How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizza? Deep pan crisp and even. BN is back by popular demand. It's the fourth Sunday of Advent (and Christmas Eve). Today Old Cheviot (OC) and Mrs OC have been to the 8 45 communion service at St John's Church. OC has been out for a leisurely run at The Woodland Trust site in Durham while Mrs OC has been to the bouldering wall at Langley Moor. Later today we will split our time between St John's Carol Service and dinner with Emma's son Cameron. After Christmas, we are off to the Peak District to stay with Mike & Julia (Dark Peak Fell Runners and Wedding Cake Bakers) and hope to recce a fell race route.
This year, highlights have been:
- Munros - 2 holidays in Scotland, climbing peaks in Kintail (The 5 Sisters and the Forcan Ridge - photos above and below) and Glen Affric/Strathfarrar where we saw a golden eagle
- Dolomites - more via ferrata, with Emma's daughter Alison for company, gradually trying tougher routes and with a couple of overnight stays in rifugios. Photo below.
- Fellrunning - numerous fellraces for OC including The 2 Breweries near Peebles which we ran together. The race had free beer at the end - fantastic.
- Sailing - on the Norfolk Broads for OC, on Mimosa with Andy & Lois and on Modwena with sister Emma
- Whatsapp - the Duff family has embraced social media, allowing Rev T to send selfies of himself grimacing despite thinking he was smiling [photo not supplied for the sanity of BN readers]
- Real ale - an ever changing selection at The Station House Durham (a must if you have never been) and Adnams & Wherry in Norfolk
- Cycling & Baking - Mrs OC has re-discovered her love of Pennine cycling and baking cakes. If readers hear a sonic boom near Stanhope, it will be Mrs OC descending Crawleyside Bank a toute vitesse. And if readers wonder why the local shops have run out of coffee - it's simply that it's all in the delicious coffee-cakes that Mrs OC is perfecting.
And finally, what happened to the man who stole an Advent Calendar? He got 24 days.
That's all folks. Happy Christmas!
