Had a wonderful time in historic York when I went to the pantomime on Thursday night with my younger daughter and another young friend. Christmas lights, beautiful mediaeval buildings, and the first snow of the year - magic! As Ruth said, "NOW Christmas has started!" I was in full agreement until the badly designed grips on my sheepskin boots allowed my feet to slip sideways on some wet snow, and I fell hard on my left hip! Luckily I was next to a pub at the time, and once my shoulders got to a couple of feet above the deck, I slid the rest of the way down the wall! Much hilarity from my companions, and a nice painful butt cheek for me, plus, as my left arm ended up above my head, I pulled that a bit, having been bent into an extreme version of the yoga "moon" pose. It'll ease off soon, I hope.

To add insult to injury, we had just about got back to the car and it happened again onto the other hip! Luckily that wasn't such a wallop! Good job I was wearing my down-filled coat!

Yesterday was Freya's first birthday and so the family braved the cold and went to a children's little theme park about an hour from us. It was lightly dusted with snow, and if my girls don't stop telling me to be careful I don't fall....!!!

Anyway, tonight I am off to see an all-girl band called the Shee, who, I am assured are good. Before that I am going to ice the two small cakes I've done, wrap the last presents, and hopefully hand deliver cards round the village. I am going to make some biscuits too, this week, to give as a gift.
We have about an inch of snow, with some showers forecast for today, but the temperature is hovering around freezing. I know you all over there in the States have it much worse, but in the last couple of decades our winters have become much milder, and we somehow forget how to cope with even a small amount! Pathetic, really!

Andrea