of the winter here in Brizz!

Okay, its not exactly covered everything in rime but sheltered rooves have had a coating of white thanks no doubt to yesterdays lack of cloud and the benign bit of air movement. The forecasters suggest it'll be quite cool for a few days and there is talk of widespread snow over the festive period. Some folks i know in Germany have already had several drops of the white stuff so maybe i'll get a white Christmas across the Channel too.

With my trip north getting closer, to avoid a last minute panic i thought i'd best make a start on getting ready. Which is how i found myself writing Chrimbo cards and wrapping gifts for a couple of hours on Monday. At one time there would've been many more cards and at least a few more gifts but my circle of 'friends' and family with whom i made the exchange each year has contracted greatly in the last few years. I am a bit sad about that but its clearly a case of out of sight, out of mind, whether caused by Covid or just people moving on. On the plus side i do get to gift my Grandson so of course most of the contents of my suitcase are for him but as i've been laying stuff in i've only needed to buy batteries, everything else is long paid for.

So i had been putting off my return to 2 wheels but by Monday it was pretty clear that i was about as good as i'll get until the weather warms up so yesterday, Tuesday, i got togged up in the thermals and set off to see how i felt. I suffered a deflation before i got out of the city and was in two minds about continuing but the sun was out and it was @ 5c so once i was sorted i pressed on. I'm glad i did, on the bit of Levels seaward of Nailsea there were dozens of swans then on one of the bigger drainage ditches i spotted not one but at least half a dozen egrets, mostly stood in silent expectation along the waters edge, equidistant along the watercourse.

There was other birdlife a bit further along, a flock of geese, ducks and what looked to me to be a blue heron patiently watching for lunch. I decided to press on to Weston, at the worst i could get a train back from there. So for my last trip to the coast this side of Christmas i celebrated with a cheeseburger & chips sat over a nice warm radiator! It took some effort to drag myself away and a good fifteen minutes riding before i was warmed up again, it was only one o'clock but the sun was already losing any pretentions at heat.

I wasn't looking for mega miles or too much exertion so i opted for my regular Brizzle avoiding loop across to the Avon valley, by the time i cleared Keynsham the light was fading fast and the temperature had dropped to 2c. But no worries, i had lights and nearly all of the last ten K is on the Bath path so i avoided the issues of twilight rush hour until the very last. 110km, further than i thought i'd get but at a very steady 20kph, otoh, i was comfortable at that so maybe on Thursday i'll step up the effort a little.

It being Wednesday i've added the next Gaby book 1 chapter, Ouch! is part 33 and of course our hero has more issues a la Gaby!

And that folks, pretty much wraps up todays missive. I'll have a walk a bit later, i'm thinking sausage casserole for tea, that's once i've got cosy to fetch the ingredients, don't think a mini skirt will offer enough warmth today!

Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid