Snow 2013

Fresh crisp snow

Don't you just love it? No sarcasm here, I think it's great. The gentle crunch beneath your feet as you walk around in it. The secrets that it gives away about who or what has crossed your path since it fell. The clean and bright look that covers the wet muddy mess underneath and all the half finished jobs that, for a short time, disappear out of sight and out of mind until the thaw.

This morning I put the snow chains on the car for the first time, thank you mum, and went with Jane to the point where the road was clear of ice before removing them and walking home again. Amongst this mornings foot prints were deer, fox, cat, cow, rabbit and lots of little bird prints. You could clearly pick up on the various routes each of these animals followed regularly apart from the birds who appear to be short of a few marbles.

There are only a few negatives to this cold. Firstly we're burning more wood than we would otherwise. Secondly, the kids don't get to school and finally my ongoing projects outside have to be put on hold.

With the recent collapse of Chateau Antoinne, I am now hoping to swing the balance in favour of an in-ground swimming pool. I realise it will require regular maintenance but I do believe that if we had it we'd all make great use of it and it would probably help to give us a healthier life style. It would be great for parties too with girls in bikinis and cocktails in floating chairs, but I couldn't possibly add that to my sales pitch.

A huge set back

Having given myself the project of trying to retain and restore the ruins, AKA Chateau Antoinne, before they were totally consumed by the weather, this weekend saw a huge backward step. Possibly quite a lucky backward step as it happens. Earlier in the week I had stripped back all the ivy on the inside walls and it has since become apparent that that was that was holding the main end wall up.

I am now left with the dilemma of weather or not the building has gone too far. If it has, then the next question is whether to flatten it and start from scratch or not. Once again this will be a decision that we will only be able to make after talking to the Mayor. The benefit of starting from scratch is that we can start with a blank piece of paper subject to planning constraints of course. Watch this space.

First birthday of the year.

Well today is Sashas 10th birthday. Unfortunately she is starting to show her age now as she is even reluctant to follow me down the drive to check for post.

We've had some great times over the years. Only a few weeks in and we'd thought we'd made a terrible mistake as J & K used to cower in fear on the sofa as she stole their toys. The night I was telling Rob about how she'd sauntered up and had a pork chop off my plate earlier in the week only for her to do the same to Rob minutes later with his Tandori chicken. Touring France with her in the motor home, puppies, eloping with the neighbours orange affro retriever, more puppies. Happy birthday pupps.

2013 has kicked off well with me cutting back the booze, 1 week dry, Jane and I starting a joint diet, and the backs of our colds but unfortunately the start of Joshes. I have almost finished building a set of concrete steps up to the back garden which I hope will avoid any more accidents in the future.

We are guest free until the end of February, which seems an eternity away, so if anyone fancies a short break, head on over.