Marty

It currently 39/4° here. And 2°C/36°F here. No cold, harsh winds though, fortunately. (Although the forecast suggests there might be snow overnight...)

Thank Cod for that!

This current cold spell is definitely not typical for the northwest of Ireland. Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream off the west coast of Ireland, we normally have mild, wet winters. Hopefully it doesn't last too long.

Hi, Page! Sounds like that could be fun (if Zoom didn't get in the way).

It's been a beautiful sunny, albeit cold, day here today. It's now dark, and the sky is absolutely cloud free, meaning I could see the Milky Way when I just went outside into my back garden. Of course, that clear sky means that it shall get extremely cold overnight, with a forecast low of -7°C/19°F. The coldest night of the winter so far. I spent much of the day outside tidying up the garden, and made a bonfire of some of the material that I have gathered/accumulated over the summer/autumn. There were still a few flames flickering when I went out to check on it a few minutes ago. Lovely smell of wood smoke a couple of hours after dark! Another Zoom session coming up in five minutes time, so I'm gad I have already eaten. See you all on the other side! (Assuming I get out alive.)

Everything okay there, Albert?

Welcome back, ma Sherey! If your electricity was out as well, I just hope that your heating doesn't rely on it.

Very apt, Gary!

And you, Gary!

Thanks for commenting, Parker! That's what I like about the haiku form: the very fact that it has to be distilled.

No. But I might be a Zoombie. Well... I think I survived.

I wasn't sure which emoticon to use at first: Love ❤️, or Laugh . I went with the love.

No. But I might be a Zoombie.

It's just after 6:30pm here, and I've a Zoom session starting at 7. So I've raided the freezer and am having an early dinner of beef curry (extra hot curry! ) on a bed of boiled rice. Hopefully see you all on the other side (of Zoom).

Hey, Page.

A blast from the past, indeed! And sad news about Geoff. ❤️ Although I might have come across as a bit of a rock 'n' roller back in the day, I was also a fan of the likes of The New Vaudeville Band, The Temperance Seven, Tiny Tim, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, and similar. I just loved their cheeky Britishness, and the way they just seemed to refuse to emulate the traditional pop (pap?) of the day.

Greeting, young Albert!

Thanks for the comment, and the hug, Val.

Although it was written with a certain amount of tongue in cheek, it's true to say that it does actually hold a certain amount of truth in my own case. Thanks for commenting, Gary.

Cheers, Gary! And that very essential economy of words can make them difficult to pull off effectively at times.

Thanks, Val! I love them, too.

Lou, Frank, John, Chris, Jim... Why is it I always fall For friends that are straight?

Thanks, Gary. You look after yourself. It can be hard these days to feel positive. But I at least feel positive that we shall eventually get through the current darkness. And there can perhaps be something good to come out of having the strength to be able to admit our own weakness.

Gerry and the Pacemakers star Gerry Marsden dies aged 78 https://www.thejournal.ie/gerry-marsden-death-youll-never-walk-alone-5315216-Jan2021/

Another year gone A new one in front of us... Will anything change?