Somewhere in my dim and distant past I remember Christmas Eve's being relaxing affairs. Maybe a leisurely breakfast, some last minute present wrapping and then watching old movies on the television before settling down after dark for Carols from King's. 2013 will continue in its tradition of more bizarre than a chinchilla on a unicycle. At 1am this morning the second phase of the Christmas storm passed through Wiltshire, and boy did it blow. The roar of the wind through the trees at the front of the house was spectacular, however at the back of the house where the full force of the Atlantic storm was hitting it was akin to being in a dishwasher with water going hither and yon past the window pane at a speed I never knew water could travel. The venerable gardens trees were bending like saplings and as for the fence panels, a perfect Mexican Wave was performed about every 5 minutes. If any of the garden survived this it would be a miracle. By 3am I was asleep at last.
Well unlike many Hollywood films, miracles don't happen and at first light the fence line resembled a particularly dilapidated ancient monument, while the central heating cover lay rakishly in the spring border. There was nothing for it, nails, screws, post-fix, saws, hammers and all the paraphernalia of a garden make over were brought to the fore and so my Eve before Christmas began. 4 hours later the job was done, I was also done. Just time to clean myself and head off to friends near Royal Wotton Bassett for coffee and catch-up. Worth it for the spectacular drive over the Marlborough Downs in unbroken sunshine.
And so as many of you will be celebrating the festive season with friends and having fun, I shall remember my first ever Christmas in Wiltshire with the fondness only an aching back can bring, more ohhh ahhh ohh than ho ho ho!
No comments:
Post a Comment