THE FIRST FROST OF WINTER

Yesterday evening the temperature took a tumble and for the first time I felt cold enough to need the radiators in my bedroom. By midnight the sky was crystal clear and the stars looked brighter than ever,I made myself a hot drink,put an extra rug on my bed and snuggled down to sleep again.

During the night a sharp frost had formed,the grey slate roof was transformed in to a glittering carpet of crystals, each one reflecting the suns rays. The lawn was white and the morning mist was rising in the valley,I stood and watched as the mist thinned and vanished as if it had never been.

My reverie was cut short by the arrival of my friendly squirrel who took advantage of my position at the window to importune for peanuts by scratching at the glass with his tiny claws. I obliged ,of course.

I hurried downstairs to wake Pa and tend the fire, the both soon stirred in to life, the one with fresh logs and the other with a cup of hot coffee. Our cleaner was expected a nine so we needed to be up and about.

The little lady arrived on time and I made sure that she had coffee and cookies before she started work ,you never saw anyone work so hard as this “Wonder woman”!

We chat a lot while she makes our home beautiful and we have become good friends.

Today we arranged that she should come to us for Christmas and bring the children as her partner will be visiting his own children in another part of the country. It will be lovely to have youngsters in the house again on Christmas day.

The business of writing Christmas cards took up most of the afternoon and I confess I find this task increasingly difficult as the years go by. Holding a pen is most painful but it is such a pleasure to choose the right card for each friend or relation that I am loath to give it up until I really must.

The whole house sparkled by the time the cleaning was done and I prepared dinner in an immaculately clean kitchen with the cat for company.

Night has fallen and the frost,which never truly went away is back with a vengeance, I shall be sure to remember to fill my hot water bottle tonight.

All is quiet in the village now, only the owls are out in the darkness about their business, the stars are out and the air is still, the vanished morning mist is creeping over the lawn towards the house like a ghost and the shrubs seem to be floating above the ground. More magic,I love it.