Hallo all. Hasn't stopped raining here all day - two more days of it - BUT the weather in the UK has been making headlines on the radio and telly! Will catch up with chat later.
I also remember a snatch of a choirboy version of that carol from years ago:
While shepherds washed their socks by night All seated on the ground A bar of Sunlight Soap came down
unfortunately i don't recall the last line!
Weather here on the Costa del Solway at midday is bright sunshine, but still minus five degrees in the back garden. Yesterday morning's thick snow (one to two inch!) is still lying and of course no grit and little traffic on local roads, so it's a stay at home day.
Plenty of washing up for me to do following yesterday's family visit. At least I can watch the variety of birds out of the kitchen window as I 'work'. How do the birds manage in such low temperatures? They were all around and about for breakfast at minus twelve degrees!
Eagle-eye I remember that version too! I think we sang
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated round the tub
A bar of Sunlight soap came down
And they began to scrub.
Sorry about the double spacing. Don't know how to stop it happening after a return.
We have lovely sunshine here today but it's still freezing out of the direct sunlight. My neighbour, who ventured out by car a short time ago says the main road is not too bad and the hill from the town to our turn off is passable with care. Don't know that I'll chance it tonight, though.
Eagle Eye, The version we remember is
While shepherds washed their socks by night
A bar of sunlight soap came down
And they began to scrub
Well done Patriciat, you remembered before me.
Afternoon to all haven't posted for a while but have been keeping up to date and thanks to everyone for their posts and pictures. It has been snowing here all morning and when I was out feeding the birds cleared a bit of the path to the bins and the hut but have had more snow and you wouldn't know I had cleared any path.
Took SiL and her sister out on Wednesday to do food shopping at M&S for the food for our C dinner and we then went for a bar lunch at a local hotel. The bird seed that I had ordered on the 6th arrived on the 17th and normally it is a next day delivery.
I am also a bit of a chocoholic and am a member of a chocolate club and used to get a box once a month but I put it back to once every 3 months and I then limit myself to 2 chocolates a day and therefore the box lasts me about 2 weeks.
It is still snowing slightly so I think I am going to be housebound for another few days. Hope everyone manages to keep warm and those on the southern hemisphere manage to keep cool.
george g
Afternoon all,
OG : Its funny you should mention the wagtail being so dark because that was the reason I noticed it in the first place. It is probably the darkest one I have seen.
GeorgeG : I am sorry it is snowing again and that you wont be able to get out and about. I was amazed that the Dundee v Stirling game was on yesterday but glad it was as Dundee won 2-0.
We have been out and about delivering Christmas cards locally. Still extremely cold when I took Hamish out. He was in fast trot mode today so whizzed along. Also met another 2 dogs which he took exception to even though one of them was a cocker.
Keep warm everyone.
3 to 4 inches of snow but very icy and slippy underfoot. No sunshine, just grey and dismal. Just noticed yet another flash warning for us from 2pm for more heavy snow. I am now thinking that our Christmas plans may have to be changed if this continues.
What a mixture of weather we are reporting. We have the snow, Diane is snowed inside her house: Annette is having too much rain and AQ is too hot.
Annette, I prefer the chocolate digestives. The plain ones last much longer in the cupboard.
Alan, That is a brilliant photograph of your pied wagtail. Shows all the detail so clearly. I can see your grass ! I hope it stays that way for you. I guess you will be watching the final of the Apprentice tonight. It will be interesting to see which one he chooses., Stella English (30) or Chris Bates (23)
OG, We always had our dinner on Christmas day but, like you, we allowed the children to open a parcel from under the tree, when we returned home after Midnight Mass, but we would still have a long wait for them to go to sleep, so that Father Christmas could leave his presents in their rooms. Loved your Father's version of the carol ( washing the turnip tops) I haven't heard that one
Eagle-Eye, It looks as though you will have plenty of washing-up to do from that lovely spread you enjoyed with the family yesterday.
Patriciat, Sorry if you don't make it to your carol concert but you are right, the roads will be worse for your journey home. We heard thunder when it was snowing yesterday, but didn't see any lightning.
Wendy, That's a pity you don't need help eating the chocolates. They sound delicious.
Linda, Like your Christmas avatar.
George, As always, great to hear from you. I forget, did you say you have snow tyres fitted to your car? Are you cooking Christmas dinner or your S-i-L?
Thanks for all your posts.
Morning all: Rained all night - scared to look out front door in case I see a moat of mud around the house where the landscape folks dug trenches to update plumbing. Oh well. No control over weather so not to worry.
Alan: Super shot of wagtail - you can see how soft his tummy feathers are.
OG: Wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of a peck from that rook (now have to find out difference between rook, crow, and raven). Digestives are definitely chocolate (I have plain and milk) - they're back out in the garage out of harm's way again. Nice spread there, but am busy admiring that dining room set. We have light maple with brushed stainless steel handles for our kitchen cabinets and an ancient oak round table for dining. Don't match at all, but oh well....
Lindybird: We have copped out again and put up our litle plug-in tree with fibre optic lights.
AQ: Any chance you can put your feet up once family arrives - ha! Silly question I know. They'll all leave and the place will look like a tornado went through.
Eagle-eye: Had to smile again at Costa del Solway. Good for you helping out with washing up! That's what my OH does - except he forgets where things go and I find all kinds of glassware, etc., on the countertop waiting for a home - but that's fine.
George: You must be a godsend in this weather, taking SiL and her sister out shopping - want to run some errands for me? :-)
Brenda: Oh dear; do hope weather isn't too disruptive. I've been know to buy cookies that are second-ranked favorites just so I don't cram the entire package in my mouth in one sitting.
Have a bunch of stuff to do today; heavy rain forecast - looks like Friday will be the only day without rain this week. Charming. Still much better than 80 degrees F on Christmas Day - hate that!!
Take care all.
Well in the end we didn't have any more snow yesterday but it was very cold so I think several usual members of our choir audience were missing, they missed an excellent concert (if I do say so myself)! I might go down to the church Carol Service tonight, I do like the nine lessons and carols. Temp down to minus 8 overnight and minus 5 at 9 am. Silloth got the snow that OG had yesterday but it didn't come inland as far as me.
Must go and watch Strictly on the i-player now, unfortunately I have already read your comments on the results! Kara was my choice but I missed the semi-final and the final due to concerts.
Terry in Cumbria
TerryM Glad your concert went well despite weather disruption. I've just had youngest dog for a short walk and have now definitely decided I can't risk going to our Carol Service this evening. It's in the centre of Belfast, only about 12 miles away but up and down hills, some of which are on untreated roads. My OH is disabled and he was very concerned about the idea of me making the double journey after dark when temperatures are even lower than now. Before his condition deteriorated, he would have insisted on driving me but now can't drive. Oh well, can't be helped.