Carol of the Bells

Hummmmmmm a different take!

2007 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

We saw the tree being placed but not lit up!
Looks lovely!

Rat watch and the power of Christmas cards!

With William killing a large rat yesterday, I was a little worried that the chickens were possibly the cause of large vermin being so close to home. So, clutching a small torch I ventured out into the night to watch if the dirty little buggers were indeed raiding the hen's food. It was bloody cold but after an hour, not one could be seen (I was very relieved), However two barn owls circled the field several times, with one rather beautiful bird landing silently on the top of the duck house! I watched them both for ages, with them flying off only when I was sniffing snot quite loudly.

Chris is away again with work, so things are pretty quiet, but at least I have decorated the living room so it feels a little more Christmasy. Radio 4's womans' Own had a very witty piece on Christmas Cards. The gist of it concentrated on the banality and uselessness of card giving (albeit in humorous way) -http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2007_50_wed.shtml- and it got me to thinking of what I actually feel about this tradition.

I love getting Christmas cards! especially ones from people I see infrequently. You know the type of card I mean-! tastefully chosen ( no cheap baubles!!) with a brief "catch up" written on the inside, no round robin photocopy supplement (yerch) but a brief token of remembrance! "I remember you!!" wave, that's what is important. I still send and receive cards from people I know I will probably never see again, and that is fine! just taking the time to write and send them means that the briefest of contact is carried on and the acknowledgement of the fact that they were important to you is continued! I think that this tradition sums up Christmas much more powerfully than gifts and family nosh ups!

Jobs

Full of snot! But feeling much better, I seem to have got a lot done today. Fitted a new cat flap for Joan ( whoopie shit!) then went to the Church to help paint the new radiators. My fellow helpers were a trifle deaf, so the painting was done in silence which was rather restful as the winter sun was shining through the stained glass windows.

The dogs went round to Carol's when I was busy, and William made himself useful by finding and killing a huge rat in their garden! (I saw the body and it was huge!)

Planted a load of cyclamen on Fin's grave this morning and cleared most of the back garden of dead wood as well, so I feel I have made the most of the sunny day.

Maude

Although I still feel as though I have a subdural haematoma, the dogs still need walking and the hens still need feeding. Maude ( centre) decided to try her wings out this afternoon and although I have clipped all of the ducks' wings, she gracefully glided across the field in a matter of 3 seconds! Then being one of tight knit flock, she spent the next 30 minutes hysterically trying the join the others o the other side of the electric fencing! Feeling like shit, I was in no mood for histrionics, but finally caught her just as it went dusk! (whilst swearing like an old trouper!)
Spoke to Nu this evening ( who said I should be knocking back the day nurse, as it gave her an unnatural high), Siobhan e mailed me too, to let me know that Gethin is dating Opera Diva kathryn Jenkins...................................I don't believe it!! ....lucky bitch

10,000 B.C. Trailer

Like the forthcoming I AM LEGEND, I am looking forward to see this boys' own action piece!

Needles in Eyes

One of my favourite film quotes is from the 1983 film Terms of Endearment¬ I often misquote Garrett Breedlove's famous put down to Aurora Greenway's offer to "come in".- a waspish

"I'd rather stick needles in my eyes. ".

Well today I feel as though I have actually stuck those needles in my eyeballs as I have come down with a nasty head cold. Dragged myself to work this morning then had to concede defeat as I had a hot flush at 10am with a temperature of 38.5 ! I left Chris on dog,hen and duck duty and came home and went to bed for the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon.

Grumpy and hot I got up to watch the lovely Gethin get through to the semi finals of Strictly Come Dancing . Pity about Letitia getting kicked out.....

House of Mirth

The House of Mirth (2000) turned up on TCM yesterday, and I am so glad that I caught it again before Chris got home. I had totally forgotten just how good Gillian Anderson was in her role of tragic heroine Lily Bart. She perfectly captures a woman before her time! who is caught within the tight Edwardian protocols of East Coast society which ultimately destroys her dreams and future. The scene where Lily finally breaks down in front of old suitor Eric Stoltz is truly heartbreaking