One can't really complain that American scones have too much sugar if one eats the alternative "piled" with what amounts to fruit polymerized with sugar. I have a sweet tooth but I cannot tolerate the sweetness of the average jam, marmalade or compote with or without a scone substrate. My teeth ache just looking at the jars.

So, did you festoon the sails of the mill with fairy lights for Xmas?

Here's hoping that other door opens as quickly as possible.

[pen] No. I own my house where I live and it needs to be repaired from Hurricane Laura as is . . . and with my disabilities, it's best to have an online job because that way employers can't complain about having to use my transport chair or my service dogs.

[KS] Sorry to hear about the job. Hopefully something comes your way soon.
[Stevie] I agree. My preference is a sharp jam like raspberry or rhubarb. We spent Christmas Day with friends who have a plum tree. As they don't eat them, I came away with about 8kg of fruit. First batch of plum jam is now in the jars.

If you are eating sharp jam it is a good sign that the jam owner dropped the jar and scraped the contents into a new one.

Happy New Year!

Well things are a bit odd this week innit.

Which is unusual for week 2.

I really can't think of much to say at the moment.

Neither can I, but we might as well keep la Aniston's upward progress going.

It is foggy here, and chuffin' cold.

Clear and sunny, 4°C when I set out, -2°C when I got back.

Currently 31; supposed to reach 36 today.

(CdM) A pretty accurate description of what it's like here, but in Fahrenheit.

(Rosie) Heh - but I'd still rather be here. Can't do heat.

I can't do heat either. Just been out for lunchtime dogwalk; 4C and strong winds is a bit brutal but if you keep moving it's OK. I was so bundled up as to be unrecognisable walking into the wind but had to take off me hat walking back with the wind behind me
What gets me is the freaking gloom here. It was midday and gloomier than a gloomy thing. Awful.

It is sunny here, but still a tad chilly. I also have toothache, and an expensive looking sheet of dental treatment. Pliers and DIY wooden teeth might be an alternative.

(Chalky, pen) As part of my weather-nut activities I have just discovered that in Jakutsk, Siberia, the current temperature is -50°C. Minus fifty. Not a breath of wind but a thin fog. Wrap up well.

(Rosie) So what they say about Siberia is true.

(Chalky) Parts of it, yes. Jakutsk is a large and quite agreeable city. All the buildings are on stilts about six feet high so the heat from them doesn't melt the permafrost. In the brief peaky summer it's warmer than London and very sunny.

Ooh! It is snowing!
And JA has almost gone.

(Rosie) Googled. Mammoth Museum!
(Boolbar)Where?
Gone.

[Chalky] In Bedfordshire: hence "Snowy Beds". And it only lasted a few minutes. The bulk of the snow is probably held up at customs along with all the lorry drivers' sandwiches, so it won't go hungry.

Currently in the wilds of Zeeland at the mill. 2C and windy. Cannot move for thick layers of clothing and ski socks, yet fingers frozen. Waiting for snow (due in about 20 minutes). The neighbours have a big shed/workshop with a wood burner in it and have invited us for chicken soup for lunch. I made 2 dozen mince pies last night to contribute and warm up in the stove’s oven. It’s not all bad.