Early Risers.

[Dave Hunt]

Christmas greetings to all and even sundry. I haven't been visiting ERs for a couple of weeks now due to unforeseen circumstances that threatened to let the black dog get out of his kennel but fortunately all is now well and I am back to normal (yes, I know that isn't much to write home about but it's the best I can do). I won't bore you with the details but once Christmas is out of the way I should be back to darkening the doors of ER again. In the meantime, have a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year.

 

Dave

 

PS, I haven't read all the posts from the last couple of weeks so if there's anything I should know about, let me know. 

[PhilJ W]

A happy Christmas to you all from Estuary-Land.

[southern42]

7 hours ago, PupCam said:

Of course, it's all academic anyway because I can't remember when I last saw a lovely clear, crisp night with no wind. 

 

Stables, donkey diets and clear starry night skies aside, there's more than one way of capturing heavenly objects.

 

 

[southern42]

Wishing you all a very

Merry Christmas

from red dragon land.

[Ozexpatriate]

As both hands approach the top of the clock in GMT - Seasons Greetings to you all. 

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Dave, the MR is still "The Best Route", so all is well. 

 

Better be off to bed soon as I see that Santa's train schedule takes in most of Dorset early on; starting at Gillingham and ending at Weymouth.

Wonder what his sack will bring?

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone 

 

Well, today has been a day of unspecified pottering, mostly in the office, getting to grips with templot. I’m not trying to do my whole layout on it, mainly doing 3 way points and double slips, but I’ve printed off what I want and I’m now quite happy to do the rest in situ, as I build the layout. 

 

The evening was rounded off by watching some recorded Tv and consuming a nice bottle of Aussie red. 

 

I’ll finish off by wishing you all a very Messy Merry Christmas.

Edited December 25, 2023 by BSW01

[BSW01]

Goodnight all 

[Coombe Barton]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

[Darlington_Shed]

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

[Erichill16]

20 hours ago, Erichill16 said:

Sounds are coming from the kitchen, I think  I’d better make an appearance, sprouts don’t peal themselves!

Apparently they do, well by the time I got to the kitchen they were already peeled.

 

More importantly,

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Robert

Edited December 25, 2023 by Erichill16

[iL Dottore]

Merry Christmas, One and All! 🎂🥃🍺🎅🏻🥂

 

iD

 

p.s. The tiny, young, sprouts don’t need peeling - just trimming off the hard stalk. Ooops, maybe I should’ve mentioned this earlier before everyone started peeling their sprouts 😯 

 

[roundhouse]

Merry Christmas. May you be filled with as many mince pies as your heart 's desire... even if that maybe none at all.

 

My brother sailed into St Georges in  Grenada yesterday  after over 20 days crossing the pond. He's going to have wobbly legs for a few days when walking on land.

Edited December 25, 2023 by roundhouse

[Barry O]

Ey up!

Seasons greeting!

 

If only..

 

We had a way of keeping the Black Dog safely locked away..

 

Everyone was fit and well over the Festive Season

 

And, thanks to @southern42 we need  a Groan button...

 

Off to start vegetable preparations..

 

Have as good a day as you can which ever way you want to spend the day.

 

Baz

Edited December 25, 2023 by Barry O
Spellung

[grandadbob]

Good morning  and a very Merry Christmas to one and all.

Still dark but dry for now although rain, possibly heavy, is forecast and may start falling shortly. 12°C and might reach 14°C.

The Boss is already preparing things in the kitchen, I'm keeping out of her way unless summoned.

A lazy afternoon and evening was spent in front of the TV and I overdosed on Scrooge watching no less than 3 versions of the story with Alistair Sim, George C. Scott and Albert Finney in the starring role.  I'd already watched the Patrick Stewart version a couple of days ago so I am now officially Scrooged* out.  Bah. Humbug.  Beer and brandy may have been sampled along the way. 

*Still haven't watched that one.

Our visitors will start arriving about 11.00 and there will be 10 of us here for the day and all but 2 staying overnight and tomorrow.   I'm expecting a very hectic but enjoyable day.  Santa has delivered and there are quite a few parcels spread around the tree and elsewhere.  As a family we really like and celebrate Christmas, not so much from the religious aspect but Peace & Goodwill does mean a lot to us.

Thoughts are with all those who are under the weather, ailing, suffering or trying to keep the dark animal at bay.  I'm well acquainted with the latter and know how hard it is. 

I bettagettamoveon even though I have not yet been instructed to do so.

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited December 25, 2023 by grandadbob

[jjb1970]

Happy Christmas all!! Alas, Milton Keynes is grey rather than white and cooking Christmas lunch in an Airbnb kitchen is less than great, but mustn't grumble.

[TheQ]

 

Nollaig Chridheil

to 

you 

AWL

Mooring Awl,

Not enough sprouts have been eaten, as the wind has dropped tremendously. Though it's still quite breezy.

5 hours solid sleep,

Followed by sleep, wake with lower side in pain, turn over and repeat. But I think I've got about 7 hours in total. 

Awake was dominated by thoughts of finishing the tin shed doors. Decisions have been made, the original angled cross beams of metal will be cut up to provide top and bottom cappings.

 

Ben the sleeping again Collie, was rushing around the garden, stopping, looking back, saying keep up, and rushing off again.

 

Read another book past night, that's 5 in 6 nights, all sailing, starting with "The Mutiny on the Bounty" the historical story written in 1831 ,not the dramatisation. Large sections of letters written by those involved, and transcripts of sections of the Courts Martial.

 

Then a book on the life of a square riggers seaman from getting wet to being Captain, although not published till 1966 by the captain's daughter, it starts in the 1860s,

 

Then a book on someone who started sailing in square riggers in the 1920s, through to post WW2, till he ran out of boats to sail on.

 

Then a book on someone, who just manage to get training on square riggers, got some square rigged sailing in but ended up being a journalist with the odd sailing trip thrown in.

 

Next was an American who always wanted to sail, building his  own boats , built minesweepers during WW2, eventually settling in Tahiti, having a series of sailing adventures.

 

Then last night it was William Robert ( better known as Robin) Knox Johnson's trip round the world in Suhaili

 

Next will be Naomi James round the world book..

 

SWMBO has just got up, and is getting Ben's breakfast with hidden anti arthritis pill.

Shortly I'll move to make my breakfast, wind up the fire, etc.

 

Time to have a muggacoffee.

 

 

 

[DaveF]

Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope that whatever you are doing you have a good day.

 

After a quiet evening reading and watching TV I went to the midnight service at churh and got home just before 1 a.m.  I've had quite a good sleep, eaten breakfast and will shortly set out for the Christmas Day service.  

 

The food is already to go in the oven/on the hob as needed and I have a list of the times when everything has to be done.  Dinner is a simple turkey joint, pigs in blankets, stuffing, roast parsnips plus at least two other veg (including sprouts), roast potatoes, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and gravy.  I think I must be a traditionalist.  Presents will be opened while I have my coffee when I get back from church.  This afternoon there will be phone calls to relatives, just after the King's speech because they will all watch it and Christmas Dinner will have been eaten.

 

Then it is relax a bit and probably have a fairly early night.  There are no groceries to come tomorrow so I don't have to rush in the morning.

 

David

[BlackRat]

Greetings One and all.
 

My very best wishes for Christmas to you and yours, and here’s to a healthy, prosperous and peaceful new year.

 

Just off to run in a Accurascale choo choo that Santa brought.

 

Have a great day, and thoughts to those whose Christmas isn’t as it should be.

[PhilJ W]

A happy Christmas morning to you all from Estuary-Land. I awoke to the sound of the next door neighbours little girls (5 and 7) opening their Christmas presents. Not because they are noisy but the walls are rather thin. Time now to put the kettle on and prepare breakfast, be back later.

[grandadbob]

The Boss seems to have everything (including me) well under control and I've just been told to keep out of "her" kitchen and have a muggacoffee.  I can do that.

I must admit that the one thing I do really miss now all our grandkids have grown up is having ankle biters around opening their presents early on Christmas morning.  However today we will have Darren's 7 yo daughter with us later this morning and I'm told that she is one very excited young lady so that's something to look forward to.

[Flanged Wheel]

Happy Christmas to you all from a sultry Malaysia! I do hope everyone has a very wonderful day!

[TheQ]

The building over the river is the day boat hire shed.. but you need a boat to get to it at the moment, three rivers have broken their banks with the tidal surge.

[New Haven Neil]

Nollick Ghennal!

 

Morning, may you all have a great day, however you celebrate or spend the day.

 

We're taking Donk out for his picnic as usual, destination probably Fleshwick Bay, wayyy down south. Donkeys are of course central to the Christmas story, as he often reminds us.

 

The Q's and Roundhouse's posts reminded me that somewhere in the family photo heap we have a shot of me as a small boy meeting Sir Francis Chichester, whom my Dad had recognised when we were visiting somewhere I forget.  Sir Francis was very gracious to have been recognised, especially when he found my Dad was a professional seafarer (Chief Engineer).  I'm proudly holding a huge ice cream in the photo!  Must try to see where they all are, after 5 moves in a year when we first came here (house was late building) many things were lost or are in boxes we still haven't opened in 20 years.