Tea For Two - Theolonious Monk

1703

In sharp contrast to yesterday the sun has been shining for most of today and with no wind to talk of and little cloud it has been almost Spring-like. After what was probably THE BEST Christmas Day I have ever experience attentions once again have to turn to the archive and the continuation of travels through Colombia. Our day was full of good people, delicious food, fine wine, jaunty conversation and capped for me by a couple of Janet's Pickled Onions - easily pleased but they just 'hit the spot'. Hugh had been telling me for weeks now that this is singularly his favourite day of the year, with my main thought being that our friendship flourished after a chance meeting in

Sri Lanka 2007.

HUGH left, JANET behind telescope.

My friend ALEX ROBINSON with the 'dreads' and gnat-bite.

HUGH and I enjoying a cup of Chi.

There was also an unexpected CHRISTMAS PRESENT from all of our readers as no fewer than 1703 of you 'logged on' to read yesterday's Post. This is the single highest 'day count' since the inception of the Bagsy Blog and overtakes the previous record of 1532 by 171 which was recorded on 27/08/2010 the day I found this

RED-NECKED STINT

at Ferry Bridge, Portland, Dorset

Looking back through the day totals in every year thus far Christmas Day had attracted the lowest number of readers in each year and once again it was the United States of America that made up the bulk of the count (see 'day list Top Ten' below). So, ever onward and the second of 3 intended visits to Colombia.

 ALTO GALAPAGOS - CLOUD FOREST

BLACK-BACKED BUSH-TANAGER

STYGIAN OWL

'Esential, first get acquainted with the local

POLICE FORCE!

RUSTY FLOWERPIERCER

STEELY-VENTED HUMMINGBIRD

The Paparazzi gets another exclusive on

KATE!

ANDEAN COCK-of-the-ROCK

LACRIMOSE MOUNTAIN TANAGER

MOUNTAIN CHILDREN

MUNCHIQUE WOOD-WREN

WHITE-TIPPED QUETZAL

CRIMSON-MANTLED WOODPECKER

 EL FLORIDA and

EL DORADO

there's gold in them there hills!

 GOLD-RINGED TANAGER

GOLDEN FRONTED REDSTART (again).

GREY-CHEEKED NUNLET

The people of

LOS NEVADOS

Entry	Pageviews
United States	1966 where did that come from?
United Kingdom	791
Poland	186
Russia	80
Germany	53
Estonia	44
China	29
Canada	18
France	9
Australia	5

Here Comes the Flood - Peter Gabriel

 TO 'ALL' OUR READERS AND ALL THOSE WHO WILL 'SEE THE LIGHT' IN 2014
Here Comes the Flood - Link 
When the night shows the signals grow on radios
All the strange things they come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
still waiting for the swollen 'Christmas' tide
There's no point in direction we cannot even choose a side.

There was a house upon a hill, if it hasn't gone it stands there still!

We were all up and about well before daybreak with everything seemingly in order, except that Hugh was buzzing around the Aga Cooker. This was in an attempt to get it working as the power was down and a certain amount of 'magic' was required that only he knew. There was an irony here as it was only recently that it was converted from 'oil' to 'electric'. 

It wasn't long before reports started 'flooding' in (excuse the pun)

 that the Parley Pond (the Ducks seemed alright as did a new arrival
Little Grebe)

and the RIVER STOUR had both burst their banks.

 An amber alert had been broadcast on BBC TV News at 06:00

for the lower reaches of the river and we are right in the midst of it. This is the 5th Fairway of the Golf Course and where a Moth Trap is often set! By 09:30 water levels remained the same, the hail had started in

earnest, the first bottle of 'Bubbly' was down the hatch and we were on our way to

 TUDOR COTTAGE
(Hugh's Mum's House)

for 'home made' 
BRIOCHE BREAD and BLANDY'S MADEIRA

 then back to Harbins for Christmas Presents,
the best of which had to be this!

 Gavin gets to work with the electric screwdriver,

 while the rest look on.

 No one but Hugh knew what was about to emerge from the

 Packing Case

 until a 'head' popped out.

 Hugh gently leads the

 WICKER HORSE
from the stable a complete surprise to Janet who is the keenest
Horse Woman!

We had already had to ferry Family Members across
"Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters",

then came the remainder of the Dinner Guests.

Hey - There's A Snowman!

All of this had been in sharp contrast to last year when we were surrounded by much more water, when I shared Christmas Dinner with fellow bird watchers PETER and JAN DAVIES aboard M/V Voyager in the middle of the Caribbean Sea with

 MASKED BOOBY
 for company.
and so, like 'millions' of others, it was time for the main Event.

 HUGH, DARYL and CATH tussle with the Turkey

while the others take a pre-dinner drink.

 HUGH carves the Bird while others take their place at table.

 I will endeavour to make sense of the introductions, but please
stand advised it is now well after dinner!

Starting left Martin is Janet's brother and Lisa his wife. Daryl is the older son and Cath his fiance while Megan is Ethan's mum and Loz his father (Martin and Lisa's grandson). Next comes Ben (with beard) who is Jen's partner and she is Lisa and Martin's daughter and Loz's sister - are you still with me? and I'll leave Gramps and Nanny till the next shot.

 (left) they are Martin and Janet's mum and dad Joyce and John and I got 'out of shot' just in time'. Gavin is the younger son, Hugh and Janet and we're back to Martin who is Lisa's husband, Janet's brother, Hugh's brother in law - YAWN!

 Christmas Pudding was a stately affair presented with the words,

 "I am the God of Hell Fire and I bring you FIRE"!

AFTER the ORDEAL

chocolate, more drinks 9 (only a large one for me please), presents,
crackers. Personally, I'll be glad when someone brings round the sandwiches!
It can be said, without fear of contradiction, that we all had the
VERY BEST
kind of Christmas Days THANKS to Hugh and Janet in the main.
So finally, at the other end of the scale,

 CHRISTMAS PAST
Botanical Garden Decorations
Caracas, Venezuela Christmas Day 2009

Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.

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United Kingdom	790
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Poland	181
Russia	79
Germany	58
Estonia	29
China	25
India	21
Canada	16
Malaysia	5