Wednesday 7th January - Ice. Amaryllis

 We thought we might go out this morning; if we go early the garden centre and cafe we like are usually almost empty, so I can wander around easily without worrying about the 'social distancing' which has to be a permanent fixture of my life.

But

In spite of the sunny morning, at 9 am the pavements and roads and the car were all so icy that it wasn't sensible to go out unless you had too! So we had coffee and toast at home instead. 

I went through the Christmas cards, saving a dozen that need replies for one reason or another, and updating the address list. I've tucked the address list in the box with the leftover cards ready to be put away until next year. I eyed up the cards... would I recycle them into crafts or tags, or recycle them into the recycling bin... bin it is. I'm trying to reduce the amount of stuff in the house, not add to it!

Job done. Another weight off my mind.

The last few Christmas bits have been put away; out of sight, out of mind. Excellent. 

We planted BB's Christmas amaryllis about a week ago, and it's showing a tiny sign of life.

 I'm looking forward to watching it grow.

It was so difficult to find things to interest my father during 2024, the year before he died. Everything he used to like doing, listening to music, tracing family history, reading books on history, reading 'the Economist', following the news and politics, all became too hard, took too much concentration. 

On spec I took him a couple of amaryllis bulbs. He was very sceptical and not particularly enthusiastic at first, but as they grew and grew admitted that they brought an interest into his day. After that we always included fresh flowers with his weekly grocery shopping which he also enjoyed. 

Well, I wonder which jobs I shall tackle tomorrow...

....

At my first secondary school (a brand new state grammar school) we had a superlative music department with an astonishing and ambitious music department. We actually put on the operetta 'Hansel and Gretel' by Englebert Humperdink, (the German composer, not the pop singer!) Here's one of the most famous songs