It was winter drawers on this morning when we set off through Ilchester and Somerton to the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury for the 0830 mass this morning. A low mist shrouded the low land with only the tops of the hills occasionally peeping through to the weak sunshine breaking over the Mendip hills. And over all, a thick frost hanging from every branch and blade of grass and the reed banks along the iced-up drains and ditches and rhymes of the Levels. Fiona and I broke into a chorus of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” but perhaps on this Second Sunday of Advent we should really have been singing “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist Cry,” or “Hark the Glad Sound the Saviour Comes.” But even now, more than two hours later as I look out of the study window across the meadows towards the octagonal tower of little Podimore parish church, the frost still lies thick and the heavily-fleeced sheep in the field opposite look hard done by in the cold. Do you know, early in the day as it is, I’m wondering if today a nice hot rum toddy might be a better bet that the usual pre-dinner libation. Well…it’s certainly worth a thought isn’t it?

I’ve put a couple of frosty pics on the blog today and one of my old chum Chris Percival who stopped by for lunch yesterday. Chris and I were at HMS RALEIGH together back in 1993/95. He and I bumped into one another in Brunei in 1998 and we stayed in his house in Pennsylvania when he was appointed there – in 2002 I think – when Fiona and I were on our way up to Niagara Falls. He’s now out of “The Service” and looking fit and well…and prosperous! One very strange event yesterday afternoon was when my good neighbour from across the way, Royal Navy flyer and all round top bloke, Jamie Haggo stopped by for a chat. I’m not sure exactly what happened but we actually sat down and drank tea! Yes tea! Now that’s a first! However it was not tea that Fr Callon wanted when he turned-up later on in the afternoon and timed his visit to coincide with 1800 – gin o’clock – and naturally when the lovely Tina Cullen popped in shortly after it was a good excuse for a second tankard of Mater’s Downfall.

Time now to pop the beef joint into the oven, make the Yorkshire puds and at the same time delve in the cupboard to find that bottle of “Bounty” rum that I bought a couple of years ago in St Lucia…it must need using up…