Torrents

It has rained every day and every night for the past week. Not the rain-of-no-consequence that lets you go about your daily life unhindered. This is epic, biblical rain that makes you question the safety of driving.

Needless to say the golf course has been closed for a week. Which is a good thing actually because it's given me time to do non golf things. I've written Christmas cards and finished buying presents for everyone on the list. I made a wreath (in a class at the golf club where I was carefully supervised):

I read a book – On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry – most excellent. I built a fire! I haven't done that in years. I'm not a fan of fires but the weather is just so miserable that I needed the psychological boost of staring into a fire. I went to the Ulster Museum to see the annual Royal Ulster Academy members exhibit. And I had a great visit with a neighbour whom I invited to the neighbours' gathering a few weeks ago. She couldn't make it but left me a stunning flower arrangement and a scented candle while I was out Friday night. I stopped by Saturday to thank her and we had a proper natter. Like me, she's divorced and hikes whenever she can. And has an adorable dog – Margot – which is how I got chatting to her in the first place. She's a King's Counsel, the highest level a lawyer can reach, so she's a smart cookie.

Despite the rain (or possibly because of the rain), it was a good weekend.

10 Dec.