No news is good news

The weather has been horrible today. The roads were icy and we had very heavy and large hail, alternating with a bit of snow and a bit of rain. Add the wind and it’s been really yucky.

So much to do as Christmas approaches. A lengthy hospital appointment (semi-routine) for Jo took up this morning. I had volunteered to keep her company as we both anticipated it only taking half an hour. How naive can you get?

Also been doing the shopping today. Apart from the lamb joint (our traditional Christmas Day Roast), if it’s not in the house now we won’t be having it. That’s one advantage of making one’s own bread.

Now it’s off to bed for a read and an early night.

Sleep well!


 

Happy Monday - A Smiley

Thanks Granny!


 

Award For Photographic Excellence

Each Sunday I give an award to one of my favourite blogging photographers. The recipient is welcome to display the award on their blog but is equally welcome not to do so. There is no passing on or writing deep secrets necessary. It is simply an acknowledgement from me of how much I have appreciated the person’s photographs.

And today's Photographic Excellence Award goes to Kerri from Blacksburg, Virginia. You won’t find better bird photos on any blog!

Don’t read this if you haven’t watched the Strictly Final yet!

Waiting after the Exhibition Dance

My favourites - not in terms of odds on winning but in terms of enjoying their performances - have been Chris and Ola. And now Chris and Ola are the new Strictly Come Dancing Champions.

From the moment they met they clicked as a partnership and they were brilliant in the Final.

I suspect people anticipated that the judges scores in the Final would be favouring Ricky and Natalie throughout but the scores were so close that at the end of it there were only four points in it. Ricky and Natalie 190; Chris and Ola 186.

The Judges scored Ola and Chris higher on two of the four dances - including the Lindy-Hop where both teams were on the floor together - and gave them a perfect 50 for their Charleston.

If the high spot was lifting the glitter ball trophy getting a 10 from Craig must have come a close second. Their exhibition dance was also brilliant and they got 46 out of 50 for that.

Waiting for the moment of truth.

A tearful Ola cannot believe it.

Friday My Town Shoot-out – My Town Dressed for Christmas

This week's subject for the Friday My Town Shoot-out is My Town Dressed for Christmas.


Liverpool – City of Culture 2008 and the city with two cathedrals - is celebrated in the lighting in the city centre but I left before they were switched on.

Liverpool has a Go Penguin theme this Christmas time. There are about 200 of them scattered about the city.

The usual skating rink has appeared in the city centre for the Christmas period.....

...accompanied by a children’s funfair.

Within India Buildings the glorious architecture is supplemented by the decorations.

Inside St George’s Hall – another tree.

The new Liverpool One shopping centre.

Cavern Walks – not exactly traditional Christmas colours but pretty nonetheless.

The Liverpool FC shop is, of course, decorated in red and white.

The traditional giant Christmas tree.

Rapid Hardware – the only shop I saw which recalled what the Christmas time celebrations were about!

If you would like to see other members' shoot-outs please go to the link page.

To learn more about the Friday My Town Shoot-out why not pay a visit to the home blog.