Post-Yule….

Yes, OK, I’ve not been posting for a while. Been busy – we’re making a start on the 2006 Elfin Diary, would you believe? And I have to get some astrological reports out. And get the January issue of Transit together. Aaarghh!
But I took yesterday off for Yule. We had a gathering and feast at Carol’s house; Brian cooked a goose, some potatoes and a veggie chestnut roast for it. He’s getting to be a really good cook! Other people had provided various ingredients – there was some magnificent puddings. But Carol had done the bulk of the preperation.
There were 16 of us squashed around her table, which was beautifully spread and groaning under the weight of all that nosh – besides the goose, there was venison, partridge, duck and chicken. The chicken was one of Carol’s cockerels, the other meats were all wild and from around here – only our goose was shop-bought (there are plenty of wild geese around here in the winter, but they are protected species). Most of the vegetables were Carol’s homegrown.
After the meal, we crammed into her living room. One of the guests, Adam, is a piper and had bought along a small set of pipes; we spent the evening singing chanting, drumming, listening to Adam play us many many tunes.
The highlight of the evening was a splendid game of Five Bottles Tops, between Carol and Ralph. Ralph opened with a simple Muszurka Forward, Carol set the game’s tone by countering with a Plough; at the height of the game, he called the Duke of Dunfirmline Rules which Carol had to block fast with a Hastings Defence. But she soon rallied, eventually pulling off a barnstorming Mornington Crescent move and following up with a thoroughgoing Nurdling. At which he was forced to concede Cheshire Cake!
And we talked and laughed and heard tales and spread gossip. And the Yule log burned bright.
It was a very good Yule.