BLOODY CHRISTMAS. (21/12/13)

I’m back in blogland and will catch up over the next few days. This month has been chaotic. It’s been a case of running in ever decreasing circles; with the constant threat of my disappearing up my own bum.

Thursday evening I got the camper back and set off from Tideswell for Darlington.

                       Tideswell basking in sunshine. When I left it was snowing fit for an Inuit. I arrived in Darlington late Thursday night. I got a phone call from the friend who had recommended my fitting winter tyres. I told him as far as I could tell they made no difference. The van was still a little tinker in a few inches of slushy snow.

Friday dawned damp and horrible. I was going to cook an early Christmas dinner. I also thought it prudent to do a little Christmas shopping.

I detest towns and crowds.

                     The market hall Darlington. It is a wonderful building.

A quick change of tack as I heard from a reliable source that having built Tornado the enthusiasts in Darlington are starting work on a Greasley steam locomotive. The only downside is that she will be called the Prince of Wales. I trust he is popping a million or two into the project. If I were ever to win the lottery I would put up the whole five million cost to avoid his name on her. She ought to be called Typhoon.

Plenty to buy but all far too expensive……it got worse.

Would she like a posh tick tock. She may well have done but I got her a gift token from House of Frazer.

On I wandered to Sainsbury’s.

  It was, mercifully, quiet. I got us a big steak apiece, a bag of Anya potatoes, enough veg for a monster stir fry, a couple of large mushrooms and some blue cheese to lay over them. I spotted a ready made pudding, it was expensive at a tenner but I decided it is Christmas and ladies like a chocolate and fudge treat now and again.

I decided as the dogs don’t know owt about Christmas they wouldn’t mind it being a few days early. I got them a couple of chicken legs.

Molly and Alfies Christmas treat. They survive on sacks of dried food for most of the year. This is right up their street. A chicken and rice cake, fried chicken, an egg and a tin of steak and vegetable dog food. It takes them just over thirty seconds to pack away.

We had our meal which was convivial and filling. My phone kept going off so I had a look to see who was panicking. It was the garage they had found my winter tyres. Told you I thought they were a waste of money. They weren’t fitted. This morning I drove back to Derbyshire, got the tyres fitted and then drove up to Garlieston on the Solway Firth. A real sod of a trip it was. I hate driving in school holidays, the idiots on the road, I have to have four sets of eyes. They stop on interchange slip roads in Nissan Micras. I stopped thanks to the new brakes. The poor lad behind me with a curtain sider managed to stop. I’m old but not as daft as Micra drivers.

My wanderings today are in blue. I’m in Garlieston, I have internet so will hopefully catch up with you all soon. I’m tired but am praying for some good light.

Enjoy what remains of the weekend.