CLEARING UP

Today was a clearing up day. My elder son is going off to Copenhagen tomorrow and then to Hong Kong next week for 6 months. So we had to empty the trailer laboriously brought back last week, wash the clothes he is going to take, store the stuff he isn't, and then fill the trailer up with rubbish from the barn. I will get rid of that at the dump, once I can find a car to pull it.

We also took down the Christmas decorations from the tree, and put them away until next year. The tree had to go out to the compost heap. However, while getting a Christmas tree - safely ensconced in its net, with its branches pinned to its trunk - into a living room is easy, getting one out again is another matter entirely, as the branches stick out at right angles and fir needles end up all over the place. Luckily, I got a new vacuum cleaner as a present this year, so I was able to hoover up afterwards.

We then had the remains of the Christmas turkey for dinner, so that has finally been finished off. Tomorrow will be a sort of fast day, probably combined with a cycle ride if the weather is not too bad. Then it's on to New Year's Eve and a new cycle of festivities starts.

Walter Blotscher