03/12/2010 - 04/12/2010 Christmas Fun, Blocked Roads

Another 3" of snow last night, and this morning it is reputedly -10C, certainly feels much colder than it has for the past eight days of snow.

I go to the trouble of clearing the drive yet again, and putting the wheelie bins out to be emptied, not that I am confident of seeing refuse collectors anytime soon!

The sky is absolutely clear, and bright blue we have a flock of about 12 gold finches are feeding on the conifer tree at the end of the drive, goodness knows what they are finding to eat in this freezing weather.

One of our regular Christmas events is to attend the annual "Christmas Do" at St Josephs, the church Kathleen attends. One of the stalwarts of the organisers, Denzil, always arranges (if that is the right word) a rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas", in which each table are given a verse to "sing".

I noticed this little video on  Patently Rubbish's blog, in which Christmas comes to the Food Court of a Shopping Centre, not that the efforts at St Joseph Christmas Party, are nearly so professional:



Not quite so festive but never-the-less topical:

Nicked from "Grumpy Old TW**" website , but very appropriate all the same as we slip and slide out of our estate, with not a sign of any attempt by the Local Council, to clear any of the 12" of snow which blankets the streets.

Touching on a whole host of recent happenings, from the effect of public spending "cuts" on front line services vs Diversity Outreach Coordinators to David Cameron's Happiness review,  there is lots of reading here, which all makes a lot of sense to me.

Saturday, and the Metro between Pelaw and South Shields is not running, the same as last Saturday. They are doing "Essential Maintenance", why choose one of the Saturday's leading up to Christmas?, South Shields is already dying, without cutting off the transport links too.

I get a lift to South Shields to visist the Stag's Head, with son Anthony. The pub is much busier than usual, but the rest of the town looks it's usual desolate self. On the return journey, I miss the bus to Boldon, so take the "metro replacement" bus, which takes me on a meandering route, to Heworth, so that I can get the metro home.

Finally a couple of festive photograph for today, Gabriel after his first visit to a Christmas parade in Windsor, although by now, it looks as if they have retired to the warmth of a coffee shop.