Adieu Johnny.

                              

Johnny Hallyday has died aged 74. He was France's biggest 'rock star'; he was the self-styled 'French Elvis'.

His greatest dream was to break through into the US market, but it never happened. My favourite Johnny story was connected to this US dream of his; he booked a huge venue in Las Vegas, and sold all the tickets to his fans back home in France. He just wanted to be able to say that he'd held a sell-out concert in the USA; which he did, but to an all French audience.

                              

So, goodbye Johnny. You will be missed by millions of fans here in France, but sadly your fame always rested within her bounds .

Cro's Banality Awards 2017.

What would you call an eye cleaning product for dogs? VISIOCANIS of course!

And, what would you call a kitchen disinfectant? DESINFEKTO of course!

I'm now waiting for someone to invent a new type of garden spade called a DIG-O-EARTH, or even a new household product amusingly called HOMESHINE.

My Banality award 2017 goes to V.I.Poo (dear oh dear!).

Winter Warmth.

Much of my outdoor time is now spent sawing logs. They arrive in metre lengths, and need to be sawn into three pieces in order to fit either in the burner, or the cooker.

My trusty Husqvarna does all the hard work, but there is a certain amount of human effort also involved.

I actually enjoy this daily task. It makes me get outdoors in all but the very worst weather, and it's good exercise. If I had push-button heating, I would soon risk becoming a couch-potato.

I do keep a reasonable amount of ready-cut logs in supply, but it's only for emergencies!

It's the one bit about winter that I actually relish.

Trump.

                            

Before, during, and for a short while after the recent US election, I over-generously gave Trump the benefit of my doubt; I couldn't believe that he would continue in his boorish fashion once he had his knees beneath the oval office desk. It would have been in his best interest to become more 'pragmatic and presidential'. How very wrong I was; as we all now know, he refused to become so.

If anything he has become more of an oaf than before. His arrogance has increased, his posturing is more pronounced, and his questionable mental state even more in question.

The man is a laughing stock, as well as being a serious danger to every single one of us. The USA used to be seen as a progressive, modern, country; it is now seen as a 'toxic' world problem. As a respected Washington commentator recently said 'It's like watching a great power committing suicide in front of a global audience'.

I suspect that the orange hooligan wishes to go down in history as the man who destroyed North Korea. Maybe both he and fat boy should be locked away safely before they destroy the whole bloody planet.

If that wasn't enough, he's started to insult Britain. YOU DON'T DO THAT Sunshine. Yet again, I despair.

Yule Log 2017.

It is said that one must never go out looking for a Yule Log; the Yule Log will look for you.

This has certainly been the case this year. This particular 'log' (under the snow) has been looking up at me every time I passed by for the last few months. I didn't think more about it.

Yesterday it hit me; it was desperately trying to tell me something!

So, I've brought it home, made sure it'll fit in the fire, and I've put it in the dry ready for the big day.

On Christmas Eve it will be dressed in ribbons, ivy, and holly, and, whilst we sip our glasses of Port, will be added to the fire. If on the 25th there remains nothing but ash, it will be a good omen for the coming year.

I have caught my Autumn falling leaf, and found my Yule Log, so that just leaves our Wassailing in Jan' 2018 left to perform. I don't consider these annual acts to be 'superstition', just things that I always do. If I didn't; then I'd begin to worry!

Winter afternoon/evening.

The woodburner is belting out heat, and it's very slightly snowing. We've just settled down to a mince pie and cup of Lapsang, and Fred is sitting on my lap; purring away.

Bok is lying uncomfortably somewhere underneath (or wrapped around) Lady M, and we are watching a fascinating programme about the English Channel on TV.  Cosiness doesn't get much cosier.

This (above) was the scene outside, an hour or two later. No-one had told us it would snow.

So, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! It is -1 C this morning. Things can only get worse before they get better.

Shouldering the burden.

                             

Back on October 1st, just two months ago, I spoke of some damage I'd done to my right shoulder.

I consulted Dr Google, and self-diagnosed that it was either my Rotator Cuff, or a Frozen Shoulder. Both present with much the same symptoms.

It seemed that repair could take anywhere from one year to three; and in certain cases never. I was very depressed at the prognosis.

It was amazingly painful, and debilitating; sleeping at night wasn't easy. There were several things that I could no longer do; it was like living with one completely dead arm, and seeing as I am right-handed was a right bugger. Luckily I could still drive, write, and cook; all tasks that can be done with the arm downwards.

My most important task at this time of year is providing logs for the fire. It has to be (chain)sawn and brought inside, and I was simply having to suffer in non-silence to do the necessary. I even considered getting someone in.

Recently I was doing something that involved lifting with my right arm, when there was a 'silent clunk' up by my shoulder, and my arm suddenly became more mobile. I am now thinking that my problem had been a DISLOCATED SHOULDER, and it had unwillingly popped back into place. The permanent pain on the right side of my neck also immediately disappeared.

Strangely, I had considered this diagnosis, as my shoulder bone did seem more pronounced than before, but being me.....

So, it looks as if I'VE BEEN GOING ROUND WITH A DISLOCATED BLOODY SHOULDER FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I'm still not certain that it was this, but I shall continue to rest my arm for a while, and see what happens. I still have the constant bloody pain, but the arm is slightly more mobile.

It's all a bloody nuisance!