Turns out the forecast of 12 degrees was a bit optimistic. Eight point one was the top temp very briefly this afternoon. Heading down in a zigzaggy sort of way at present. Brrrr. The animals seem to feel that this is all in their favour and have lapped up the chance to lounge in front of the fire all day. Not much excitement around here today, but there was next door! Miss Congeniality was last seen being driven off in the back of an ambulance!! No idea why. Not terribly serious by the looks of things (she did after all manage to walk unaided from her front door to the ambulance out on the street), but curiousity invoking nevertheless. Will have to find out what the rumour machine makes of it all. A load of washing through the machine (taking advantage of that 12 mm of rain that has fallen so far), and early tuck in to bed and more wood on the fire seems in order. Tomorrow, for my sins, I will be out in the weather building a drystone wall (which I suspect will be the only dry thing around) for someone up the road a ways ..