interfering with the electricity cables which cross the area.  We felt that this might be what was causing the frequent small power cuts we get and so another neighbour, Ronan,cut them down completely. 

I have benefitted in having the wood which yet another neighbour, Christian, chain sawed for me to season for a year or so before using in the woodburner.

My GP had decided I need to monitor my blood pressure at home for three days.  I did this and the results were not good.  It has been gradually increasing and so after seeing the results prescribed medication.  It is a two-edged sword  - I have lost weight/fluid but get up too many times each night to pee.  I am already tired, so this isn’t a good effect.  Not sure why I’m so exhausted, but I am and hate not having any energy to do anything – it’s just not me.

My neighbours delivered a cord of wood this afternoon and Alexi stacked it away in the log shed.  It's very handy having my log supplier as my next door neighbour.  

Nilly, my new kitten, sat and watched as they threw the logs threw the air and seemed quite disappointed when they had finished and driven away.

As usual, Maggie helped me sort out my Christmas tree and I decorated it with just a few of the glass decorations I have made this year - not the best photo as it was daylight.  I was too worried about Nilly knocking them out of the tree to use too many - so far she has behaved well, so I may add more ...

Three things I like:

1.  All Christmas presents have been bought and wrapped - always good ...

2.  Christmas cards arriving and being arranged on the mantelpieces and windowsills ...

3.  Food and wine sorted pretty much, except for the last minute fresh things ...

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!