On The Last Day of 2020 - The Weirdest Year Ever? And the 6th Day After Christmas

 Photos and Memories from possibly the weirdest year most of us have ever lived through.............

January. 

Stacked the logs from the poplars that were cut down and put onto pallets ready for splitting.

                                                        Logs to burn, logs to burn
                                                        logs to save the coal a turn
                                                     here's a word to make you wise
                                                 when you hear the woodsman's cries
                                                          never heed his usual tale
                                                     that he has good logs for sale
                                               but read these lines and really learn
                                                        the proper kind of logs to burn
                                                  Beechwood fires burn bright and clear
                                                             Hornbeam blazes too
                                                          if the logs are kept a year
                                                  and seasoned through and through
                                                            Oak logs will warm you well
                                                                if they're old and dry
                                                        larch logs of pinewood smell
                                                                but the sparks will fly
                                                              Pine is good and so is Yew
                                                         for warmth through wintry days
                                                             but Poplar and willow too
                                                             take long to dry and blaze
                                                             Birch logs will burn too fast
                                                                   Alder scarce at all
                                                            Chestnut logs are good to last
                                                                        if cut in the fall
                                                                Holly logs burn like wax
                                                              you should burn them green
                                                            Elm logs like smouldering flax
                                                                      no flame to be seen
                                                                 Pear logs and Apple logs
                                                                 they will scent your room
                                                               Cherry logs across the dogs
                                                                smell like flowers in bloom
                                                         But Ash logs all smooth and grey
                                                                burn them green or old
                                                         burn up all that come your way
                                                       they're worth their weight in gold

BiL is very dismissive of the lightweight quick burning  Poplar I have as the wood he cuts and sells is more likely Oak and Ash, but as I said "beggars can't be choosers" and suddenly he was quite happy to clear this lot away to his house when I decided to move. (There is still enough left here for this winter and next for the new family)

February

February's memory has to be the new Grandson and a visit from the other grandchildren to meet their new cousin. Who would have guessed that would be our only big gathering in 2020. Please, please let us be able to all  meet again in 2021.

The three oldest have all grown up so much this year. Oldest Grandson is a school boy, Oldest Granddaughter goes to a school nursery class and Youngest Granddaughter will soon be 3 and the baby will be a 1 year old even sooner.

March

The first Lock down and I started to cycle more for exercise as the weather was so good, down to the old part of the main village.

April

I made a map of the garden and meadow, hadn't really thought about selling the house then. But another  year of having to drive everywhere, all the garden work and things going wrong changed my mind.

May

My Greenhouse in May. Getting a greenhouse will be my first plan at the bungalow after I move. It will probably be too late for growing in 2021, depends how soon I can get a base down.

June

A few strawberries from the pots on my patio. I'm taking some new plants in pots to the bungalow. Luckily Brother-in Law had enough spare so that I could make jam.

July

There were a few boot sales in July - it was so good to get out and about again after the long lock-down, although I didn't find much

August

It was lovely to get back to swimming when the pool re-opened. The first time for 5½ months.

 

I went as many times as possible between August and the next lock-down in November.

September

I used some of the huge peppers that the 3 plants from Thompson and Morgan produced to make mango chutmey

October

All through the year there were many many posts about books. I've had lots of comments from readers who say they enjoy my library book photo each month - of course the mobile library was locked down too for months and I seem to have  bought more books this year than any previous year. But there are no regrets about that! 

These were my shelves in the living room in October and since then some have these have gone off to Ziffit too.I've sold more than I've bought

November

A fast moving month despite being in lock-down again. After Col died  I knew it was impossible to  stay here for ever, it's too big and too old and too many things that need sorting all the time. After  looking at the houses for sale for several months and seeing how quickly things were selling I had this place valued and it was such a good price that I could move and have money left over. The house sold within 4 days of going on-line!

 

 

I'm moving just 4 miles to a 3 bedroom bungalow with a small garden but there is room for a greenhouse and  a couple of vegetable beds. The best thing is that I can walk to a shop, post office, library van stop, chip shop, doctors and the hairdressers where I go is just 3 houses away. The village has a village hall where in normal times lots of things happen and a big childrens playground for when the grandchildren visit.

 December

Getting ready for Christmas, which was almost cancelled  and then  tier 4 the day after. I enjoyed my double edition of the Radio Times, I like all the extra bits of reading in a year when TV has been a constant companion for me.

so my 6th Day after Christmas treat is the new copy.

 That was my year in photos and now it's the last day of 2020 and all we can hope for is that 2021 is better for everyone.

Thank you all for your company in blogland through 2020 

I'll be Back Tomorrow in 2021

Sue