Time to recharge the batteries.

A dozen chaffinches are busy squabbling on the grass by the front door. Their return to the garden signals that the sparrow hawk has moved on. No sign yet of the robins but the full bird feeders will soon entice them back. A cock pheasant sits imperiously on the stone wall by the courtyard and ignores us. There are eleven deer in the old barley field this morning. Nine of them are sprawled on the ground while two stand and keep watch.

The beach seems to be home to every dog - and their owners - within a twenty mile radius. They are enjoying themselves in that uninhibited way dogs do. Of course for dogs every day spent on the beach - whatever the time of the year - is Christmas.

After a spell of mild weather it's suddenly close to freezing. Three surfers rush across the sand . A reminder that cold weather lunacy is alive and well. The new semester is now only a week and a bit away and a few students are starting to return.

The penguin continues to glitter outside the fish and chip shop.

Another oldie on the local radio. Did we really dress this badly in the 70's ?  :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUuPXfS4FM0&list=RDyC_j_dzkaVE&index=23

A mystery. Supposed preponderance of boys born after a war ? :https://x.com/Valen10Francois/status/2004552929584582753

The place to go for those wanting a quiet Hogmanay :https://kyle.scot/

That Thailand/Cambodia thing makes no sense. I'm a little - but not much - wiser for reading this :https://x.com/TomWrightAsia/status/2000422510408679671