November 19th

Dear Heidi,

It seems to me that the weather must be lovely where you are. Did you swim today?
We have had more snow, although not a lot, and the weather is turning really cold, going down towards minus 10 in the night. We have S and B from Wales staying midweek, and we are trying to heat up the & Shed for them to sleep in. I have bought a new flannel set for the bed, and two hot water bottles so I really hope they will be cosy.

We have finally spun the honey, and are now engaged in stirring it every day...it sits on the schoolroom table, and I am anxious that my sewing machine does not get too sticky!! I think I told you that Ben and Jerry are in there too; still in rather green water...I must deal with them properly tomorrow. They need cleaning and some decorations in their tank at least. Pappa has an oxygen pump too, but I think it might need burying under a rock or two, when we tried it it was like having an underwater volcano in the tank!

Pappa and I went down to the St Edmunds bazaar on Saturday and had a jolly good time. Pappa finally met the new chaplain and we spent a lot of time catching up with people we knew. I spent a little time shopping and found some lovely books and a Christmas jigsaw puzzle. Afterwards we went to see Tante A in Oslo where Pappa and D changed her tyres, just in time I think. She is busy working on wreaths for her next book. D was also helping her to put up some shelves and of course lots of outdoor garden jobs. He eloped me too today, carrying the geraniums and dahlia roots down into the “black hole of Calcutta”in the cellar. Later on that day I searched everywhere for my phone and none of us could even hear it, but luckily D thought backwards and of course you can guess it had fallen into one of the plant pots and was also in the black hole...

We are still enjoying Alt for Norge on tv. It is the finals next week. It has been really quite good this season and I can’t guess who will win.

I can’t think of any more news just now, so I will wish you a gentle night and a good sleep. Love from your own
Mamma xxx