jonny777

Sunset over the power station.

Crepuscular rays

Given the tons of edible food which every supermarket chucks away each week, it makes a lot of sense.

Hooray. Home at last after almost 6 hours of fog, 20mph queues, burnt out coaches and multiple Audis switching lanes in order to gain a couple of cars length on everyone else in 5 miles. However, nutjob of the day goes to the Mercedes driver I followed for a while on the M25 in Essex, who was driving in fog with no lights on at all. However, on entering the Holmesdale Tunnel where dipped headlights are advisory, he switched them on. Hooray, I thought, and he might consider how many miles he has travelled before being reminded. But no. On exiting the tunnel back into 200m visibility he switched his lights off again.

Hello from a very frosty Norfolk. Fog seems to have lifted a bit over the last 90 minutes. Took Dad shopping yesterday evening and he should have enough to keep him going until next Tuesday when he can shuffle to the bus stop 50 yards away and collect his pension.

Decided on M4 M25 M11 and found it not too bad. Very little fog, although only one dolt decided to immediately switch on his rear fog lamp at its brief appearance. Unfortunately it also coincided with him braking suddenly from 70 to 50mph in the middle lane. No doubt his smugness on being the one person to react immediately to a potentially dangerous situation, made him blissfully unaware that he had almost caused an almighty pile-up.

Although Oxford is showing -5C and freezing fog. Something to be avoided IMO.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have tried the A34 / A43 route in the past but it involves about 100 roundabouts.

Can I just add for clarity that my Dad is 93, has a dodgy bladder and suffers from bouts of memory loss/panic.

Hello from a cold and frosty Somerset. Time to take my Dad back to Norfolk, but which is best to avoid fog and ice, plus random nutter drivers; M5, M42, M6, A14 - or M4, M25, M11? Decisions, decisions......

I don't care about all these photos of strange food items. However, I do care about Exeter Central; and because it is Chritsmas this is 30452 leaving Exeter Central on 29th June 1957.

Sorry to be a bit serious and pedantic, but no I don't. Raving alcoholics would not get any drink as presents, believe me. I have a bottle of Dalwhinnie single malt - and that is lovely, although my youngest son and I are sampling and comparing my Christmas beers; so if I post a diatribe of nonsense in an hour or two you will know why.

I didn't like the descant to O Come All Ye Faithful, but then I am a traditionalist where carols are concerned; and am not keen on these modern attempts to add extra arrangements to something which sounded great in the first place. And, as far as I am concerned, no carol service is complete without an extremely loud rendition of 'Hark The Heralds' to finish.

As you mention Carols From Kings, was I the only person who thought the choir had all been taught not to properly pronounce the letter "R" when singing? 'Once In Loyal David's City' sounded wrong to me, as did 'Ding ###### Mellily On High'. Maybe it is how choirs are taught these days, or maybe I had been on the single malt.... Edited to add; this PC word censor is now getting ridiculous. Soon there will be no words left that do not have sexual connotations.

Merry Christmas from a mild but windy Somerset. I did not have time to get everyone here a proper present, so this is Tregenna Castle on the turntable at Carmarthen on the 24th of March 1962; by way of compensation.

Belated good morning from a bright and breezy Somerset. I had to be out early to miss the madness of later today, when the streets are filled with last minute shoppers who are in an ever increasing panic because they cannot find a present; and then later they are joined by the bargain hunters who wait until perishable goods are marked down by supermarkets just before closing. Although I have no objection to either of these activities, I just can't be bothered doing all that myself. I would rather pay extra and get produce early; then sit on the sofa with a glass of cider and relax. So, it was out after 9 a.m. and pick up extra veg that we seem to have run out of; mainly because carrots, peas and assorted beans seemed to have a poor year on the allotment. I think I am all sorted now, and have only another batch of mince pies to bake.

Our fire is lit, but I haven't put much coal on today as it is rather mild outside, and coal is not cheap these days.

Er..... well since you asked - 1970, 1981 and 2010.

I suppose a turkey could be microwaved, if it would fit inside the machine. After all, in some US states they deep fry turkeys by simply dropping them in a bucket of very hot oil - usually out of doors, mind.

I tend to buy Mrs Jonny books for Christmas presents. This year I have got "500 Crochet Stitches" and the "New Vegetarian Cookbook"; both probably highly inappropriate for anyone but her, but I find it easier to purchase weighty tomes which are relevant to her interests rather than take a chance on other surprise items that she would not appreciate.

Hello from a dry but windy Somerset. Commiserations to Dutch Master; life has an unhappy knack of kicking folk in the teeth at the most inappropriate times. Little miss chaos (aka eldest granddaughter) is due in the next hour together with her 2 week old brother and their parents, so most moveable items have been hidden and I am preparing to be told what to do and when to do it (usually - now ! ). Where do toddlers get all this energy from? This feels like the calm before the storm.... Turkey and a rather large ham should be delivered this afternoon, and I hope for chilly weather so that their 48 stay in a cool box out in the garage will not need too many ice pack replacements, as I do not want everyone to get food poisoning.

I'm not sure about anything these days.

Hello from a dry and sunny Somerset. I had an 0430 panic when I woke up and realised that I had forgotten to tape the paper-girl's Christmas card to the outside of the letter box. So I ventured downstairs in the dark and did it then, hoping no one would be about to see me in my pants (not a pretty sight). After returning to bed I assumed I would just lay awake for hours and then get up properly out of boredom, but I fell asleep and didn't wake up until gone 8 a.m. My eldest son is expected to arrive later, and with my father in tow will raise the total age of our house occupants by 130 years; which is a good start for the festive period. When my daughter, husband and two grandchildren turn up tomorrow they will only add another 71 years between the four of them. The robins in our garden are very territorial, and only in the breeding season do I see more than one at once. In fact the current robin takes offence at any small brown bird; chasing dunnocks, chaffinches and blackcaps around the garden until they go somewhere else. It is rather sad really, as I do prefer the variety. However, the robin has developed a taste for sunflower hearts from the hanging feeder and can hover by the port long enough to grab one seed and swallow it. Presumably, he/she is not one for sharing.

Hello from a bright and breezy Somerset. Mrs Jonny has gone shopping. Good luck to her with that nightmarish venture. I buy everything online, and just slob around waiting for it to arrive. Ocado bring my groceries on a regular basis, and the turkey should be delivered on Friday. Everyone should learn to love ivy. It is one of the most wildlife friendly plants in the country. It flowers in the Autumn when many other plants have already set seed, and provides an excellent nectar source for late season insects and those looking to fuel-up before winter hibernation. It fruits early the following year and provides food when most hedgerow and woodland berries have already been consumed and before the sudden explosion of insects with the onset of warmer weather.