Yes...the double taxing is a pain. I had better button my lip and add a zip for extra security before I start ranting about people claiming benefits who really shouldn't be and who are now whining because they won't be getting any more money.

Free wood is an absolute godsend because it can cost a fortune for a load of logs which last a matter of a couple of weeks when it's very cold.

I wish I had a wood burner - we have some woods around here.

You can't just go around chopping down trees you know

Bitkin I feel your pain. I had made a start on my assignment... A pretty good start I thought, when word crashed. I thought I'd saved it but noooooo. Thankfully it wasn't a massive start so I got it retyped but grrrrrr.

Anyway....the temp here has gone from -4 to -3. Good you'd think, but a sure sign that's the snow front coming in....wonder if we'll get snow thunder this year

What's snow thunder?

I should imagine that you are in for a fair amount looking at the forecast.

Do you live in an older type house with a chimney and chimney breast, because you can open it up, pop a fire in and Bobs your Uncle, then you find your local bedroom/kitchen mfr and take their offcuts!!!!
Very very cold on our final walk tonight. Everyone fed, Humpty is like a little eating machine trundling along
Everyone has put on masses of weight, Humpty weighing in at 8lbs and the others around 7lbs, they were quite wriggly tonight and I think that is the last time I will be able to weigh them on normal kitchen scales

Not too sure how it happens but a couple of years ago during that awful snow we had thunder and lightning. Very spectacular and something to do with warm air and cold air hitting off each other. It was very unexpected and even the older folks couldn't remember it happening before.

Wow TW, those are good weights for those pups........what are you going to use instead of the kitchen scales then? the local weighbridge?

Lore that sounds spectacular, and perhaps a once in a lifetime spectacle - you never know tho.

I am orf now to let the Jimster out for his final wee (hoping there is no cat lurking) and perhaps have a real nightcap before bed.

H old bean, if you look in before starting the new thread tomorrow........I do hope that you are not bruised and sore, and for goodness sake make sure that you get to eat your dinner tomorrow night Us pensioners can ill afford to lose that energy making stuff you know I do know what you mean about friends that chat for hours; it's lovely to speak to them, but why oh why do they ring at the wrong time? Never when you are bored between chores, oh no

Take care all, sleep well and stay safe xxxx

Surprisingly after getting up at midnight for food etc ( and sorting wool!) I slept through; codeine and antihisamine are my friends. A welcome rest ....wondered why it was light when I surfaced

I have lived decades in remote areas and with little money so improvisation comes easily. Not every kind of bleach bottle works! Stones are great for the feet...