Christmas In June
Good afternoon, dear reader and welcome to a beautiful sunny day in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds, U.K. I have had a very busy writing week trying to get towards the finish line of my new crime novel, Retribution. I am hopeful that the next two weeks should see it off.
I have just about managed to keep all the metaphorical wheels on the bus, keeping us fed, watered and clean-clothed. Other than that, domestic chores have gone to the four winds and I have hardly put my nose out of doors, other than to keep the bird baths clean and skim the pond of blanket weed which had built up over the winter and we are gradually getting rid of. I know this has nothing to do with Christmas in June, dear reader and we will come to that but as I have mentioned bird baths I might just as well mention our visiting crow.
“Christmas in June”
Generally speaking I love crows, but I have to say I am not too enamoured of this one. He brings his ‘kill’ to our smaller bird bath, gives the poor unfortunate a good wash in the waters and then rips it to bits and eats it - leaving the innards behind for me to dispose of. Out I traipse and do the necessary and renew the waters for the next time. He’s not a daft old crow, he’s got me well trained. That bath is for his dinner table and the bigger bath is for his own personal ablutions. That’s probably the only thing in his favour, he’s a very clean bird, dunking his person in the waters at least three times before he is satisfied with his cleanliness. In this instance, I dont think cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Now - Christmas in June… What's that all about? It is about Spouse’s latest venture. He decided it would be a good idea to display a large stable complete with figures and animals outside on our drive during Advent this year, just to remind passers by of the true meaning of Christmas.
So, first a wheeled cart was purchased for the stable to stand on. It has to be moveable as it will stand outside the garage doors and as it will be winter, Spouse will need to get his wood cart out to trundle down to his shed to fetch the firewood up, so the stable will have to be moved.
All good planning so far. The cart has been put together, not without a bit of head scratching and a few bashed fingers here and there, but nevertheless, it is now as it should be. He has been busy all week, making the base of the stable and no doubt will move on to the sides and roof this week. He put the figures on the base to see how they looked - see photograph and note the 3 Wise Men are to one side as they are not due to arrive yet!
Neighbours and passers by have taken a keen interest in the proceedings and then departing with a Merry Christmas. I think he’s now looking to purchase some straw and more plastic sheep, the feeling being that our one shepherd should have more than one sheep to his flock And then there will be lights and lanterns and before we know it, it will be Christmas in December and we’ll be rockin and rolling all the way.
In the meantime, I wish you a very happy week. I am going to shut the door to my den and get on with Retribution. Peace should reign at Comb Towers this week. Spouse can saw and hammer away to his heart’s content and I only hope he manages to hit the nail on the head and not his fingers.