And now it's Autumn

After one of the hottest summers on record it is now beginning to feel autumnal, as we are nearly halfway through September. The heat made knitting/crochet impossible as my hands were too sticky, and made it difficult to concentrate on reading, so not much done since the last post, other than the work I do for the EJO Society, which although voluntary (i.e. unpaid) is still necessary. Hence the main photo on offer is a rather splendid thistle I caught in full bloom a couple of months ago.

There is still war in Ukraine; still the same party in government, though a new prime minister and cabinet; still difficulties between UK and EU; still not seen the end of COVID-19. But I've enjoyed meeting a group of likeminded people at a conference in Bristol, and we've had some good meals out.

It felt like a sad day this morning - now we have the news that the Queen has died. For the first time in 70 years we have a King.

Seasonal Greetings!

And so we come to the one post I do manage to make every year! Here are the pictures from our home-made Christmas card. We don't send many actual cards out, so chances are you won't have had one - please accept this greeting instead. Our donation in lieu of buying commercial cards this year is to Sands - the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity.

The main picture above is the roof of the Hotel Alliance Couvent des Minimes, which we took in February with the New Year, or St Sylvestre, balloons still up in the glass roof. We shall be there again for Christmas this year.

The eye is in Bristol - at the bottom, appropriately, of Christmas Steps. Mr Bufo found it when he was exploring while I was at the Diana Wynne Jones conference in August. Apparently this was once the window of a pub where they had to watch out for the Press Gang. Now blocked, the mural in its place is a reminder of the bad old days.

We send you all every good wish for a Happy Christmas 

and a Good New Year!