Dec 30th

Glorious Christmastide. Thick mist over Exmoor creating a curious stillness when we walked. Christmas morning Mass with the Credo sung in Latin. Presents under the tree and a big roast turkey. The Queen saying the same sorts of things she has always said, but somehow it seems more poignant now, especially when she referred to Christmas as celebrating "the birth of our Saviour", a most beautiful and solid phrase and one that is absolutely true and, these days, somehow striking because so gloriously absolute and old-fashioned, and faintly politically-incorrect.... Keep going, your Majesty, and keep talking in the language we all understand.

On Boxing Day the Meet took place as usual, though we didn't see it, as we were busy with family activities, and then went for a walk along the salt-marshes. There is something about looking back towards a village at a winter tea-time from the sea-shore, when the lights are glittering in the windows - warmth and light and human companionship against the darkening evening....

We made a round of family visits. One of the best evenings - with relatives in Kent - was filled with games (everyone writes 10-15 famous names on bits of paper, these get mixed up in a bowl, thjen you draw them out and have to describe the person on it, without sayin g his or her name. Your team get 30 seconds to guess as many names correctly as they can manage....)

Now back at home, and trying to reply to the mountain of Christmas cards.....and enjoying ginger wine and other goodies......