The weather has been bleak. Our James, Louise and Little Evie arrived Monday and within 12 hours we had all gone down with a stomach bug – on the plus side, they got to stay another day. James is the our youngest boy of three and the the first produce a grandchild. For various reasons, it seems unlikely that the others will follow suit. So, on this branch of the family tree, it seems likely the Down name will die out. My dad would have been disappointed – no longer a name to go down in history.
It is a surname people struggle with – when speaking it, particularly on the phone, I have a habit of saying “Down, D, O, W, N” – it’s short enough and helps reduce the number of misheard interpretations – they are many. Even people we have known for years will add an ‘e’ or an ‘s’ or both – Downe, Downs, Downes are the common variations. Oddly, the Good Wife, who inherited the name, gets more irritated by this than me.
Enough rambling – I trust everyone is having and will continue to have a great Christmas. Like I said, the weather has been bleak and this is reflected in the external images from the past seven days:
Sunday 19th December – The fog on the Tyne moved up the side of the valley.
Monday 20th December – Someone is looking sheepish
Tuesday 21st December – Little Evie and her two front teeth venture north
Wednesday 22nd December – More thoughtful than sheepish
Thursday 23rd December – More or less recovered from the stomach bug
Friday 24th December – the CCM Spitfire Blackout – another recent addition to the garage.
Saturday 25th December – A Christmas day walk to Beaufront Hill Head.
northumbrian : light 
Compliments of the season my biking friend. Here’s to dry roads and sticky tyre days ahead!
Best wishes,
Dookes
Likewise Dookes – roll on the Spring!
We’ve just landed back at Faro from a cold and snowy Leeds. It was wonderful to see them though and we managed a lovely light show at Temple Newsam. Happy Boxing Day, Robin 🤣☃️💕
Glad it worked out well, Jo but very envious os you being back in Faro
All the best, R x
🤗🎄💕
Here, we had an warmer than usual Christmas Day: 85 degress Fahrenheit. That’s unusual even for Texas.
Enjoy Boxing Day!
Thanks Pit and hope you have had a great time – 85 degrees – I am envious!
Well, we’d love it cooler, perhaps some snow even. It is strange to have the A/C on on Christmas.
Just about to have a glass of wine, so chin-chin to you Robin. Happy times to you and the family. And and what a sweetie is Little Evie. Her titfer is a stunner.
And all the best to you and yours, Tish – let’s hope some sanity returns in 2022. Evie is such a little a gem – I know I am biased but she really is special.
Glad to read about recovery! Love the shock of color photos among the black and white, but they’re all lovely. We had an excellent Christmas thanks partly to Zoom. 😉. Enjoy the last week of the year.
janet
Thanks Janet – now firing on all cylinders. Have a great week too – all the best, R
✨❄⛄🎄🥂🕊💖🕊🥂🎄⛄❄✨
I always think of you as Watership. 🙂 Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas despite stomach issues and bleakness outside the window. Evie is so charming.
You remembered! 🙂 It was grand, although quieter than planned on Christmas Day due to the threat of passing on the bug. Just the two of us is always good. Hope you has a great time – I imagine you with low lights, log fires and tucked away in snowy woods. All the best for 2022, R
Beautiful photos as always. We were in the Scottish Borders for a few days before Christmas (sadly a funeral on one) and the low lying mist really added to the beauty of the area. Glad you’re all back on good health ready to take on the new year!
Many thanks for your generous comments. Shame about the circumstances but the Scottish Borders is a fine place – I have come to know them well, being easily reachable on 2-wheeled trips out. All the best for 2022 to you and yours, R
Thank you. And the same to you!