The past week has been one of gluttony, sloth and the odd bit of exercise to try to make that seem less decadent, but really that is what this season is all about - recovery, putting on a bit of winter fat, reflecting on the past and looking forward to the new year. The cold broke but it is taking a while for the warmth to build up again in the old stones of our house. Actually it is rather nice to be curled up on a sofa in the Snug (used to be called the seating area, but now it is seriously snug), with the woodburner going, covered in fleece rugs and with a cat to provide a bit of extra snuggle - it's what winter is about!
There was also the issue of serious puddings - a fantasy of chocolate, praline, salted caramel and biscuit on the Friday before Christmas, and The Pudding on Boxing Day over in Chinon. Between them, I think these are good for about 4 pounds on the hips!
Looking around when walking, either to get to the supermarket, or just for the joy of walking, there are still natural sights to delight in. This leaf with a corolla of damp around it was rather striking at Aldi. The old tree in an abandoned area of scrub was about 50/50 tree and mistletoe, and for those who say the quality of French mistletoe is rubbish with no berries, I beg to differ. This is loaded! The birds are in for a treat.
There is hope in the vegetable plots. The broad beans sown in late November are now starting to show, seemingly unaffected by the serious frosts. Looked at from a distance, it is also clear where I sowed the wheat in a vain attempt to cut down on next year's chicken feed bills.
While there has been no major activity on the trail camera other than foraging blackbirds - in the main due to a fogged up lens - I did spot a minor catastrophe at Badger Towers. Whether a boar had been jumping up and down in that area too much, or whether the layer of soil became too thin, or whether frost and rain did their thing, a foot long piece of set entrance fell in during the weekend. It was tidied up fairly quickly and doesn't seem to have had any lasting impact, but it certainly looked different - and Clause agreed with me.
So the final image of the year is of the best view in France, in my opinion anyway. Whatever the weather, it makes my heart leap with undefined joy. What a pity the camera on a smart phone can't really capture the true joy of it!
Enjoy however you spend the New Year cross over, and next time I will review the wildlife year of 2022, before getting on with the excitements of 2023.
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