The New Year's resolutions have bitten the dust as they do every year.
We have been to Buxton and went round on a freezing cold afternoon. Never before have I seen such a fine collection of running noses and red cheeks.
Murphy and I awoke this morning to a glorious blue sky - first one of the year. It was an absolute cracker. We watched the squirrels gambling in the fields just like lambs. I think the sunshine had turned their minds to thoughts other than food.
Murphy doesn't have these thoughts, he lost them at the vets. He tends to run light footed through the grass with a wistful look on his face.
The sun has brought out the birds. There is some sort of tit working the ivy for lunch, and then lots of activity in the tree tops. Don't know what they are, they look black silhouetted against the sky.
Have tried fishing with my new flies but I don't last very long. It's meant to be a pleasure, not an ordeal. This week has seen a gathering of the wife's clan, ready to celebrate her 60th birthday. Should I have said that? Anyway, unbeknown to his mother, youngest son had assembled various relations and friends from as far away as Exeter and Keswick, and hidden them at a secret venue. He told his mum that she must come to his house for a birthday tea and sent transport. She was thinking this is not the way to Bolsover as we pulled into Ringwood Hall to be met by a rendition of Happy Birthday.
The look on her face was a picture to be relished as the surprise was unveiled. Presents, flowers, kisses and relatives made for a really superb night. Incidentally no disco. All I am left with now are memories and a pain in the cheque book!
The friends from Keswick or to be precise, Threlkeld, brought me a surprise. A yard of Cumberland sausage, proper stuff, not this plastic supermarket imitation. These were as good as when I lived there forty years ago. In fact, it's probably the same chap making them.
To Murphy's chagrin, these are much too good for him to sample. I think we ought to send Mr Morrison a taste so that he knows what to aim for! But then again, he can buy his own.
Murphy and I are about to go out. The sky is blue and the wife's gone to church and we are fancy free. Yesterday I had to be rescued. We went to a new track and ended up skidding into a bush. Of course it was a thorn bush. A lady with three enormous dogs called the anglers to the rescue and we were soon back on the road.

Murphy and I wish everyone the New Year that their troubles will be as short lived as their resolutions.

See ya,

Buggy Man & Murphy