Wet.

Last night while in our bathroom I heard a tapping, scratching sound. Intrigued I first looked out of the window but there wasn't a little bird looking for insects or seeds on the wall. Could it be the rain dripping from the gutter? Not that either. Finally I honed in on the source of the noise, it was coming from under the shower tray. It was a sound familiar to me from our house in London when mice used to make noises behind the skirting boards. The noise stopped for a few seconds when I banged on the shower tray but then resumed. A very determined mouse of some sort. I only hope it wasn't trying to chew through the plastic drain pipe.

This morning I woke with a headache eurgh! I suffered from frequent headaches that would last for several weeks all through my adult years until about 5 or 6 years ago when the anti-inflammatory tablets I was given for my arthritis and back problems, cleared the headaches right up. Now I only get the occasional one when I have stuffy sinuses. At least this morning my attention was diverted, first by a couple of squirrels playing in the garden, then by a magnificent cock pheasant solemnly walking about and then by a fluffed up woodpecker preening itself in a tree.

I've been busy in the kitchen once more. The Christmas cake has been iced, I made a frosting this time instead of taking the easy option and buying some ready to roll icing. I also made 2 kinds of hummus and a last batch of biscuits. Sort of Christmassy ones this time with ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and honey.

I also got the second dinning table out, not strictly necessary with only 4 of us  but most of our visitors tend to congregate in the kitchen with lap-tops etc and I do like a big table. The card above is a good illustration of my rural dreams when I was living in the city and I like to think that our country life has been a bit like that.

Must stop now as I'm off for a meal out with the girls.