Baking Day

Today was thoroughly wet and miserable, so we went for a short walk first thing when it was just drizzly, before the rain really set in. I should have gone to Stonehenge on Monday to see the winter solstice there, but obviously couldn't because of the new Covid restrictions, and we should have gone to Waddesdon Manor today, but that was also cancelled. Given that the weather both days turned out to be miserable, at least it hasn't felt as though we missed out too much! That is the problem with British weather. It is so unpredictable that planning anything outdoors is always a risk, at any time of year.  

After the walk I did another batch of wrapping, and now just have stocking fillers (small and fiddly!) to do tomorrow. We have gifts for R and her boyfriend, H's boyfriend and my brother all in bags ready to be delivered by "Santa" (also known as H) tomorrow. Or, at least, that was the plan. R is waiting for a Covid test result - she doesn't have any standard Covid symptoms, but had a persistent headache so thought she would get a test as a precaution. If she gets a negative result tomorrow, H will still go over and do a gift swap, but they rightly thought it sensible to wait until R knows for sure whether she is in the clear. While I I was wrapping, H was baking a spectacular donut cake for her boyfriend's sister's birthday tomorrow. 

We had a family movie afternoon, watching Matilda for the umpteenth time - R used to love Matilda so much that at one point we almost knew the entire script by heart! - followed by Klaus on Netflix. TG baked brownies, and then she and H cut and decorated them as Christmas trees. I haven't done any Christmas baking so far this year and have left it all to the girls, but will probably make some mince pies tomorrow.

There was some talk about playing board games this evening, but in the end TG wanted a soak in the bath, H decided on an early night, and I have tucked myself up in bed early to read, knit and write for a couple of hours. I am so enjoying the extra leisure time this week.