Have I been idle over Christmas? NO!

Here's one of my recent efforts with an old window frame. This time for my brother in law. It's a great way to make a living. (That was irony or sarcasm or something, I was never very good at explaining grammar.)

Merry Noel and all that

I'm two minds more than usual at Christmas. French and British. Usually I automatically choose one mind for each activity. But Christmas is different, since it's almost always shared French and British participants. So it takes longer to recover. While in self-imposed therapy for this recent dose, I've been reflecting on the things that are the opposite way round on either side of La Manche/The Channel. Here's a few examples:

Obviously, which side of the road we drive on;
Which way round the spine of a book reads;
Which way round the brakes on a bicycle are;
Whether your light switch goes up or down for on;
Does your adjective go before or after the noun?
etc.

Let me know the things you've noticed ...

Window frames

Imagine one of these windows in a completely ruined state; no longer in a building, lying on the ground, glass cracked etcetera etcetera etcetera. Now imaging sanding, cleaning and polishing said frame, choosing a photographic subject, and bringing the two together and you have ...

Hardly a cheery note for Christmas

It's harder and harder to look forward to Christmas while having stomach-churning moments in the face of consumption consumption consumption. We do what we can. It's not much.

On 21st we will have a modest camp fire. More CO2 - true. But also a genuine celebration of the winter solstice and the start of the sun's return. A recognition of the importance of the most basic elements of life. Our increasing self-sufficiency for at least our vegetables relies on following and understanding seasons and growth. Our heat comes from burning wood grown locally and replanted in biodiverse patchworks.

We have continuously reduced our electricity consumption over the past four years.

It's a journey.

Photo project

This project takes a bit of getting into - it's not a bite-sized experience. But it's well worth making the time for, being aware of what you feel as you watch it.

The whale hunt.

Eating the harvest

After a swings and roundabout year in the garden, we're digging into "la cave" and the garden for meals. My better half is about to embark on a day of quiche-making and freezing, which will no doubt include the above in some form. No fresh tomatoes of course, but sauces made and bottled during the summer are coming in handy. The leeks are still in the garden and falling to temptation from time time. The carrots, spuds (Manon and Rats), onions, garlic and shallots are all taking part. Add to that lot a few frozen beans and mushrooms and an indian or caribbean recipe or two and the possibilities are endless and mouthwatering.