Are we referring to a Duke and his driving?

No, there is a closure at the foot of this piece (don’t scroll down!), but first, after eight and a half years, it was time to ‘let Harry go’.  It was obviously a bit sad to see him leave, but he’s off to new adventures, or maybe not-so-new because the person who bought him intends to live in him while house-hunting in France!

Harry waits for the new owner to come and collect him.

Harry with Franky behind and Rachel’s little Pur-Pur as well.

And then, for the New Year, ‘in with the new’, a VW camper van with 5 seats and a ‘pop-top’. He’s been named ‘Barney’ after the man I bought him off, and he takes up a lot less space on the drive!

– I can open the garage without moving the van, which is an immediate benefit, but the challenge of downsizing all the gear which came out of Harry to what will fit in Barney is almost as great as the house move, which is still ongoing.  Franky is still with me, with a ‘for sale’ sign in his window, but I haven’t done any serious advertising yet. He hasn’t said much … maybe he’s sulking. Maybe the days of chatty vehicles are over ….

Between Harry’s departure and Barney’s arrival came Christmas and New Year. I think we had a really good Christmas. The family (Sharlston branch) arrived on Christmas Eve in time to decorate the tree

before the traditional pancake-fest. (Traditional? Well, it has been in our families since the late sixties, so I think that qualifies!)

Shannon’s not really that tall – she’s standing on the step-stool,

I like cooking with wine …

Suitable preparations were made for Santa Claus to visit – the essentials did indeed appear as if by magic, because I didn’t provide them!

…  and on Christmas morning we all gathered in the living room at a fairly civilised 7.30 for Shannon to open the stocking’s contents.

Then they left me! Cinders in his scullery!

No, they asked whether I would like to be left alone or whether I’d like one or more persons to stay and help. I chose the former and sent them off to their own church in Wakefield (it’s not that far away). Turkey was roasted, veg and trimmings prepared, yes, sprouts too at the last minute, none of this stewing them nonsense! and the table set festivicately:

All in good time for everyone to have a good time!

But – what? no holly? There has to be a bit of green on the pudding ….

(What I forgot, and no-one else noticed, is that after I’d had the garden cleared I’d planted a shrubbery down one side with a variegated holly bush at the centre!)

Then it was presents

and on to the next event (which might become a tradition) – crumpets, cake, candles and crackers.

The next day, of course, was the Feast of Stephen (when Good King Wenceslas is supposed to have looked out) so Stephen-Keith prepared a feast, helped by Rachel.

The family from Linthwaite had been invited to the Boxing Day Bash and Barbecue, which began with a walk to the playground just down the road, where some adults couldn’t keep off the children’s playthings.

Attempts to get the fire going on the patio were only partially successful, so we gave up on the idea that some items such as pigs in blankets might be cooked on top (there was either too much flame, or not enough!),

but folk had fun, and ate plenty.

There was another exchange of presents, some disco dancing and carols by candlelight, but the only pictures taken were videos and the screenshots I’ve made show faces which mustn’t be seen here.

Later, there was a hearty home-made cock-a-leekie soup for grown-ups, while small people chose more familiar tomato …..  what happened to Shannon’s portion will remain untold!

Family left on Thursday 27th, and after a few days on my own, I decided Cumbria was calling and found a bargain (I think) B & B for New Year’s Eve at the Scafell Hotel in Borrowdale. £75? I think that’s a bargain. I could have spent another £65 on the Gala Dinner-Dance, but I chose to eat in the adjacent bar, where I found agreeable company (from Yorkshire!) and was still able to enjoy the private fireworks display in the hotel garden after midnight.

New Year’s Day was beautifully sunny, and the only difficulty was driving into the sun  for most of the day. I began with the ‘far side’ of Derwentwater, then turned south past Thirlmere to the usual spot between Grasmere and Rydal Water. No question of not going whiffling through the Tulgey Wood (OK – wandering down through Penny Rock Wood if you’re not into ‘Jabberwocky’) to spend a few moments in meditative remembrance at the lakeside. No new photos; I have so many, but these may not have been used before and are suitably seasonal:

Two days later Rachel and I took Shannon to visit Florence (Kirkby) in Newcastle. We had a nice lunch (though I say it – I prepared it the day before) and I showed F. photos of 141, my August Adventure, and our Christmas. Before we left, Shannon sang some of her Christmas concert items. Now for the sting in the tail ….

Less than a week later, we learned that Florence had died in hospital, after several falls in the last few days. I’m so glad we made that visit …

 Florence Kirkby MBE  1921 – 2019

A life-long friend.

R.I.P.