Imbolc

Being halfway between Midwinter’s Day and the Spring Equinox, Imbolc – St Brigid’s Day – traditionally marks the start of spring. Yes, daffodil leaves are pushing through, the first buds on the earliest pear tree are starting to swell, and hyacinth buds are visible (though still at ground level). Winter lettuce struggles on ok (the first time for several years I’ve grown it). Only the camellia seems to be really waking up for the new season, with the first flower now well on the way to opening.

Scary, scary, scary!

I was shivering really badly last night, and felt really sweaty after a difficult day. So I decided to have a warm bath. A twenty-minute soak did the job. However, I discovered that I was unable to get up out of the bath! My arms were just not working well enough to get me up, though there are plenty of grab bars to help. That was very frightening! OK, I always have the phone and fall alarm within arms reach, but really did not relish having to call for assistance …

Eventually, I decided to let the water out of the bath and try again. So, slightly chilly as the water ran away slowly, and then at the third attempt I did manage to get upright. But very wobbly stepping out of he bath, holding on to anything available. I didn’t even think about bending over to dry myself! Large bath towel on top of the bed, lay down, and was instantly asleep.

‘flu

Despite flu jabs at the end of last year, I seem to have gone down with it. Shivering with cold in a room temperature of 23C, and an hour later the stove has died down, the room is 20.5C, and I’m sweating and taking my jumper off! Aches all over, of course, and unable to stay awake for more than two or three hours at a time. Self-imposed quarantine seems in order (as does large quantities of blackcurrant lemsip, and handfuls of grapes).

Black Pear of Worcester

Getting implements out of the shed for pruning the apple and pear trees, and sorting out the gale-stricken rose, I noticed the Black Pears of Worcester. They’re just about ready for eating – the recent cold has probably done the job of helping them turn starches into sugars. Much bigger than normal pears, and single one is just a bit more than I’d normally have for pudding, but I was feeling self-indulgent!

fatness

EEEK !
In the last couple of months of 2024 I put on a lot of weight – around 4 Kg. I’m now trying hard to get back to the target weight (65Kg) that I agreed with the pre-diabetic nurse some 4 years ago. In the last week I’ve shed about 3/4 of a kilo, but it’s hard going, as cold weather makes me want thick soups, warming stews with dumplings, suet puddings and suchlike, which are clearly currently out of bounds.

snowflake

Classic snowdrops (galanthus species) don’t survive in my garden, for some reason. However, the similar (but very much larger) snowflakes (leucojum) do OK. The first one is tentatively starting to flower.

tree re-potting

Decorations were of course taken off before Twelfth Night, but I didn’t want to put the tree straight outside into the very cold weather we’ve been having after its annual sojourn indoors! But the weather has changed today, so time to move and re-pot it.
It has just done its third Christmas here. Being a slow-growing “Picea Glauca Conica” I hope to keep it going for at least another couple (and, although not exactly a “typical” Christmas tree shape, it has negligible needle drop, which is a welcome thing).

brrrr

A glorious clear dusk here, with the first stars twinkling above the trees. The forecast -5C overnight seems highly likely.