Keeping warm

The arrival of winter usually generates quite a few animated discussions in our house about whether or not the heating needs to be on and, if so, how low can it reasonably be. Keith is the 'nesh' one here and likes the heating to be on as much as possible. I, on the other hand, am protected at times by 'my own personal central heating' (ladies, you will know what I mean) and tend to turn it down whenever I can. If Keith is out, I don't have it on at all  but these days are different. Sub-zero temperatures mean that even I need some heating some of the time, so I have been putting on the living room fire when necessary.
Just one problem with this.

















As you can see, Paddy is convinced that the fire is on purely for his benefit!

Keeping warm


This is Paddy, all set for his walk in his new coat. All he needs now are the boots.

Cold? Not yet

I have just seen this little gem courtesy of Daphne and I thought it was too good not to share. In particular, I forwarded it to Dad as I felt it was especially relevant to him. No, he's not from Newcastle but from Cheshire, although the philosophy is the same. He has been living in Bristol since the fifties but, has he succumbed to the soft, self-indulgent ways of them there southerners? No he has not!
In all those years, he has never once been seen without shirt sleeves rolled up and, in cold weather, the added indulgence of a sleeveless pullover until two years ago, when I bought him a long-sleeved pullover which he was persuaded to wear a few times. Since then it has resided in the airing cupboard until I reminded him of its existence (long since forgotten) a few days ago.
And then there is the duvet, not on his bed, of course, but tucked away in the spare bedroom.
("Well, it's not cold enough for it yet.")
That has now found its way into his bedroom but hasn't quite made it onto the bed. It's on the chair, waiting for the really cold weather to arrive.

Bird in the manger

I have read here and there over the years about robins not being the cute, cuddly little birdies that we all like to think and that their presence on our Christmas cards are not really compatible with the season of good will message but yesterday, I witnessed it first hand.
















Having put out food for the birds and duly chased away the magpies, I waited for the smaller birds to arrive, which they did, except that this little fellow got there first and was determined to chase off all the other birds. Great tits, blue tits, dunnocks, house sparrows and even a blackbird were all sent packing with their tails between their legs.

















When there were no birds in sight, he perched on the bench and waited for the next onslaught. It wasn't even as if he needed all the food. There was plenty there and he didn't seem particularly hungry, just determined to keep all the other bird away.
I am wondering if he was in the pay of the squirrels.

Walking on the ice

Snow and ice on the ground are never good news for me. Not having a low centre of gravity, if there is any slipping and falling to be done, I'm your woman. This is not helped by the fact that the road outside our house is never visited by the gritters and tends to resist any attempt by the sun to melt the ice until we're halfway through summer. (OK, an exaggeration - slight).
So last winter, I searched online and eventually found these little gems which fit over my walking shoes and, Bob's your uncle, I am able to walk on snow and ice without any problem, even with Paddy on the other end of the lead. Of course, it wouldn't be advisable to skip off blithely as if on a dry summer's day, but all in all, a great addition to my winter wardrobe.

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...