WHITE STUFF

I have decided I will not be giving up my journal completely, I would miss it too much and I would miss you all too much.

So, for the time being I shall be doing occasional entries but not going back to writing every day.

We woke up this morning to white stuff - yes - snow. Very unusual in our little corner of the world. When we do have it, it always falls overnight so nobody (except nightworkers) actually sees it fall. Of course, it has rapidly melted now. The temperatures have risen to three above freezing and a weak sun has been shining. So that may be all the snow we see this winter.

I was sorry for the boys. The day they both went back to school, the thing they had wanted most happened. So now they will not get the chance to play in it unless Mother Nature decides to give us some more.

We had a quiet New Year. The boys are far too young to stay up for it, Dean was on stand-by from work and could have been called out at any moment. We did watch the spectacular fireworks from London and had a glass of wine to see in the New Year. Well, mine was more soda water than wine but at least it had some alcohol in it.

Years ago Mike and I used to go away with our caravan, every weekend and all our holidays. We belonged to a rally club. We would go away in all weathers, rain, fog, snow. Our neighbours thought we were totally barking mad. However, we had such fun with our many friends. On the Saturday night, whoever was running the rally (sometimes Mike and myself) had to book a hall where we could have our socials. These were wild affairs with lots of drinking and dancing.

We had a super D.J., Roy P. He was just one of the members but he was really into music and had all the equipment. He gave his time freely and willingly so that the rest of us could enjoy ourselves. He also always had the very latest in releases. We all partied to YMCA and such other hits, doing all the actions. At the end of the evening we were always exhausted. I simply could never live that lifestyle again but we have wonderful memories believe me.

Anyway, Mike and I were very upset to learn that Roy, who became a good friend in those far off days, and his wife Barbara, lost their lives in a housefire between Christmas and the New Year. Such a sad end to someone who, over the years, gave such pleasure to hundreds of people. They were only a couple of years older than ourselves. Hopefully, they were overcome by the smoke and did not suffer.

I have been unable to exercise as I would like as I have a bad sciatic attack at the moment but I have been doing upper body exercises. Becky and Dean bought their Wii over yesterday and Becky and myself spent quite a long time playing Samba De Amigo. You hold maracas and have to follow the dots that appear on the screen and shake the maracas in time to the music, moving your arms above your head, to the sides of your body etc. I did quite well at it and felt as if I had had a good work-out when we finished. I would love to get one of these machines but money will not allow.

After we had taken all the decorations down which we did the day after Boxing Day, I started catching up on some reading. I am an avid fan of Strictly Come Dancing. So, I have already finished the life story of Len Goodman, the head judge and also the life story of Craig Revel Horwood. Both excellent books and I highly recommend them. If I could only pick one it would be, surprisingly, Craig's book, because of its total frankness. He writes of his alcoholic Father, his days as a drag queen and his bi-sexuality which eventually settled into homosexuality and various relationships plus his encounters on Strictly. I could not put it down.

Anyway, lunchtime now so I had better get off here and get that sorted. Then I am going to rest my back. I have a ghost story book I have just started on so might well have a couple of tales to share with you in the near future.

I hope to catch up with all your journals later in the week.