Green and Country in the City 30 December

• Haven't done much of my to-do list this break (and I deliberately made it short so more achievable!) but I have done quite a bit of sawing of off-cuts of wood recently rescued from nearby skips.
• I made a felt reindeer Christmas tree ornament that was a free gift from Mollie Makes Craft magazine
• The weather had meant only 2 bike rides and 2 short walks this break. On Thursday, which was cold with blue sky, I went in a Friend's side car to High Beech and the Owl at Lippets Hill - both in Epping Forest.
• At High Beech we met a biker friend of Tony's he hadn't seen for 2 years and when we got back someone passing was a biker Tony hadn't seen for over 40 years. Bikers recognise the bike, and even if they don't, a bike is always an excuse to come over and start talking. I am always a bit dubious about talk of various "Communities" outside the local one, but bikers do seem to have one.
• I saw 2 discarded Christmas trees yesterday (30 December) and Valentines cards in Tescos and a local card shop. I can imagine someone buying a Valentines card early if it is really appropriate for your loved one's interests, but these were very ordinary ones. 

Green and country in the city 24 December

• I've often been hearing sparrows when I am out in the garden, sounding they were over the wall at the bottom of the garden, thought couldn't think where they could be as there were no bushes near enough (but I am bad at telling where sound comes from). Then on Saturday 16th there were 7 sparrows and one robin in the creeper coming over from my neighbours' on to my shed roof. I used to see them in the bushes in my neighbour's garden the other side, now cleared, so I was pleased to see them after all these months.
• The pussy willows on the banks of the Lee Navigation are showing tiny buds.
• I picked 3 rose buds from the bush in the front garden today and put into a vase on the mantelpiece amongst the Christmas cards.
• I've decanted my sloe gin.
• My back has been well enough to do a little bit of sawing up of off-cuts rescued from skips.
• I am making a decoration - a felt deer - I got free with a craft magazine. I hope to have it on the tree with the home-made decorations which stands on the chest of drawers on the landing before I put it away. I don't have Christmas things up for long. The door wreath and the robin cushions on the bed come out a week or two before the event but the Christmas trees are put up very close to Christmas - yesterday (Saturday 23rd) this year. I take them down on New Year's day as that's easiest on a day off.
• I have been responsible for the lost property box from our big event in August. I put out a 500 piece jig-saw for staff to complete so I could check it was all there before taking it to a charity shop. One colleague said I could count the pieces, but I ignored him! Lots of staff had a go. One of the cleaners did half an hour at the end of a couple of shifts. She is going to get one for her family at Christmas. It turns out it is missing 2 pieces. Despite this, a colleague who didn't have time to do much but enjoyed what she did, is taking it home to do at home. jig-saws are wonderful things, they can be done alone or with others and then taken apart and done again.  

Green and country in the city 10 December

• It snowed today and settled! Looks very wet though. Because of problem back didn't go kayaking. When snow thick enough we use the kayaks as sledges to come down the path on the slope of Springfield Park just behind the club. I think the snow was probably a little wet though. I'll find out from Beate when I got to Girls' Club tomorrow. Beate is like a kid when it comes to snow. Already melting now so unless we get a further fall won't be able to have the girls sledging which will be a shame. We don't get many chances to do it in London as we are so much warmer than the surrounding countryside.
• Wednesday found several long thin bits of Wood in a skip. One 8 foot long. Got them through the house into the conservatory but couldn't get the 8 foot one out of the conservatory into the garden so had to saw it in half first in the conservatory.
• I've bought several pots of honey from work for presents. They are from the hives on Friends House (where I work) roof. The bees mainly forage from Regents Park.
• Another load of stuff to charity shop - some from my sorting ready for my friend's visit next weekend and some lost property from an event at beginning of August.

Green and country in the city 3 December

It's been 3 weeks since my last post and I don't feel I have been doing very much green or country but thought I will record the few bits:

• I am doing a mini spring clean as I have a friend coming to stay the weekend before Christmas. I am a clutter bug who hates housework, she is allergic to dust and cat fluff! I am making an effort and tidying and dusting bits that haven't been sorted for years! Have got rid of a couple of dozen books to the charity shop (lots still 2 rows deep on the shelves but none on the floor at the moment!). Also some other bits chucked or gone to the charity shop. I would like this to continue next year.
• I put out the blackcurrants in the garden after decanting the blackcurrant gin. I did try cooking some with sugar and water but they weren't tasty enough. As I was closing the conservatory door a fox trotted down the garden path, across by the pond, to where I had put the black currants and ate them! How did it associate the smell with food?
• On Thursday 16 November it was so mild I didn't bother with any heating - but Friday morning the second heavy frost of the year! (No heating on this evening either.)
• Saturday 25 November there was no rush of cold air when I opened the bathroom window after my bath. There was a thin layer of ice on the wildlife water dish though.
• On Thursday 30 November when I opened the curtains there was no ice on next door's grass but pond looked odd so I went to check and there was some very thin ice on the pond and some thicker ice on the wildlife water bowl. I broke the ice. Later in the morning after bringing in some logs I checked the water bowl and the bits of ice had all frozen together.
• Recently in the mornings when I am in the garden I can hear sparrows. Don't know where they can be, with the ash tree one side and all the bushes the other gone. It sounds like it is coming from over the back but no likely bush that I can see. Nice to hear them though.
• Yesterday I had my first Christmas card (from my eldest brother, his wife and my nephew).
• Last week on my day off I was on the way to the post office and spotted a skip in the road parallel to mine. It had a lot of clean off-cuts so took an armful home, then went back with the trolley and got nearly 2 trolley loads. Most need sawing at least in half but my back is playing up so haven't sawed any.
• As well as the osteopath, I am taking ginger tablets (anti-inflammatory), using turmeric as much as possible, and tried some marigold tincture in water today. Like to use kitchen medicine.
• On 24 November there were some paper whites in bud in a flower bed by a University College London building behind work.
• Supposed to be a large moon tonight, but it's been overcast all day.