I guess if we didn't have lots of rain, we wouldn't have such a beautifully green county - and judging by the amount of rain that fell on us in recent weeks this theory should be well and truly proved over the next year or so.  

The view from the kitchen window, the front window and just for a change, from the car window.

So, what with the weather conditions (we've had fierce winds as well, bringing down branches and even whole trees) plus the current lockdown restrictions, it's been a stay-at-home  time with little or nothing to blog about and to photograph.

I seem to be falling to bits and my home along with me!  I'm still unable to wear enclosed shoes, so if I go out it's in my summer sandals and in home I wear slippers to avoid pressure on my still-blackened big toes. There's very little 'going out' as most days we have fierce winds and heavy rain showers, though it's reasonably mild.  I was due to have a cataract operation and I was looking forward to much improved eyesight - it's all blurry and out of focus at present - but that has been postponed. I was told that I'm still 'on the list' but I'm guessing a new date won't be forthcoming until after lockdown has ended, whenever that might be.

What with arthritis (made worse by all the wet weather), diabetes, a general lack of fitness due to not exercising and all the usual creaks and twinges, I am feeling like an old crock! 

The house is coming out in sympathy and is determined to have issues of its own: the bathroom light, a central globe thingy, pinged when I pulled the cord switch and has died.  But there are 2 lights above the sink, on the shaver point . . . . well, there WERE 2 lights - now one of them has also died!  So I take my showers during daylight hours, just in case the remaining little light decides to pop its clogs.

Speaking of the shower - it is the type with a waterfall shower head directly above and a directional shower hose - the one I prefer. And would you believe?  That one has split so water comes out of the split instead of the shower head.  

So I went online and bought a replacement.  When it came, I was unable to work out how to fix it in place.  Grrr!  Then I found it had the wrong 'ends' for my shower; it is not a standard fitting. 'sigh'

When buying online, it's impossible to tell from the illustration or the description if any hose has the fittings that I need - so that can't be sorted until the shop is open and trading again.

The waterfall shower is rather useless when trying to rinse shampoo from my hair - and impossible to use to give my Bichon his fortnightly shower.  He hates rain and to him, that waterfall is definitely rain! 

(He usually stands perfectly happily to have a shower and has no objections to the directional hose removing lather from his curly coat.)

Outside, the paths need jet-washing, particularly the one that leads from the garage to the garden; it is on the north side and receives no sun, so algae turns it into a skating rink.  I found that out a few days ago when I was putting the recycling out for collection - one step on to that section of path and I fell, luckily against the fence so I didn't crash to the floor.  Phew! (I just had a thought - I wonder if my toes would object to wearing my wellies rather than sandals, then I could do the jet-washing????) I will try that out. 

Well, enough of my woes and enough of the dark days.  I am looking forward to The Shortest Day, or rather the days that follow.  Roll on, December the 21st. After that, the days will lengthen and the darkness will gradually lift - YESSSS! With a bit of luck, the lockdown might be ended as well AND we can surround ourselves with pretty coloured lights for Christmas. 

The first photograph is of Crantock village; almost every house, business, tree, fence - basically anything that didn't move and some that did, was beautifully decorated with lights.

And this last one is of Mousehole's Christmas lights last year. Sadly, they are cancelled this year.

(Photograph from the internet; no copyright infringement intended.)