Calm.

Nothing like as cold this morning and with little wind the sea was as calm as the proverbial millpond. Up behind the hills a strange cloud looked like an encroaching glacier in a disaster film.

The builder did arrive this morning and has been busy all day putting up insulation and plasterboard in the utility room. I moved another box out of my study and am both looking forward to emptying everything else out because that will mean work is about to happen in there but also dreading it as there are bags of curtains and blankets (bought to make winter curtain linings) and the trundle beds and their two mattresses.

Our big job for today was to put up the venetian blind in the sitting room. It would seem a simple job, just 12 screws to put in but as ever that gives only the merest hint of the work involved. Step 1 - clear the window sill, an easy one that. Step 2 - mark up positions for the screws keeping the fittings evenly spaced but not where the cords go up. Step 3 - drilling, in the most awkward position even when standing on the little stepladder, drill too heavy for me but Peter's elbow not up to it either. Peter checking I was going straight up and exhorting me to push harder as the bit encountered blockwork. Step 4 - Peter using a special tool to force in the weird metal cages we need because the plasterboard is backed with insulation. Step 5 - Screwing in the six fittings. Another easy step. Step 6 - taking down the plastic, cleaning the window and hoovering up all the plaster dust. Step 7 - Holding up the blind and trying to click it on to the fittings. Step 8 - Loosening up the screws and adjusting the fittings so they were precisely in line. (Thought they were already but not.) Step 9 - Step 7 again, still no joy. Step 10 - Loosening up the screws again and pushing the fittings as far forward as they would go. Step 11 - Step 7 again and this time it worked. Step 12 - work out how to lower the slats. Step 13 - adjust the slats and go outside to check passers-by can't see in. Step 14 - Put everything back for the moment. The pitcher plants will eventually be in my study where the radiator won't be on. And then it's DONE. It was hard going and with four more blinds needed we really need somebody to do it for us. I'm going to check out the venetian blinds in the curtain shop in town because the slats on this one seem quite flimsy. Still have to buy and put up a curtain rail.

I needed a rest after all that and then my scheduled Christmas task was to check the ingredients I need to buy before I begin baking the Christmas biscuits.

What wind there has been has created the strangest ripples on the sea. They're parallel to our bit of cliff which makes them 90 degrees to the beach. Sort of sideways waves.

Looking at the weather chart I posted yesterday I realised that I had no idea exactly what the 'average temperature' referred to. Average over daylight hours, over all 24 hours or what? On the same page I found a chart with the minimum/maximum temperatures for each month which was a lot more useful but wouldn't copy as a photo. The min/max temps for winter are - Nov 4.9C/9.9C, Dec 3.3C/8C. Jan 2.4C/7C, Feb 1.9C/7C, March 3.6C/9.2C. No freezing temperatures at all. I suspect the low summer maximums are due to the constant breeze.

Vaccinations begin tomorrow in hospitals only, first are the over 80's who already have hospital appointments, then care home staff and hospital staff.