November - a doggy month

In November I have been mostly -

Acquiring two new pooches!

Trying to train the above

Admiring trees

Baking cakes

Visiting the Cathedral

Lighting our first fire of the season

Staying in

Watching old black and white films

Clearing leaves

Celebrating the beginning of Advent

Our tulip tree in full glory - it is now naked

Myself and my colleague Sarah have enjoyed many sunny walks across Old Sarum Airfield in our lunch break. Sometimes we see mad people jumping out of planes and screaming on their way down!

Don't think I am....

No, don't want to.....

Old Sarum Airfield is one of the few grass airfields in the country and the second oldest having been used continually since 1917.

The airfield is half a mile long

and was designated a conservation area in 2007

A memorial dedicated to the Old Sarum air squadron who flew over enemy lines in light, unarmed aircraft during the Second World War

These tiny helicopters are being used to train Chinese search and rescue pilots

A 1914-1918 Grade II listed hanger

I enjoyed a charity shopping expedition in a very wet Devizes one day.  At one point I came out of a changing room to see my mother teetering around the shop in a pair of stilettos and clutching at clothing rails to stop herself falling over - can't take her anywhere.....

Little Sis doing a bit of 'show and tell' - notice granny trolley!

I have been sweeping customers' leaves.

A sunny day in Alderbury

We got two doggies from the Dog's Trust.

Here they are - Eddie and Sophie

Sophie is 11, has cataracts, ongoing medication and snores!

Sophie has made friends with Frank after staring at him for a whole week.

She also likes Frank's rather small bed

She likes to lie in front of the fire

Eddie is 9 and a heart stealer and, as we found out, has a penchant for sherry - here he is on Sophie's new blanket

Here's Sophie (looking guilty) on Frank's new blanket

And here's Frank (looking confused) on Eddie's new blanket

We thoroughly enjoyed singing Durufle's Requiem in the Cathedral and the choir even got a cheer which is unheard of in the normally restrained Cathedral audience.

On our way to the Trinity Chapel to get ready

Waiting to start rehearsing and having a chin wag

We also enjoyed the Advent Procession (from Darkness to Light) at the Cathedral.  It was wonderful and a shame that we had three fidgety, bored boys behind us kicking our chairs - grrrrrr.....  The service started in complete darkness and ended with the entire Cathedral lit by around 1300 candles. The Cathedral Choir sang beautifully, there were bible readings and congregational hymns.  It is free and you don't need a ticket so we were right at the back (surprise, surprise) but it didn't matter as the procession moves past you - so atmospheric. 

At the end of the service we saw the 'Star of Bethlehem' light installation by Jason Haebich

I have been shifting my work hours to try and get at least one dog walk a day in the light!

F O G

C O W

Beautiful misty morning

Pops of autumn colour in the village

The Old Post Office

Our neighbour, Welsh Bill's, lovely sumac tree

Bit 'Close Encounters'!

Where are the little green men?

Our new pooches on their first walk at Hare Warren

Lovely candlesnuff fungi

The autumn leaves.....

We hadn't let the dogs off the lead at this point!

Eddie can be bribed by treats and will come back but Sophie is selectively deaf and likes to walk, ears back, just that little bit too fast for you to catch her! 

First walk up the hill - leadless!

I have made some carrot and garlic chutney but am REALLY in to baking at the moment.

Yummy apple cake

It didn't last long and was nice hot, straight out of the oven, with a mug of black coffee!

One of my rock buns bathed in a golden light on my desk at work - one has to have some treats to pass the hours.....

What else can you do in these long, dark evenings but try new cake recipes?   I've just got these two bad boys out of the oven and can't wait to try a bit!

Lemon, Blueberry and Polenta cake - one for me, one for the freezer

Well, December tomorrow - better look interested in Christmas I suppose!  I am reading Miss Read's 'Village Christmas' in the hope that it may induce feelings of great joy.  No, nothing yet!  If we could only get rid of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, adverts, Christmas traffic queues and the constant reminders I might just get excited.

I am off to read my nice book....and try the new cake with a glass of sherry!

'The darkness throbbed with the clamour of church bells.  The six sonorous voices of St Patrick's peal chased each other, now in regular rhythm, now in staccato clashes, as the bell-ringers sweated at their Christmas peal practice.

The night was iron-cold.  Frost glittered on the hedges and fields of Faircacre although it was not yet eight o'clock.  Thatched roofs were furred with white rime beneath a sky brilliant with stars.  Smoke rose in unwavering blue wisps from cottage chimneys, for the air was uncannily still.'

'Village Christmas' by Miss Read 1966