JayDee

Happy New Year! Hope your 2026 is off to a good start.

Same to yours! Lets all hopefully have a good year :)

Dang, I wish I’d known! the local agent actually popped around earlier, wanted to do a check I’d been keeping the place in good shape. Asked if he could take a few pictures like when it’s going on the market, just to keep his hand in. He was a bit annoyed I’d taken down the horseshoe above the backdoor, but the thing is I recently met an awfully nice chap walking his dog, Cushy (no idea how he spells it tbh), on the moor, a Mr P S Blossom.

When I invited him down for tea he wouldn’t come in the parlour while it was nailed up. Another local tradition, the area is so colourful – I assume as Mr Blossom is from another village (I think he said he was from beyond the fields I was familiar with, which makes sense as I am not from here originally) – that they don’t like horseshoes there. Certainly they don’t have the feast tradition, when I told him I was to be guest of honour here he said I should instead have a picnic with him and Cushy in the standing stones further along the moor. 

Anyway, if I’d realised you’d an interest in a nice coottage near a pub I could have asked the agent chappy if there was anything suitable available here as the village has a great little pub/bed and breakfast. Miss Bean’s family have had it from years, they came from Scotland originally. She still does a meat platter to the recipe created by one of her ancestors with a bad leg (or so I assume, she talked about her ancestor Bean with a “Sore Knee” I think it was. Very popular with the local backpackers, who get so enthusiastic leaving reviews they often leave their phones and whatever other clothes and kit they can’t be bothered taking with them too. Honestly, wonderful place to live!

A picnic sounds lovely, among the standing stones. I think I need to reach out to your agent chappy! 

Had a very strange time at the big village feast, but I did rather drink too much. Bit embarressing with the whole village there. I must be a lightweight, as I just had a gulp of what they handed me when I arrived, and next thing I was apparently trying to sleep it off up laying on Ritual rock. I opened my eyes to see Squire Bana showing off a rather nice fancy pointed stone he must have found up on the moor, looked almost like a knife!

What woke me, though? Damnedest thing, sounded like dogs, horses, even hunting horns, appoaching from the direction of the standing stones. I nodded off again, though, and didn’t wake until it was almost dark. Everyone had gone, just left me there surrounded by a large flock of geese. Must have migrated in from somewhere, but I’d have thought it too late! When I got down to the village everywhere was dark. Couldn’t find a single neighbour to apologise to for overdoing it.

I went to bed, got up the next day. Still nobody, although the geese were down wandering the streets. They do make a hell of a racket. I went past the pub to find someone at last – Miss Bean locking it up, cases at her feet. I approached her but she looked really angry, and refused to speak to me. Well, I say refused. She moved her mouth like she was talking, but nothing came out. She looked surprised, then looked even angrier. She made an extremely obscene gesture. Used both hands. Right in my face. It’s the oddest thing, I’m sure I’d have noticed before if she was missing her little fingers, but clearly they’d been gone a while, just smooth skin where I’d have sworn each finger was the last time she pulled me a pint. 

Where can everybody have gone? Oh, that’s odd! Just as I was writing this, Mr Blossom’s dog, Cushy walked in on his own. I thought I’d got the back door locked. Very distinctive dog, with his long braided tail, and what often seems like a green tinge to his fur.  I expect Mr Blossom takes him to an expensive groomer, and has him dyed. Anyway, he clearly wants me to follow him, almost as if he was telling me to! I’d better go.

May you have good times over the next week and end of the year!