Shingle

 The day started bright and sunny, but quite cold. The Gorse Fox was tempted to have an early walk, but there was a list of things he wanted to get done first. That was all very fine, but by the time he finished, the clouds had rolled in and it was quite grey.

The advantage of having a skip on the drive is that we can loads some of our larger items that were destined for the tip into it. (Simon has virtually finished with it, and suggested we should top it up with anything we wanted before it get sent back). Amazon boxes, car seat boxes, and general detritus slowly migrated from their hiding places into the skip. A very satisfactory clear-out.

Next on the agenda was to fix a loose tap in the kitchen. This means taking everything out from under the sink, then spelunking into the cupboard on the Gorse Fox's back. No tool quite fits, so he can only tighten it by hand. It lasts for a while, but it will have to be done again in a few months.

Finally, it was time for a walk. By now the clouds were breaking up and the sun was looking very pleased with itself.

As usual, the Gorse Fox parked by West Fields and marched through Marine Gardens to the promenade. Then he continued for about 3 km to the Lobster Pot. It was busy on the prom, and the council had clearly had their work crews out clearing the shingle from the pavement back onto the beach. In places the mounds of shingle were several feet high, about ten feet wide, and stretched for hundreds of metres.

It really was a lovely walk, and on the way home he diverted to B&Q to see if they had any suitable Xmas lights for the outside of the house. Nada. It looked like a swarm of locusts had been into the store and stripped the Xmas displays back to empty. Oh well, another Amazon order!

We heard from Cousteau-Cub. She and the Coventry Hobbit are getting another puppy this coming week. A turkey seems like a more appropriate selection for Xmas, but no, they know best!