20.12.2023 Museum Xmas Lunch.

 ~o~

 Wednesday 20th 40F/4C. A damp morning, clearing later. Up at 6.30 after more bizarre dreams. It is the volunteers' Xmas lunch at the Museum. I have to shop first. 65F/18C in the room. The stove is lit and going well. After some recalcitrance bordering on downright disobedience!

 A severe storm [Pia] arrives tomorrow and overnight to Friday morning. Winds gusting to over 30m/s. Which is 65-70mph. It sounds like the storm of Christmas 1999. Which caused major damage and loss of power and water for several days. We lost an area of our northern roof. The farm behind us was destroyed when the wind got into the adjoining barns. 

 This time the wind is westerly to north westerly. Rather than south westerly. With, tall and skinny, intervening trees forming a modest shelter belt. Those trees weren't there back then. Hopefully the storm won't lead to road closures and cancelled trains. Lots of people will be travelling to their family Xmas.

 8.45. Still very dark outside. I have been laundering and tidying. The former the clearing of yet more dry clothing into chests of drawers and assorted tubs. The "tidying" is a euphemism for desperately searching for a box. Which I knew to exist well over a year ago. Now mysteriously vanished. Into the chaos I loosely call upstairs storage. 

 I am wondering whether wandering around several football field sized, village supermarkets. Is enough exercise to avoid a formal, morning walk. Probably. Besides, it was tipping down when I fetched in more firewood from the greenhouse. So a walk would be quite uncalled for masochism. 

 I hope the car behaves itself today. It was being silly again yesterday. Failing to pick up when I was accelerating. It is quite arguably a forlorn cry for help. It has had enough. Dating from the mid 1990s it has struggled on. Through each and every official, safety inspection. With ever increasing expense. The Morris Minor should be enough car for one old fart. Sadly it's age and fragility make it very much of a fair weather friend. I have to avoid salted roads or rust is inevitable.

 15.00 The old car was fine. I shopped in a more distant village. Then showered before going to the Museum Xmas dinner for 12.00. Leaving about 14.30 as the numbers steadily dwindled down from amongst the eighteen present. I am really full up!

 No dinner required. Tea and a biscuit.

~o~