A Christmas Carol written by my brother

And it came to pass, that during the days of Advent, in the early hours of night, some carol singers went forth to spread the spirit of Christmas to the ordinary people of Duncombe Road. With cardboard in their shoes to keep out the chilling cold and icy damp, they pulled their lumber jackets about them and came upon the first house. There, under the cold night sky, they began Good King Wenceslas. Even though the four part harmony fell apart, their voices floated into the air and carried to the people within - who could affordeth coal and were warm and cosy by their firesides.

At the ending of the carol, their voices fell still and they looked upon eachother with creased brows. Perhaps the people within had not heard them. Perchance they should sing another offering? Michael, the eldest caroller, nodded his head wisely and spake unto the others. "We shall give 'em Hark the Herald Angels Sing," he proclaimed. "And if they don't come, we'll stamp all over their roses."

The others nodded wisely, in agreement and cleared their throats, ready for another go. Yet another carol rose up in the silence of the night but to no avail. Not even yet a twitch of the curtains.

They finished their offering, then looked upon one another again.

"We've made fourpence h'appenny," Michael announced. "I think we should calleth it a day."

So saying, they made their way to the gates, pausing on the way to stamp on several Peace floribundas and to trampleth upon marigolds and wall flowers.

"That will teacheth them!" David muttered.

"Yeah," Michael agreed. "Got any Brock's cannons? We could shove one in the letter box."

"This is Christmas, not Guy Fawkes," David sayeth unto him. "The season of good will. Letteth us go home."

"Very good," Michael replied, "Let's just knock on the door hard then run away."

Foxy.

I gave up keeping chickens a couple of years ago because of a rash of foxes. they were eventually dealt with but there are one or two around again. Saw one cross our field the other day, bold as brass. When we have a fall of snow next, I'm going out to follow it's footprints. I bet it investigates next doors chicks before moving on.

Jeffrey Farnol.

Have any of you ever read any of J. Farnol 's books? They are collectable now. We had two or three in our family bookcase. Black Bartlemy's Treasure, Martin Conisby's Vengeace, and The
Broad Highway. There are a lot more. Beltane The Smith, The Amateur Gentleman,
Peregrines Progress etc. , all highly recommended . I've read all of those about six times in my life
and will probably read them again! I've found a shop in Hay on Wye with a lot of them for sale
from two pounds up to ten pounds each.
Whilst on the subject of books, You must find, buy and read, Twenty Years Agrowing by
Maurice O'Sullivan. I bet if you do, you'll be taking the ferry to Ireland and visiting a certain west coast island!

Hat!

This is K's new hat . I really like it.

Homemade bread.

Just in case anyone has NOT got a bread machine , take my advice and go for it!
It is SO easy. The white loaf pictured was so light, I had to nail it down to take the photo!
Get a PANASONIC SD 254.

Nothing day.

I'm feeling depressed today, like a lead weight in my forhead and chest. No one to tell because you don't , do you? Want to go for a walk but can't quite do it. K is at work. Here's a thing, once I was feeling really down, on my own and I started to cry and my dog , sitting in front of me put his nose in the air and howled! I was so ashamed to have upset him that I hugged him and found I'd forgotten my own woes! There, that's told someone and I'll go for a little walk now.

Our river.

This was last year. Wonder if this winter will bring lots of rain. Terrific power in this water, you couldn't walk across the bridge with the river like this.