Green and country in the city 12 November

• Last weekend I spent visiting a friend who has recently moved to Wilton just outside Salisbury. Had a lift with mutual friends also visiting from Three Bridges (Crawley) as the trains from London to Salisbury last weekend were horrendous. So saw some countryside, in particular some kites which was very exciting - first time I can remember seeing them.
• Last week I had central heating on Monday evening when I came back from volunteering at the kayak club, but then not again till this evening. Thursday, yesterday and today I have had wood burning stove lit. Kept going out Thursday, went well yesterday, and is having to be watched carefully tonight.
• First frost Monday with thin ice on the wildlife water bowl. 
• First sighting of domestic Christmas decorations (Santa and sleigh in jelly bits on a window in my street).
• Made Christmas pudding liqueur today. Sugar and dried fruit in vodka with cinnamon. Recipe says leave for one month, then decant and it is ready to drink. I will have sip in a month's time, but expect to leave it for 3 months, decant (though I will try another sip) then leave for 9 months. All my other flavoured spirits have shown the need for patience to be worth the adding of the flavourings. (Recipe in Country Living Christmas but I left out the orange and used powdered cinnamon.)
• Found quite a few off-cuts in a skip coming back from meditation yesterday morning. Started sawing larger bits today. One flat bit took me even longer than usual.