12. More Frost; The Walking Society

Friday 13 December.  9:50 a.m.

Grey this morning and more frost, perhaps the most so far.  Working on poems last night and this morning.  Finished my essay submission for Tablet contest.  Took my camera around town yesterday looking for pictures of the ice and frost.  The temperatures are reported as lowest in ten years.

High Street Saffron Walden

December Frosts

Beautiful Webs!

The many different kinds of birds here fascinate me.  At Westfields we have blackbirds, doves, wood pigeons, and robins (much smaller and more red than the brick red (orange) I am accustomed to at home).  Yesterday a little robin chipped away at the frost on the top of the fence, perhaps getting a drink of water.  On the road we see pheasants, crows, rooks, an egret or heron of some sort the other day, seagulls, magpies, and probably a host of others I cannot identify. 

 Saturday 14 December.  8:45 p.m.  Milder.  Last day of school yesterday.  We lunched at Pasta Galore and saw the Aladdin pantomime with an audience of school boys and girls (mostly the former) from Bedford, Herts.  A rowdy bunch of eight to ten year olds, still in shorts!  The play was entertaining and amusing.  Pantomimes here are old familiar stories, with music and songs and much audience participation, like an old fashioned Western drama, with good guys and bad guys.

Still a lot of fog, especially on the ride taking Mara's friend, Katie (for Kathryn), home to Sutton, near Ely.

 Reading The Hobbit.  The chapter I remember reading (in 1969) is on page 123, through the forest.  Why so well?  Imagine it was after my first summer in Las Vegas.

For travel diary notes: Maastricht, Sunday trading, knives not guns.

Sunday 15 December.  8:10 a.m.  Clear and well frosted.  Sunrise: 8 a.m., Sunset 3:52 p.m.

The night before last I dreamed Jules and Ruth came over.  I asked Ruth, who had a nice smile on her face, how she was, she immediately swooned and said, "Not very well."  (In fact, she was near death.)  I then babbled on about how Gogo used to really answer those polite questions ("How are you?"), the same way, with a list of aches and pains.  Ruth sort of told me off, "Well, if you were that ill, etc."

Last night I dreamed my father died, after he returned from his visit to Britain.  (A contrast to his exuberant voice when he actually did return and called back upon his arrival in Las Vegas.) 

Today Robert and I are off on a 4 1/2 mile walk in Ashdown with the "Saffron Walden and District Footpaths Association" of which we are members.  High pressure over the past few days resulting in high levels of auto emissions in London, worst since they began keeping records in the 60's.  Rain and wind expected over the next few days to clear it out.   Walk was most enjoyable.  Frost had melted, except near the trees; parts were muddy, but mostly good paths and friendly conversation.

Saffron Walden Walking Society Walk

A Scene from a Sunday Walk

 Last week we kept the heat on all day, just about every day.  The Saffron Walden Cleaners' woman remarked that she couldn't remember such a spell of "sharp frosts."  Newspapers said there were ten year records being broken.  With the cold was a high pressure system and over the past few days there was much reporting on the high level of pollution in the cities, particularly London, caused by autos, the worst since they began keeping records in the 60's.  We are expecting some rain and wind over the next few days to clear it all out.

Sunrise: 8 a.m.; sunset: 3:52 p.m.

Monday – Tuesday 16 -17 December.  Busy work at home.  (I need to get the six month extension on the VW.)  Christmas shopping in Cambridge.  Tuesday night Lorna babysat and Cathy and I saw "Fisher King" with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges in Cambridge,  Some rain Tuesday after the movie.  Breezy.  No frost.  Cathy and I dined Monday at Nemonthron.  Sunrise: 8 a.m.; sunset 3:52.

Mid December St. Mary's