Baa humbug and all that...

Lunch!!

 Some good news this week to report, Geoff has made a real step forward in his health and is as near normal as he ever gets, well 85% anyway!  He has started bossing Sandra around now so instead of sympathy he's now getting told off by Sandra, well why should he get away with it!

Getting yer kit off!

 On Saturday afternoon Gary and I decided to despatch a couple of his ducks for our Christmas dinners, one for him and one for Sandra, Geoff and I.  Those of a sensitive disposition should ignore the next paragraph.

Two oven ready ducks.

It's quite straightforward to do it the main thing is not to distress the other birds so take them out of site one at a time and do it quickly.  I stoke and comfort them right up to the time the deed is done.  If anyone is planning on doing their own please remember to bleed them properly before plucking and dressing otherwise you will ruin the meat and then the ducks existence has been in vane. They are much easier to pluck if it is done immediately before they go cold.  Plucking can be hard work if you haven't done it before it makes your hands ache. Always pluck in the direction the feathers are growing, sound obvious but some people don't.  Remember when finished to take out the bits which you probably won't be using through the rear of the bird, lungs are a bit fiddly but the rest come away very easily.   Wash out well and store in the fridge until cooking time.

Is that a shepherd, no it's a Mason.

Five Grand-kids in the Christingle Nativity.

 Sunday was the Christingle service at Blacktoft Church, straight opposite Geoff's house.  Sandra had arranged for Jessica, Melissa, Libby, Finley and Mason to go dressed in their nativity costumes from school.  Although Libs was too old for nativity plays so she went in civvies.  Mason didn't do a play this year so Sandra whipped up a quick shepherds outfit on Saturday night.

All the kids get their Christingles.

Geoff opens one of his many gifts.

So all rigged up we attended the service and the children, probably about twenty of them, all held a nativity partially narrated by themselves and partially under the auspices of the vicar, Graham.  He has a really good way with children old and young and managed to cajole them into a stellar performance.  On the subject of cajoling, he also managed to cajole me into taking on the role of one of the Kings complete with solo singing performance, last time I go to church!!  But you can't expect kids to join in if you are not prepared to.  Blacktoft parish consists of three small hamlets with a total population of somewhere in the region of two hundred people.  There must have been half that many people at the Christingle service and the following "bun fight" I'l bet most parishes couldn't boost that, especially when you think that all three villages where affected by the recent storm surge and flooding.  Well done to all concerned.

Geoff and I chilling after Christmas Lunch.

 Christmas dinner went very well and Santa visited and the duck was exceedingly tasty, as Mr. Kipling might have said.  The only problem is something has now shifted in my back and my Sciatic nerve has become trapped thus I am loosing feeling in my leg and in quite a bit of pain also but hey ho I suppose these things come in threes so at least it's not affecting anyone but me.

Have a great new year everyone and hopefully I'll write again next year!  HAPPY NEW YEAR.