Saturday 25 December:

Gentle start to Christmas Day… woke Moira up with a cup of tea at 7.30am…
Had cava and bacon sandwiches together for breakfast… followed by some readings/liturgy in recognition of the Day… followed by exchange of presents (lots of books for me!).
Prepared vegetables for lunch and sorted things generally, ready for Christmas meal.
Ru+co arrived (by car) just after 12 noon… and Ru prepared cocktails alcohol and non-alcohol for everyone.
Eat snacks and nibbles and opened presents… before Christmas meal (two roast chickens, roast potatoes+parsnips, sprouts, carrots). Inevitably, LOTS of food/drink leftover!
Played the hat game after food (hilarious), then stopped for puddings… then played Jenga (30 course high tower!).
Ru+co left at 7.15pm… spent an hour tidying/clearing up (while Moira watched ‘Midwife’).
I ended up going to bed pretty early (9pm) to read. It had been a really lovely day.
Image: Rosa adapting the cracker box into a telly! 

Friday 24 December:

Christmas Eve! Up early (as usual!), bathed, breakfasted and caught up on various domestic tasks in preparation for tomorrow (refuse/recycling, present-wrapping, organising drinks etc). Moira and I both took LFT tests - with negative results, thankfully.
Went to the library and then popped into the cathedral briefly before lunch.
Finished my Japanese detective book after lunch… with cathedral bells ringing in the background.
Given the number of recent Covid cases (122,000 UK cases yesterday), Moira and I decided not to participate in any of the church services – which was a shame because we quite fancied the idea of Midnight Mass at our neighbouring cathedral.
Alan rang in the afternoon and we had a good chat.
Watched an old Christmas episode of ‘Yes Minister’ – it was spookily called “Party Games” and involved the prime minister resigning!! You couldn’t make it up…
Evening telly: ‘Repair Shop’ and ‘Portrait Winner’.
Image: Early morning from my Christmas Eve ‘Thinking Seat’.

Thursday 23 December:

General catch-up start to the day… read more of my Japanese detective book… spoke to Hannah just after 9am and asked her for details of ‘Loop’ (for an extra pressie for Moira).
Had a frustrating time trying to link my laptop to the printer… and, eventually, found an old CD disk and was able to download the necessary driver.
Moira and I went food shopping (to M+S and the Co-op) after morning coffee… interesting that I only saw a couple of people in a pretty crowded M+S without face masks, whereas I was one of four customers in the Co-op and two of them were mask-less. Is it a class thing?
I spent part of the afternoon watching ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ film on telly (as you do).
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’ (best of)… and another ’Christmas Challenge’.
Image: Crocosmia (I think that’s what it’s called) - which I bought from Roots yesterday.

 

Wednesday 22 December:

I wasn’t intending to attend BP this morning, but there was an email from Ed last night to suggest zooming… so I joined them (Ed, Robin, Nick, Dru and Jeff… very briefly).
Walked to Hugo’s afterwards to fetch fruit+veg supplies and then home via Roots for some flowers.
Gave Phil some money to tide him over the holiday period – he was complaining that he thought he was getting flu (thumping head etc)(he probably should have been isolating?).
Morning coffee with Moira at 10am.
Tried again to order another LFT pack… but website said ‘no delivery slots available’.
Finished my quickish Edinburgh sketch and did a silly Christmas card drawing.
Afternoon film: ‘Saving Mr Banks’.
Evening telly: ‘Christmas Challenge’ and ‘Sewing Bee’.
Image: The Lord Nelson adjacent Prince Street Bridge with St Mary Redcliffe in the background.

Tuesday 21 December:

We were supposed to be going to Robin+Sue’s drinks party tonight… and, although we’ve both had negative LFTs, we’ve decided to opt out (I’d also been coughing through the night, so it seems like the best option.
Ed emailed everyone about tomorrow’s BP (he’d had some reservations about whether or not we should go ahead and was asking for everyone’s views)… by 1.30pm, only Dru and I had responded (again, I’ve decided to back out).
After morning coffee, Moira and I went for a harbourside walk – to the Pump House and then back on the other side of the river… ending with a ferry crossing back home.
I started a sketch (of buildings in Edinburgh via streetview)… and then re-watched the ‘Guernsey Pie’ film.
Evening telly: Re-watched last year’s ‘Gone Christmas Fishing’ and another ‘Challenge’ Christmas ‘episode’.
Image: sailing colours.

Monday 20 December:

Another ‘tossing+turning’ night (despite being back in my bed).
Finished my ‘Migrant’ book (thankfully) and wrote up a brief blogpost… and started my next book (Yokomizo’s ‘The Honjin Murders’).
Conscious that the number of my library sketches is getting very low… so worked on a couple of streetview drawings.
Watched 1946 ‘Great Expectations’ film on catch-up telly in the afternoon (featuring, very briefly, Felix’s grandfather George Hayes!).
Didn’t leave the house all day.
Evening telly: usual ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’.
Image: Random mage from the Grayson Art Club exhibition.

Sunday 19 December:

Read more of my ‘Migrant’ book (can’t wait to finish it… not too impressed!).
Emailed David Shorey (first anniversary of Sally’s death).
Alice+Dan returned home fairly early today (left here at 9.30am and needed to call in briefly on H+F+U)… lovely to be able to spend time together.
Fetched the newspaper (from Sainsbury’s – other supermarket deliveries late).
Spent a lazy morning returning things to my bedroom etc and general tidying/washing etc.
Re-watched ‘Little Women’ on Netflix.
Decided to unfriend Amanda Holt on FB (there’s no reasoning with her and our views are entirely opposite)… a better decision than constantly wanting to argue against her.
Evening telly: ‘Vienna Blood’ episode.
Image: wax colour (getting VERY low on my ‘image library’!). 

saturday 18 december...

Alice+Dan staying for the weekend, so I slept in the main bedroom – but not very well! Fetched the newspaper first thing.
Ursa is TEN today (how did that happen?)!
Dan and I went to Spicer+Cole for breakfast (which was lovely), followed by a walk home via the harbour.
Most of the rest of the morning spent ‘chilling’… before soup lunch.
Another awful day for the England cricket team in Oz… and the Villa game was postponed due to Covid tests.
M+A+D went walking on Brandon Hill in the afternoon.
Ru+Stu+Iris+Rosa round for supper later (very lovely!).
Image: more candles from the balcony. 

Friday 17 December:

Busy start to the day… with the need to change bedding, sort out refuse etc in advance of Alice+Dan’s weekend visit.
Everything more or less sorted by 8.30am.
Megan+Adam also visiting Bristol today… they arrived by 10.30am and, after checking out our apartment, we ended up at the Society Café for catch-up chat. I pointed out to M+A some of the basic things they might want to see during their quick-fire trip (but actually it seems that the focus would be on Christmas shopping!).
Alice+Dan arrived about 12.45pm… lovely to see them.
Brief ‘familiarising local walk’ after lunch for A+D’s benefit.
Megan+Adam rejoined us at 5pm and we sat sharing memories etc… which was nice. M+A left just after 6pm. Hannah joined us for supper at 6.30pm (Ursa not feeling well, so she and Felix stayed at home).
Lovely, gentle evening (slightly frustrated that I took pics of D+A+H, but later discovered the memory stick was still in the laptop!
Image: candles from the balcony. 

Thursday 16 December:

Back to the ‘normal’ laptop early morning routine… relieved that thus far there haven’t been any huge issues (but no doubt there will be some).
Went to M+S first thing to buy some provisions (wine, crackers, cereal – even if I did make a stupid error of buying red instead of white!). Walking past College Green, an ambulance helicopter landed... plus there were 2 other ambulances, a incident unit vehicle plus 2 police cars (lots of blue flashing lights!). Don't know the reason...
Much of the rest of the day involved general tidying and cleaning in preparation for the weekend.
Had intended to watch ‘Wonderful Life’, but I think I must have lent the DVD to Ru? So, instead watched a fascinating documentary by David Baddiel about social media.
Evening telly: ‘Montalbano’
Image: morning sky through the living room window.

  

Wednesday 15 December:

Another somewhat complicated day…
Bloke’s Prayer first thing (sitting outside – cold, but not too cold), attended by Robin, Dave, Dru and Jeff.
Lewis, the plumber, returned to sort out the flush on Moira’s loo.
Then responded to Compuwave’s early morning text message to say my laptop was ready for collection… caught a ferry across to the SS Great Britain and walked to the shop… returned on the bus.
Spent the afternoon (somewhat predictably!) catching up on my laptop and trying to work out the mysteries of Windows10!
Also wrote up my latest book blog.
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’ and 'Between The Covers'.
Image: freasias (bought yesterday). 

Tuesday 14 December:

Complicated day (well, morning at least)…
Electrician arrived at 8am to replace the immersion heater console.
I’d ordered some freasias from Roots and remembered to collect them!
Met up with Mike Levine at the Old Vic for coffee+cake at 10.30am (sadly, he’d forgotten he was on a fast, so he watched me eat and drink!)… but good to see him nonetheless.
Travelled on to Compuwave in Southville (took my rather poorly laptop)… ended up buying a re-conditioned replacement (£299) and Andy agreed to transfer my various folders etc. It’ll be Windpws10, so fingers crossed that I’ll cope!!
Then on to Storysmith to collect some previously-ordered books (and buy another one). I eventually decided to opt out of the Storysmith Christmas party in the evening (too many people in a confined space?).
Finished my ‘Essex Girls’ book.
Second batch of Si Smith prints arrived!
Watched ‘The Jackal’ film on catch-up telly.
Evening telly: another ‘Walk’ and first episode of ‘Vienna Blood’.
Image: Si’s print drop#2

Monday 13 December:

Up early reading in the living room. 
Am enjoying the ‘Christmas’ coffees that Ana gave me.
Essentially a day of ticking stuff off my to-do lists: messaging Charlotte+Alice; posting our Christmas card on facebook; messaging the plumber; phoning the electrician etc.
Moira chatted to Alice about her (and Dan’s) prospective at the weekend… and about doubts given the latest Covid variant.
Emailed Storysmith to back out of their bookgroup party tomorrow night (just a little wary of gathering in groups at the present time).
Moira went into town on a mini-Christmas present shopping expedition in the afternoon.
My Lateral Flow Test pack duly arrived in this morning’s post (only applied for it online yesterday) – but the Guardian reports that they’ve run out of test kits (which seems quite ridiculous, knowing that demand would be huge with Christmas/New Year gatherings pending).
Evening zoom: with Alan, David and Keith… which went well.
Image: another one of my Toledo sketches.

Sunday 12 December:

Fetched the newspaper first thing after breakfast… then needed to be at Saint Stephen’s early as ‘Welcomer’ and also reading one of the bible passages.
I have to say that I came away from church feeling pretty depressed… I thought Chris Harrigan’s ‘talk’ was very poor… and long… and meandering… and lacking focus. At a time when I’m already struggling spiritually, his talk was what I DIDN’T need!
I’m very much missing the old intimacy and informality of the ‘old’ Saint Stephen’s.
Back home for lunch and then ‘virtual’ urban sketching in Toledo (just six of us, but rather lovely).
Evening telly: another ‘Winter Walk’ and ‘Antiques’… then to be to continue with my Osman book.
Image: one of my Toledo sketches. 

Saturday 11 December:

Last night’s gig ended (for me) much too soon… my laptop ‘overheated’ again (I think, twice) and so I only heard perhaps 45 minutes before having to give up.
So I spent breakfast time trying to think through contingencies for urban sketching and cousin zooming over the next couple of days.
Fetched the newspaper from our local shop (plus milk) after breakfast.
England lost the first Ashes Test in 4 days by 9 wickets… and Villa later lost 0-1 to Liverpool.
Morning coffee then Moira went out to Beacon Christmas Fair.
I scribbled a slightly strange ‘text sketch’ based on newspaper headlines/articles.
I spent much of the rest of the day reading Ru’s Richard Osman book.
Evening telly: Grayson’s Art Club documentary on setting up the Bristol exhibition.
Image: text sketch.

Friday 10 December:

Finished my ‘Mountain’ book (good).
Posted off Alan’s book (Bob Mortimer)… and then went on to meet Ana at the Society Café.
Very good to spend some time nattering (J+Ana fly to Spain on Tuesday or Wednesday for Christmas).
Did a couple of visits to the basement refuse bins after lunch (how exciting!) and then did a quickish sketch of our new worktops (and chairs).
A box of wine was delivered towards the end of the afternoon (which was a bit of a surprise)… turned out to be from Sam and Zoe in return for my sketch of their parents’ house.
Evening telly: another ‘Walk with’ episode… but then I joined a ‘Live in Your Living Room’ gig featuring Karine Polwart and Dave Milligan (excellent).
Image: worktops and chairs. 

Thursday 9 December:

Spent some time trawling through various political (Christmas party!) stuff first thing.
Moira was going to lip-reading so we had morning coffee relatively early.
Put some rough watercolour together on two outline Toledo sketches in preparation for Sunday’s ‘virtual’ urban sketching.
Read more of my ‘Mountain’ book.
Tried to sort out Christmas card emails after lunch… plus also tried to post something at the post office (but got there too late)… plus bought some hot choc for Ana’s ‘Christmas’ present… plus returned my library books.
Evening telly: Another 30min ‘Walk with…’ programme plus ‘Montalbano’ (I’m ‘attending’ an online concert tomorrow night).
Image: Grayson artist images.

Wednesday 8 December:

Bloke’s Prayer first thing (inside because it was bloomin’ cold!)… only Ed, Robin and me… then half hour later Dru… but small group discussion useful.
Moira and I went to the Grayson’s Art Club exhibition at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Really rather wonderful… entertaining, thought-provoking, poignant. It’s on until September so, no doubt, we’ll go again.
Took the opportunity to pop into Waitrose after the exhibition.
PMQs ‘addressed’ the subject of the non-Christmas party (or parties!) from November/December last year. Just appalling to listen to Johnson squirming and denying any responsibility (his former Press Secretary later resigned)… people are appalled – especially those who weren’t able to be with their dying relatives etc.
Evening telly: last of the ‘Winter Walk’ episodes, 'Between the Covers' and ‘Portrait Artist’.
Image: Grayson artist words.

Tuesday 7 December:

Strange day weather-wise… very grey and murky first thing (and pretty windy – ‘Storm Barra’ on its way?). Decided I needed to get to the pharmacy to collect my statins and, by this time (9.15am), it had started raining… and continued wet (including some pretty heavy rain) well into the early afternoon.
The pharmacy was straightforward (although put in yet another request for my statins to be included with all my other medication instead of always being told to ‘come back in 5 days’! Who knows it’ll change this?).
Called into Hugo’s on my way home for fruit and veg.
Moira and I had morning coffee when I returned home.
We spent part of the afternoon trying to sort out Christmas cards (both ‘proper’ and email versions)… we always end up modifying lists etc.
Trawled through some images of Toledo in advance of our virtual urban sketching trip there on Sunday.
Evening telly: Watched ‘Love Actually’ (as far as I was concerned, this was first time!).
Image: our old (IKEA) Christmas tree!

Monday 6 December:

Up reasonably early and did my usual ‘admin’ tasks.
Messaged Chris Goan with my Advent sketch and scribbled note (potentially for his blog)… and he responded immediately and included it in today’s blogpost (and was generous in his comments).
Started reading ‘Think Like A Mountain’.
After morning coffee, I HAD intended to walk up to Waitrose (for breakfast cereal) and then across the suspension bridge and back down through Leigh Woods… BUT it was raining (not heavy rain, but not pleasant), so I walked to M+S food hall instead!
After lunch, I put up the IKEA Christmas tree (pretty early for us!), together with the new set of lights. Moira added the decorations. The tree looks a little pathetic, but hey, it’s UP!
I started re-watching ‘The Piano’ on Netflix in the afternoon, but gave up after an hour!
Had my first glass of whisky (‘Jura’)!
Evening telly: the usual ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’… and ‘Winter walks’.
Image: my Advent piece for Chris’s blog.

Sunday 5 December:

Scribbled my brief Three Cane Whale blog review first thing.
Decided not to go to church today (HTH), but Moira went…
At 11am, I walked up Brandon Hill (grey day after a bright start) with a view to shopping at Waitrose (newspaper, whisky, breakfast cereal… mince pies) – only to discover that it didn’t open until 12noon! I decided I couldn’t wait around, so ended up walking down Park Street to the Co-op – so had to miss out on the cereal!
Finished my ‘Witches’ book (really excellent)… and scribbled a review.
Did a sketch (based on our old Advent calendar) that I might submit to Chris Goan for his Advent blog?? A time of expectant waiting and anticipation for Christ’s birth… but also, far more relevant for many perhaps, a time of waiting for that online Christmas delivery?
Roast pork supper.
Villa beat Leicester 2-1 (Bears lost to Gloucester on Friday night!).
Evening telly: another ‘Winter Walk’ and we started watching ‘The Outlaws’ (but I gave up half way through).
Image: Christmas lights (Park Street from last night). 

Saturday 4 December:

Something of lazy Saturday.
I wrapped and posted Sam’s drawing (plus Sheila’s Christmas present) – dropped off at our local post office (just down the road… AND they sell newspapers! Who knew?).
Morning mainly spent reading newspaper.
Beautiful sunny morning – sunshine through the balcony windows etc.
Spent half the afternoon reading my ‘Witches’ book.
Evening gig at St George’s: Three Cane Whale (excellent).
Image: Three Cane Whale (plus Eleven Magpies!). 

Friday 3 December:

Went out to the shops first thing – wine, fruit juice and pizzas (for tonight) plus some flowers from Roots.
Finished by sketch for Sam and emailed an attachment for his info/comments (which were fine)… I’ll post it off once I know the title and have an address to mail it to.
Urban Sketching at the Beacon (10.30am-12.30pm). About a dozen people… good fun (although I chose to sketch away from everyone – AND I chose some pretty poor locations!).
Bussed over to Storysmith to collect three books M+I had ordered… really annoyed about the journey – half the people on the lower deck weren’t wearing face-masks (all middle-aged codgers… men and women). I decided I couldn’t bear the prospect of travelling home on the bus, so walked.
Robin+Sue came over for ‘drinks’ in the early evening – first time Sue had been round since our move. Very good to be able to spend time chatting/catching up… nattered for nearly 3 hours!
Evening telly: Montalbano.
Image: one of my Beacon sketches. 

Thursday 2 December:

Went out first thing to buy milk(!).
Electrician arrived at 8am and installed light fittings in main bedroom (plus added wire extension to radiator… and checked out a couple of other matters). All sorted by 11am.
I sketched more of Sam’s drawing plus read.
In the afternoon, Moira and I went to buy wool for M’s Christmas present and then on to Temple Street (Ru working late at Paper Plane and Stu going to a private view)… so Iris cooked an excellent spag bolog for us. Good to spend time with Rosa and Iris and they were both in pretty good form.
Bus back home (at least 3 people not wearing masks… on half full bus).
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’
Image: Dusk over South Street Park. 

Wednesday 1 December:

Bloke’s Prayer at the Society Café (Ed, Robin, Nick and late Dru)… we ended up having coffee indoors (pretty cold). The café had to struggle with a broken card machine.
Moira and I went to the Farmer’s Market at St Nick’s to buy meat, cheese and fruit.
We still haven’t turned our heating on – and it’s December!
Just as we were about to prepare lunch, the fire alarm went off again!! M+I ended up going to St George’s for a quick lunch… and things were sorted by the time we returned.
Moira went to Storysmith in the afternoon.
I sketched and read my book.
Evening telly: ‘Winter Walks’, ‘Between Covers’ and ‘Who Do You Think’.
Image: house flowers.

Tuesday 30 November:

Up early, as usual… had a bath.
Collected my prescriptions ‘first thing’ (around 9.00am)… they’re clearly struggling staff-wise (should have opened at 8am). Once again, my statins weren’t included (“come and collect them in 5 days’ time”!).
I walked across town to the pharmacy on day#1 of mandatory face-masks… good to see that there were far more bus passengers wearing masks but, even though the buses were relatively empty, it seemed that there were always some 25% who weren’t complying (ok, an improvement on my recent on-bus experiences when the figure was nearer 95-97%, but…). Oh, and surprise surprise, these tended to be those ‘invincible’, ‘rules-don’t-apply-to-me’ twenty-something males.
A ‘busy’ day of zooming (Alice+Moira in the morning and Alan in the evening).
Alice explained that, in the light of Mima’s ongoing anxiety issues, they’ve decided to home school her from the start of the New Year. Brave decision, but sensible if it makes things better for M in the medium-/long-term.
Sketched some freasias in the house in the afternoon (and also read).
Good chat with Alan… still lots of frustrations with Lesley’s shoulder issues (getting someone to analyse the scans seems to be a big problem?). Talked about our respective Christmas plans (with fingers firmly crossed that things don’t have to be cancelled).
Image: freasias. 

Monday 29 November:

Reasonable, if restless, sleep.
Put some washing on first thing.
Ru came round for coffee immediately after breakfast… lovely see her, as always. She talked about their ideas for giving the girls their own bedrooms (lots of previous moans from I+R, but Ru very conscious of Iris’s GCSEs next year)… by partitioning off part of the living/dining room to construct a mini-bedroom for S+R.
I continued my sketch for Sam, but made a basic error and now need to start again (I REALLY don’t like being commissioned to do stuff!).
Popped out to the Co-op for basic suppliers immediately lunch… and then read some of my ‘Manningtree Witches’ book.
Pretty gloom day after a promising start – pretty murky by 2.30pm.
Evening telly: usual ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’.
Image: more early morning sky from the balcony.

Sunday 28 November:

A better night’s sleep…
Finished painting the wicker chair after breakfast… and good to be able to reclaim the bathroom by the end of the day!
Finished my (unremarkable) Allingham book.
Government is intending to make face masks mandatory in shops and on public transport (as a result of the new Covid variant)… I’m obviously sad/concerned about the variant, but pleased that, at long last, face masks are required to be worn.
Went to Saint Stephen’s (first day of Advent)… archdeacon preached. Walked home with Robin and Sue.
Completed a sketch loosely based on Horace Taylor’s poster for the London Underground in 1924. Sadly, my rather quick version didn’t compare with the crisp print and colours of the original!
Evening telly: ‘An Inspector calls’ and ‘Antiques’
Image: Early morning ‘stratus’ clouds from this morning’s balcony.

Saturday 27 November:

Another rubbish night’s ‘sleep’.
Up early as usual and gave half the wicker chair a coat of paint immediately after breakfast.
Fetched the newspaper.
Read my book for a while and then took the plastic, folding wall-paper table to the Corn Street market… and, very happily, one of the stall-holders was absolutely delighted to accept it (their plastic equivalent stall table was about to give up the ghost)… so a very happy ending!
My sketchbooks finally arrived from Skipton (ironically, it turned out that I’d ordered A6 size by mistake… but I won’t be sending them back!).
Had intended to watch the Barbarians v Samoa rugby but it was cancelled due to Covid positive test results for a couple of players – so ended up watched Women’s Barbarians v South Africa 60-5 (I’ve really enjoyed watching the Women’s Rugby this season – very high standard and excellent attitude).
Villa won 2-1 away to Palace (Bears lost to Northants at home last night).
Added another half coat of paint to the chair…
Evening telly: ‘Holiday’ on Netflix.
Image: The ‘illuminated’ Hargreaves Lansdown building (taken at 6am a couple of days ago). Annoying. 

Friday 26 November:

Another pretty rubbish night’s sleep (woke 11.20pm, 12.30am, 2.30am 3.15am… read… slept until 5.15am).
Morning coffee with Moira, then we went Christmas present shopping for Iris and Ursa (second-hand dungarees and art stuff respectively).
Received invoice from plumber (£157.20 – compared with Bristol Boilers quote of £354!!).
After lunch, I half-painted our wicker chair… until I ran out of paint! Went to Bishopston Hardware to buy some more paint – but awful bus journey on crowded, unventilated bus with perhaps only 2% wearing face masks.
Read more of my Allingham book before supper.
Evening telly: Montalbano.
Image: recent dusk view from the balcony. 

Thursday 25 November:

Felt reasonably ok when I awoke, but started to feel a bit ‘shakey’ by mid-morning… but then, thankfully, felt fine by lunchtime.
Lovely bright sunny day.
Morning coffee with Moira (who then went off to Co-op and then to cathedral).
Plumber was due at 2pm, but rang to say he was ahead of his timetable and so arrived with us at about 12.45pm… he knew what the problem was, but the solution was somewhat complicated. Anyway, he managed to sort things out (but didn’t have any spare parts to check out the similar problem with the ensuite… so another time). Impressed by the bloke’s attitude, work ethic etc.
Started my sketch of Sam’s parents’ house (not great… but it’s a start!).
Moira went out again in the afternoon to buy wool for Mima’s bobble hat.
Read some of my Allingham book in the afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Between the Covers’ and ‘Portrait’.
Image: Another worktop pic (in sunshine!). 

Wednesday 24 November:

Did a LFT… negative (thankfully).
Bloke’s Prayer at the Society Café (still sitting outside, despite the cold)… Ed, Dave, Robin, Nick (late) and Dru (very late!). Good to get together, as always.
Moira still not feeling great (but slowly improving).
Dave came down to install our worktops. He arrived at 10.15am and the worktops (plus electric radiator) were in position within 45 minutes!! He’s pretty amazing (and incredibly organised)… it mean that he was able to set off for home and (hopefully) get back before the children returned from school (he actually got back by 2.15pm!!).
Went to the library in the afternoon and also to the flower shop.
Evening telly: ‘Who Do You Think’, ‘Repair Shop’ and ‘Shetland’ (excellent).
Went to bed feeling a bit shivery.
Image: our new worktops(!). 

Tuesday 23 November:

Finished my Mortimer book first thing (excellent).
Grey, pretty cold morning.
Morning coffee with Moira (who was still feeling pretty ropey)… followed by trip to pharmacy (for Moira) and trip to Wilko’s and M+S (for me).
Completed a draft Christmas card… and subsequently printed out a few (at A5 size).
Odds and ends during the afternoon.
Evening telly: Bridget Riley documentary (end) and GBBO final.
Image: me on the balcony this morning! 

Monday 22 November:

Another poor night’s sleep… ended up reading at 3.30am, then dropping off until 6.45am.
Had a text message from Ru first thing asking if we would ‘around’ in the morning for coffee (of course!)… and she duly arrived at 9.30am armed with croissants (which were rather lovely – especially heated up). Good to have time to catch up.
Spent some of the morning wrapping Sheila’s secret Santa present, ready for posting early next month.
Moira feeling slightly better today but still taking it easy… and she spent most of the afternoon watching ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.
I spent much of the afternoon reading (Bob Mortimer)… plus also going to Cass Art to buy a cutting board and straight edge.
Mark (from downstairs) came round to check out some ‘continuing noise’ (but, somewhat predictably, couldn’t hear it!).
Had a message from Dave asking if Wednesday would be ok to install the wortops(!).
Evening telly: ‘Connect’ and ‘Challenge’.
Image: this morning’s dawn from the balcony. 

Sunday 21 November:

No church this morning… main service at HTH and Ringers service at Saint Stephen’s (neither of which appealed!).
Fetched the newspaper as usual.
Moira seemed a little better this morning and so we went out for a short harbour walk and then home for coffee and newspapers.
I finished my ‘Hidden Life of Trees’ book (thank goodness… I didn’t really enjoy it).
Watched the women’s rugby in the afternoon (England 89 USA 0) – very impressive.
Ru had thought she might pop round after work… but she didn’t in the end (but hardly surprising, given her juggling days!).
I cooked roast boar joint.
Evening telly: Bridget Riley and ‘Antiques’.
Image: today’s dusk from the balcony. 

Saturday 20 November:

Moira had another rough night… slept at times, but woke up coughing.
Thankfully, I was able to access my various blog dashboards (I think Google had been making some technical changes).
Fetched the newspaper first thing.
Hannah+Fee+Ursa came round for coffee and cake/biscuits (after U’s trip to the dental hospital and before her Youth Theatre). Very good to see them
I produced a draft Christmas card (using balcony photos).
At the end of the afternoon I went to the new Storysmith bookshop opening (and bought and collected some books). A very good gathering.
Villa’s first game with Gerrard in charge… they won 2-0 against Brighton; and England beat the Spingboks in the rugby!
Evening telly: another re-watched ‘Montalbano’ episode.
Image: big wheel adjacent Millennium Square.

Friday 19 November:

Robin and Sue were due to come round this evening for quick drinks, but Moira was still feeling rubbish, so I phoned Robin to cancel (re-schedule for next week?).
Morning coffee (inside!) on another grey, albeit quite mild, morning.
Before lunch I went for a walk up Brandon Hill and then on to ‘Blaze’ to see Ru (lovely to see her… and she might pop round after work on Sunday).
Afternoon spent urban sketching at the Old Vic… and, surprisingly perhaps, there were a dozen of us. Very good to get together again.
Moira had a zoom bookgroup session in the evening, but I ended up trying to access my various blogs (it later appeared that Google had been 'adjusting' things! SO annoying!).
Image: one of my Old Vic sketches.

Thursday 18 November:

I WAS going to go out dawn walking this morning, but it was so grey and bleak that I decided to give it a miss.
Instead, I started scribbling a  sketch based on an Aubrey Beardsley image published in Punch in 1894… but I substituted Mr Johnson and a couple of rich business friends! Silly.
Moira and I had morning coffee at home – Moira had been coughing all night and decided to make her apologies for Lip Reading.
I went out and bought some flowers from Roots.
Late morning, Moira and I took a walk by the harbour (in slight drizzle!).
I posted the virtual sketchmeet event in Toledo (early December).
Moira spent the afternoon in bed (not feeling very well).
I re-watched a history documentary about the ‘Russian Revolution’ late afternoon.
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’ and ‘Shetland’.
Image: my Boris cartoon! 

Wednesday 17 November:

Bloke’s Prayer at the Society Café, as usual… from 7.30am. We (Ed, Robin, Dave, Dru and Nick) sat outside on a bright, but somewhat chilly, morning… but good to get together.
After (another) morning coffee with Moira at home, we went to the Farmers’ Market and then on to Blaze (Ru’s Colston Street shop)… sadly, we’d got Ru’s ‘shop day’ wrong (she apparently is working on Friday).
Bacon sandwiches at home for lunch.
Afternoon spent mainly sketching and reading… and watching Mr Johnson giving evidence to the Commons liaison committee (he was appalling).
Late afternoon/evening telly: ‘Imagine’ on Bernadine Evaristo, ‘Between The Covers’ and ‘Repair Shop’.
Image: a slightly better photograph of ‘our’ golden tree. 

Tuesday 16 November:

I can’t remember the last time I went dawn walking… and today was no different(!).
Essentially, I spent a lot of the day doing catch-up jobs… drafting the ‘Event’ data for the forthcoming virtual sketch-meet (on 11 December) at Toledo, Spain (which involved trawling through google maps and tourist info); also sent Robin+Sue an invite for coffee/drinks later this week; also ordered a couple of Storysmith books; and, finally, emailed Beaver Electrics about some additional work at number17.
In the afternoon, I re-watched ‘Vice’ (film about Dick Cheney).
Evening telly: ‘Portrait’ and ‘GBBO’.
Image: today’s pre-dawn view from the balcony…

Monday 15 November:

A very grey start to the day (following another tossing+turning night)…
Read some more of my ‘Hidden Life of Trees’ book in bed (which I’d started several months ago).
Still not feeling 100% - but LFT was fine.
Sorted out rubbish+recycling.
I went into town after M+I had morning coffee… to Wilko’s in search of non-smelly nightlights (unsuccessful – ended up buying a small pack of vanilla) and some new simple Xmas tree lights… and then on to M+S for towels (for Sheila’s Xmas present) and various supplies from the food hall in preparation for tonight’s Blokes’ Books (at number17).
Spent much of the afternoon tidying and vacuuming… and also trying to remember key points from the book (it seemed a long time since I read it!).
BB very enjoyable (attended by Ed, Robin, Dave, Dru and Nick)… the most people we’ve had in our flat to date! I seemed to take ages ‘clearing up’ afterwards.
Image: the yellow tree across the road (not a good pic!)… 

Sunday 14 November:

A somewhat strange day… I didn’t feel ‘brilliant’ (feeling sick and blurry), so took it quite easy. I didn’t even fetch a newspaper!
I’d already decided not to go to the Remembrance service at Saint Stephen’s (and felt a little guilty).
I spent much of the day finishing my Dorothy L Sayers book and sketching.
I watched most of the England v Canada women’s rugby match (pretty impressive).
Evening telly: Moira and I watched another episode of ‘Shetland’ (excellent), followed by ‘Antiques’ (which was somewhat depressingly/understandably focused on Remembrance!).
Image: Sketch based on a woodcut seen at the Ashmolean.