A quiet day

The high pressure continues, the temperature dropping two or three degrees below freezing overnight and then hovering just above zero during the day. A very slow thaw has ensued and here and there, in the garden, little oases of green grass have been revealed in the covering of snow. The grey skies continue, but there are still glimmers of blue, which appear flickeringly overhead and then fade away again. There is still no wind when I let Norman out, shortly before eight, he has become acclimatised to the cold, as have I, and prefer this weather, despite the greyness, to the windy, soggy, damp Atlantic conditions that are set to ensue from Saturday. After breakfast, the usual English, but with Masham, pork and leek sausages this morning, we make our way to Cherry Burton and collect the terriers for the daily pilgrimage to the Westwood. As we approach the common from Newbegin Pits, I espy a familiar figure up ahead, it is Elaine, with her Jack Russell, Milo, whom I haven't seen since before Christmas. She lost her husband in the autumn and was understandably, very upset, and I had wondered how she coped over Christmas on her own. She seems better when we eventually catch up with her and tells me she has been to an opera recital last week and is going to the ballet tomorrow, and apologises if it sounds posey. I tell her no, as we get older we are allowed to like anything and everything, without fear of judgement. She has also started to play hockey again and has a match on Saturday. We walk round the common together, the four dogs instantly forming a pack and trotting on happily as a group, and part company, as we turn downhill to the car and she heads south for home. En route to Cherry, we call at Walkington Manor farm shop and buy some fresh eggs and greenhouse tomatoes. I am seeing Leslie today and arrive at Cedar Grove around a quarter to twelve, armed with the large print books that I have chosen for him from the library. One is a biography of an RAF pilot, recounting his experiences of being trained by the USAF before the war and the other a book about the astronauts of the Apollo space program. Leslie was in the RAF in the war and also lived in America for thirty five years, so I hope he will enjoy them. He is in good spirits again today, and after I have made espresso coffee for us in the Tassimo, we plan our horse racing for the Cheltenham Festival. Leslie loves National Hunt racing, so I have set him the task of studying form for the next month, before Cheltenham in mid March. I leave just before one and drive home with Norman and prepare lunch, cheese and tomato sandwiches on rye bread for me and dry Bakers dog food for him. I had planned to drive into Hull to collect our football tickets, but miraculously they have arrived in the post, so I spend a quiet afternoon reading my book and then take a trip to the supermarket, after the traffic has calmed down, around half past six. I don't need much, just fruit, dog food, hot dogs for the football and finger rolls to put them in. Whilst I am there, I buy a cordless phone, as I have no socket in the garden room and the mobile reception is lousy. Once home, I assemble and install it in the lounge, miraculously, the batteries arrive pre charged, so I take the handset into the Garden Room and call Felicity, it works marvellously, as clear as a bell. The old girl has been to the Poppy Seed again today, with Melissa for lunch and had their game casserole, which she says was lovely. After ringing off, the phone is returned to its cradle to charge and I make some sandwiches, using the lamb steak from the fridge and a fresh baguette, that I bought this evening. Later I settle down with my book until bedtime. Tomorrow, I plan to swim.