i come from the land of the ice and snow…
Having spent most of yesterday with one finger poised over the Refresh button on the updates page of the East Coast trains website, I am again posting from my corner of the (thankfully none too populous) 10:32 to London Kings Cross having determinedly leapt up early to finish bleary-eyed packing and feed fishes, before setting off a just-in-case half hour early for the trek to Scarborough Railway Station (and see top left pic for it looking rather picturesque yesterday teatime) amidst the final remains of the first phase of winter weather. Despite rumblings to the contrary, the snow has not made a triumphant comeback overnight and today has been the first time in over two weeks I have left the apartment wearing anything on my feet other than my wellingtons, this return to normal but unfamiliar-of-late footwear lending me a slightly unstable gait reminiscent of either the very old, or the moderately pissed.
The past few days have brought a few intrepid visitors, although more cancellations due to the conditions (which was secretly something of a relief, given the likely pace of the next few days) and I have enjoyed ambling about the apartment in pyjamas and warm socks making the final arrangements for both my trip and Christmas itself; I had tentatively planned a trip to a vintage fair in York last Thursday, but the freezing temperatures put the kibosh on my plans to be shockingly selfish by Buying Things For Myself In December, and my secondary mission to return to Red Chilli and investigate Donkey Rolled In Mud (preceded by steamed buns, chilli frogs legs or possibly Big Grandma’s Stir Fried Whelk) was not to be. Rest assured that I intend to make up for it in the capital!
Speaking of York, I should report that I have this week been presented with a new zenith in mince pie quality; hand made and gift-wrapped from Betty’s, I can unconditionally state that the bar has been raised to previously unimaginable heights and a moment of silent contemplation was necessary (after wolfing the first one cold and straight from the box immediately the door closed) to compose myself. The thoughful gentleman who provided these triumphs of pie utopia also supplied a box from Waitrose (a resource we are sadly lacking in Scarborough) which will keep until the end of the month, and these have been added to the Christmas cupboard along with several boxes of Mr Kipling, the Christmas pudding and biscuit box plus the usual array of jars (beetroot, gherkins, piccalilli) and necessary oddbods like lebkuchen, After Eights and those faintly bizarre mini-pretzel things.
The thought of tackling Scarborough’s high street shops in the actual few days prior to Christmas Eve is, in my opinion, enough to send any sane person heading for the roof, and I have carefully ensured that presents, cards, decorations and food shopping (including fish flakes) are all taken care of. The double-issue Radio Times has been purchased, all gift wrapping is done and with the exception of a spot of Putting Away when the good folk at Tesco Online bring the last odds and ends (aka Christmas dinner) on the 23rd, I am looking forward to a peaceful few days upon my return – it is worth pointing out that availability for Christmas week is dwindling surprisingly fast and anyone who would like to fit in a visit would be well advised not to leave it too much longer.
To this week, and I have a few appointments left on Tuesday plus one each on Monday and Wednesday – I am reliably informed that the snow has departed SE1 and normal service will be resumed later on! All the evenings are now spoken for, but anyone wishing to while away a few daytime hours, get in touch and don’t forget your mistletoe…