New Year's Day

Having been up until 2 a.m. drinking fine whisky we were snowed in. Liz tried sledging but I was happy to watch from the house. James took Oran on the sledge too. It was really nice not having TV as we played scrabble and Taboo which is a tricky game where you have to tell your team the word they need without using certain words! Lots to eat and drink again! On the 2nd Liz and Kevin were able to drive out and took us to Jill's at Ryton. In the afternoon we went over to Flo and Tom's and enjoyed shortbread and a good chat and ginger wine. Tom is recovering from a fall when he hurt his shoulder.
On the 3rd we walked to mass at Stella (in the snow) it being the Epiphany. There was a good music group and we sang "What child is this" and "We 3 kings". Strangley a said Gloria and Agnus and a hymn replaced the psalm! The priest conservative and slow and a dull homily. Jill and Levanta picked us up and we went to his lovely home - he has lovely Japanese picture and objects and a lovely enclosed balcony room overlooking a gorgeous cherry tree. We enjoyed the walk at Foxs Hole Dene (NT) down to the beach. We then went on to Durham where we enjoyed tea and cakes. Liz bought Christmas cards and I walked up to the cathedral beautiful in the snow and a magnificent Christmas tree and crib based on miners (carved figures on altar in middle of transepts). What a treat! The evensong had been said with hymns - just heard the end of the voluntary.