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.