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Some of you are aware already but we seem to have been adopted by a cat! His name is Colin. He actually belongs to a family who lived down the road, but they recently relocated to Devon. It is a long story but needless to say they were in two minds about what to do as it seems that Colin has spent more time ‘elsewhere’ over the past eighteen months. So, contact details have been exchanged and regular WhatsApp messages and photos sent in order to keep them appraised. If he seems distressed or unwell, or if they miss him too much, then he can be collected and move to the coast too!

Colin has become such a focus for stories and commentary with family and friends that he even sent us a Christmas card...! That is, through my Dad and his wife - a true cat lover. It cheered up my day immensely!

Colin has spent more time out and about than in his own residence because, apparently, the other two cats were not to his liking. We think he does the rounds and has meals and a comfy place to sit at various houses in the vicinity! He loves to be in my greenhouses – I have a chair in one of them with a blanket and cushion and it is now covered in cat-hairs as he spends hours snoozing away in there – it can be very warm and cosy in the direct sunlight even though it is winter, and the temperatures can drop significantly.

Colin plays an odd game of being incredibly affectionate and searching for that comfortable lap to sink into and then, the next day, will stick his nose and tail in the air and casually dismissively stalk past with an attitude of moral superiority.

Colin likes to present us with freshly killed mice and shrews! He has even caught (and devoured) a couple of birds within striking distance of the backdoor... we’re not necessarily happy about this (obviously) but it is in their genetic make-up after-all! Evolution and all that malarky...

There have been animals around throughout most of my life. For example, as a child the household always had a number of cats – the most at one time was twelve cats – because of a couple of litters. We also had chickens, ducks, rabbits and later, dogs. My Nan always had a cat – in actual fact, a succession of Siamese cats and they were all called Fred!!

As Terry Pratchett said:

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”

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Lights at No.6

25/12/2023

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As you are aware by now No 6. is far too small to accommodate a Christmas Tree and also I'm too much of a Bah Humbug to put up with too many random cards and sparkly stuff. Actually, the nod to decoration takes place on the 23rd at the earliest and is taken down on the 1st January... Yep - Scrooge-like!

However, I do like to flex my creative muscles and raid the Christmas box of baubles and focus on the two windowsills in the front room. Unfortunately the quality of the photos isn't great and it's difficult to appreciate the effect of the twinkly illuminations - some of which have fairly subtle colour light changing properties - but these are a taster of my efforts.. It goes without saying that it helps to be married to a lighting technician!

Let There Be Light!

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Winchcombe Light Trail (Part 1)

25/12/2023

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Since October our household has been focused upon festive light trails. This is because Paul has been involved with the installation of three separate shows - Cotswold Farm Park, Old Down Country Park and the Malvern Three Counties Showground. So, as you can imagine, my dearest can be quite scathing of amateur lighting, However, I enjoy the colours and vibrancy - particularly when it is almost dark at 4pm (boo!). Therefore, here is a taste of the lighting decorations on display whilst just taking a very short 'walk around the block' in our small quarter of Winchcombe. Nice!

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Visitors and Visiting

10/12/2023

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For a while now we have enjoyed being at home and not being particularly sociable, so it has been quite a busy week in regard of the latter. A few things had been in the diary for months, but it still seemed to suddenly creep up on us. Do you think this year has whizzed past?! So, last weekend a couple of friends visited from California. One might think they are mad to brave the winter anyway, but it was a bit of a shock to the system when they arrived on Friday evening when it was minus 3 degrees! Biting wind, frost and terrible driving conditions. We collected them from the Royal Well bus station in Cheltenham (National Express from Heathrow) and then deposited them at one of the Sudeley Castle estate cottages – which provide individual, characterful and very comfortable self-catering holiday accommodation.

No.6 is too small to have guests to stay but we did manage a few brunches, copious cups of tea and a few slices of cake.

I have known Roger and Susan since 1990 (ish) and although Roger has visited the UK a few times, tagging it on to business trips, it has been over 20 years since Susan and I have been in the same room! It was great to catch-up and – within an hour or so – feel that we had only seen each other just a few weeks ago! Isn’t that a fabulous experience to have?
We also spent some time with my family – Roger and Susan met most of them years ago and even attended Ali and Ian’s wedding (1999). Naturally Mum gave them the grand tour of the ‘new’ house; Roger and Susan agreed that it is like Hogwarts! I do think it’s amazing that Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America in 1492 (October) and Cross House was built in the early sixteenth century…. and has been occupied ever since! The layers of history are phenomenal.

We also met up with a friend (and ex-colleague) of Roger’s who now lives in Cheltenham – having been based in San Francisco and then Canada (Toronto, I think) so it was quite an international event… over a game of cards and a combination of British Polo Gin (distilled in the Cotswolds), UK beers and local cheeses, cured meats and chutneys. One evening we enjoyed an Indian meal at the local Winchcombe Restaurant – fabulous Indian restaurant - and our farewell lunch was Thai, so we managed to cover most flavours and, in our opinion, this is always a positive indication of a good time had by all!?!

Carol, Rosie, Claire and Helen

The same could be said for a weekend lunch get-together (Saturday 9th December) with friends from sixth from (1995 – 1997). It’s clear that our friendship has stood the test of time! The next one should be in February, and we are hoping that others may be able to join in too...

If you're ex-AGS and want to catch-up, let me know!

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Still Out...

10/12/2023

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I can’t remember what I have said or not, and to whom, so bear with me!

I think I may have mentioned that I was given a ‘fit note’ at the beginning of November? Well, that has continued for three more weeks, following another review appointment with the medics. I'm not ill-ill (as it were) but just need some time.

I’ve taken on the advice of the doctor as much as possible including trying to put issues like work to the back of my mind. I find that a bit difficult because it’s not easy to switch-off. Especially at stupid-o'clock as my sleep pattern continues to be erratic.

So, I’ve been for walks and tidied the garden and have even identified and signed-up for a yoga class. I have even paid for it ahead as this will ensure that I do turn up! It doesn’t sound much as I have always been a gym-member and taken part in some structured exercise programme (not that you’d know to look at me) but certainly over the past six months It has been difficult to garner the energy and subsequently the enthusiasm. Weird. Or maybe not.

Little steps, as they say

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New Year - already?!

Colin the Cat

Lights at No.6

Winchcombe Light Trail (Part 1)

Visitors and Visiting

Still Out...

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