The 'embers of the year......

I woke up early this morning to the rhythmic drumming of heavy rain on Pippin's roof.

I got up, made a cup of tea and lit the fire.

Work has been hard of late, and there has been little cheer to brighten these grey days.

For we are into the embers of the year.

Nov and Dec.............

Embers.

Always seems like the end of something. And endings are sad sometimes.

My good friend Mark (The Engineer) has had to have his beloved labrador Ollie put down.

He is very sad.

Mark doesn't have a blog himself, yet. He's waiting until he gets his boat, I think........

But if you feel moved to leave a message for him on this one, please do.

(For some reason known only unto himself, he does read this rubbish......)

It may help, a bit, to cheer him up.........

I am also feeling a bit down on the mouth.

The days shorten and the gargantuan commercialised juggernaut that is Christmas looms ever closer, with it's now unrealistically high expectations of a purchased joy and a fragile, momentary truce that looks like peace and goodwill, but is, in truth, but tinsel, dearly leased, and owned by usurers.

But strike up, brave heart! And be glad!

I've been looking back through wb Pippin's photo library.

Here's some pictures to remind us that it isn't always rainy, sad and grey.........

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling heaps better.......

:-)