Beginnings and endings. Somehow arrived at the end of what seems to have been a hectic January. Hence none of those promised post-Christmas letters and emails have been written or sent - yet.
There has been quite a lot of running up and down the country. In between a couple of work shifts.
There has been the arrival of a new family member to the great relief and delight of everyone.
There have been the usual dog walks at home as well as dog-sitting elsewhere.
There have been gigs: wild, iconoclastic and Irish*; live late-night blues (a brilliant all female trio that one**) in a newly discovered venue*** now earmarked for frequent returns whenever possible and an event billed as a Transylvanian Ceilidh, one of Celtic Connections events, which surpassed expectations on almost every level.
And behind (not to say beneath and above) there has been just about every type of weather imaginable: deep, disruptive snow; freezing ice; weirdly mild temperatures; bright sunshine; preternaturally still days; torrential rain and floods; named storms (a hooley currently blowing outside as I write - this one named Storm Ingunn by the Norwegians ) and anonymous storms often no less destructive. Dizzying transitions from one to the other often within the space of one or two hours.
Reminds you that making plans is a good way to make the gods laugh yet we continue to do it....a "city break" including a couple of Celtic Connections gigs and an interesting author talk beckons this weekend - those same weather/transport gods being willing.🙏
Spring will arrive...eventually......but like a lamb, a lion or a unicorn? Who knows. 😉
* The Mary Wallopers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXiepMEW-gDVnARydII_caA
** Deaf Judy
*** Howlin` Wolf https://www.thehowlinwolf.co.uk/
