lastminuteturkey.com

My local weekly auction room is usually home to polished fluted mahogany legs, pert copper kettles and the sonorous tock of well oiled grandfather clocks. 

Just before Christmas however the annual poultry sale comes to town and so today I am confronted by a sea of puckered flesh and frigid claws!

As 300-odd locally reared birds compete for best goose, champion turkey and supreme duck, almost as many bidders are gathered to compete for best Christmas dinner!

Unfortunately I’ve already got my turkey, but next year I may well don a flat cap and a barbour jacket and join in the bidding! Happy Christmas!

My Country

This time last year we were busy getting our house all Christmassy for a photoshoot for 

‘My Country’ magazine (Japan)

Copyright My Country

Ha, this year I can relax in an armchair with my copy of the magazine,

 in the knowledge that there are boxes of decorations all ready and waiting in the attic.

Only... on a recent mooch around the vast, vintage wonderland that is Rokit, I was rather taken by these shiny pom-poms by artist Karen Hsu. Check out more of her amazing creations here. I can sense I might just have to have a little play around with some cellophane before the festive season is over. 

Short and Sweet....

....the latest goodies from Blue Hill Farm featuring my watercolours

photos copyright bluehillfarm

Hello Winter

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

Henry David Thoreau

Last week,

Autumn’s jolly tartan waistcoat was completely unravelled by the wind, 

Yellow, gold and ochre ripped from its fraying hemline.

Only the shiny-red rose-hip buttons clung tightly on,

until,

Observed by a pair of ebony crows, 

I came to snip them from their worn out lapels.