FIRE AND FROST

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The past couple of nights have been very cold,covering the roofs, the ground and the trees in a glittering white blanket of frost while rising mists and skies tinged with pink have made for some very pretty sunrises. The downside of all this is of course the perishing cold which has been more than sufficient to cause the customary damage to the legendary “brass monkey”!

I have now taken to wearing a thick fleece dressing gown over my thick fleece nightdress when I get up to look after Pa during the night ,or to check the status of the fire in the library at six in the morning. Both of our cats have found for themselves warm winter roosts, Twiggy snuggles down on my bed during the day taking advantage of the thick fur throw which keeps me warm at night.

During the night she sleeps on Pa's bed where she spends the night being cosseted by it's sleepless occupant.

Moth has chosen to remain downstairs in the library where the fire remains burning throughout the night, often sleeping on my chair beside the fire on yet another fur rug, or in her own snug cat bed in my son's study. Neither of the cats has shown any real interest in going outside since the severe frost began, I suppose it must be unpleasant to have ones paws in contact with the freezing ground and they are very wise to remain indoors where it is warm.

Cats are popular as pets in the village and our garden is regularly visited by seven different cats, one in particular, a handsome gentleman sporting a jet black coat, four white feet, long white whiskers and who rejoices in the name of “Socks” has taken things a step further and now comes in doors to warm himself before the fire and to explore.

His attentions are not exactly welcomed by the ladies, in fact this morning he was given “the bums rush” in no uncertain terms by an irate Twiggy when he had the temerity to venture upstairs. Small and dainty she may be but when she is angry she is a fearsome beast indeed.

The buggy repair man came today and I now have my wheels back,for which relief, much thanks, I do so hate to be grounded and must get out into the fresh air every day or I very soon become sleepy and sluggish. It really was very kind of him to come out so soon after Christmas and it is easy to see why he came so highly recommended.

I expect it is a combination of spending too much time indoors, eating too much and of course spending half the night awake which has made me feel so tired of late, oh well, only a couple more days of over indulgence and then it will be back to “Doctor Doom's Death or Glory diet!”

With the New Year will come forays in to the lanes to pick catkins and pussy willows for the vases,already daffodil bulbs are pushing through the frozen ground and are several inches high among the leaf litter under the trees at the bottom of the garden. But for now the pleasures of hearth and home are more than enough for a tired but very happy Avie.