Authorlouisa

3BT – cold paws, colour, curry

1. We return from the shop but the planned bacon butties are put on hold because, for the first time in days, the cats show an interest in the outside world. We walk down the chilly garden together, the cats sharply contrasted with the white. Boron shakes his cold paws with every step.

2. As beautiful as it is, the white world has made me crave colour. I wear my new-to-me stripey jumper for the first time and when I’m looking for wool at the yarn shop, oranges and purples leap out at me. I buy some and imagine curling up under a giant, bright granny-square blanket.

3. John makes us a curry for tea and it’s his finest yet – spicy and highly flavoured but not oppressively so. The best thing about it though is there are enough leftovers for dinner tomorrow night too.

3BT – laughter, beauty/ugly, alone-together time

1. I go downstairs and Tom is there. He arrived with John, via Paul’s housewarming party, in the early hours of the morning, after I’d long gone to bed. Over breakfast, we discuss art history and laugh raucously.

2. Later, we get the bus into Leeds together. Under the snow, the first part of the journey feels even more like being in the middle of the country. Everywhere we look is a scene from a Christmas card – except for the racist propaganda stickers stuck on the adverts above the windows. They unpeel easily and we screw them up into little balls.

3. We say hasty goodbyes to Tom as he runs off the bus to meet a friend. Alone for the first time since in what feels like weeks (our illnesses were like unwelcome house guests before actual, more welcome, guests arrived), John and I have the afternoon together, indulging ourselves – lunch at Art’s, our beloved doughnuts & coffee for dessert, then drinks at North Bar. Good food but even better company. ;)

3BT – sugar, snow, dinner, snow #2

1) Jeremy returns from the shop with an armful of mini cakes. The sugar high silliness starts before we’d even open the packets.

2) Eyes light up, fingers point, the woman at the fish and chip shop will be delighted – it’s snowing outside. Soon we’ll start talking about the inevitable, unnecessary traffic chaos that will ensue but for the moment, we enjoy the novelty of the sky falling down.

3) We exchange anecdotes and in-jokes over our Christmas meal. The food and the company are both excellent. The whole team together for the first time.

4) When we get home, we peek out onto the world transformed – the first time we’ve seen our garden and the woods filled with snow. The stray light from around and about is reflected back to us, letting us see further in the dark woods than normal. The snow on the balcony – around the cat flap – is undisturbed but with a bit of encouragement, Carbon steps out. He makes it a few steps before turning around and running back inside.

(Oops, forgot this one. It should be 3.5: I discover celery and honey go strangely well together, the second unexpectedly nice combination of the week. The first was strawberry flavoured sugar-free Calpol and toothpaste.)

3BT – breakfast, village essence, alternative soundtrack

1) It’s late (past noon) even though I’ve been up for hours but I have a wonderful breakfast. The cold milk, the crunchy cereal, the perfectly brewed tea.

2) The people at the Post Office – Judith & Chris – are lovely. The actual village around here has long since dissipated but the spirit of it still lives on in a small way with them.

3) Bad films are made good by funny friends.

3BT – cool blue, crumbs, joining the Parade

1) The doorbell rings and it’s the smiling postman with a long awaited eBay purchase – a 50 year old big blue enamel bowl. I’d bought it intending for it to be a planter but it’s so pretty in the flesh that I want to use it for something grander. It’s delightfully cool to the touch.

2) The toast atomises with each delicious bite.

3) The Gillroyd Parade hosts another fine evening of entertainment at the Packhorse in Leeds. The crowd is smaller than usual but kind, the music beautifully lilting and the lyrics clever but fun.

Last week’s Tweets (up to 2009-12-13)

  • thinks this is a rather lacklustre posting for her 2000th tweet but not really accomplishing a lot today. sigh. #
  • is having a slightly surreal evening in bingley. #
  • has itchy eyes this morning. Uncomfortable. #
  • @tim_waters ooh, such luxuries. where is said house? in reply to tim_waters #
  • is so tired she's having to use cats and cushions to prop herself up on the sofa. Being sung to sleep by Mr Nick Cave. #
  • is stuck in bingley again. Lost my scarf, having to wait nearly an hour for the bus and the bus stop is full of teenage boys' gob. Unple … #
  • does not like to hear loud warning beeps followed by the bus driver saying 'shit' several times. #
  • "delicious mini cakes … perfect for sharing". pff. sharing is for losers. #
  • @Kate_McP the market maybe? in reply to Kate_McP #
  • is really very sleepy. we definitely need a futon at the office. #
  • has been like a worried parent today – it's been LAMDA exam day for the drama group kids: I hope everyone (but my set especially!) did well! #
  • is now suddenly full of cold. bah. #
  • is ill and bored. Feeling nostalgic for World of Warcraft, fancy an afternoon of mindless gameplay but will have to settle for Fable II. #
  • @thattommyhall hey, you enjoy moscow? got a sleeper carriage or are you just in seats? has anything frozen and fallen off either of you yet? in reply to thattommyhall #
  • is zapped after just a couple of hours cleaning at the old house – too ill for hard work really but it was good to get started on it. #
  • has been shivering for 3.5hrs now despite spending the last hour under a blanket, covered in cats, with a stove blazing. Why aren't I warm? #
  • got distracted by cute cats and missed out on winning the @Folksy Sue Ryder button dog auction, boo. Won another one though. Hurrah. #