Another Christmas letter written in strange times. We decided not to go on holiday this year. We have made do with day trips to the Lake District and occasional visits to see Katie in Manchester. Mind you, living where we do in Barrow-in-Furness, we have 40 miles of coastline and three nature reserves on our doorstep, along with our industrial heritage. So there is lots to explore.

Mike and Dee

We have also kept busy on our allotment and community growing space where we help with pond maintenance, planting trees and social gatherings. We were introduced to heritage seed varieties and grew Cherokee Trail of Tears beans. These were the beans that the Cherokee Nation took with them on their forced march to the reservation that became known as the Trail of Tears. As well as being delicious we saved some for a seed sharing with other heritage growers at Brockhole, the Lake District National Park Centre.

We did our bit for COP26 by attending a Filipino food gathering, known as a Salo-Salo, where Russ, the chef from the Sweet Pepper Café, showed us just how delicious vegan food can be as he served up a feast. Then he joined us on our field to deliver a cooking demonstration that was being filmed for his TikTok channel. This was part of our Food, Futures and Biodiversity Day that included composting, pickling and hunting for mushrooms along with sampling more delicious Filipino food.

Katie

Katie is doing really well after two successful operations this year. I have to get my head round how they can do so much with keyhole surgery. Her last scan showed no detectable cancer for the first time in seven years. She is back at work full-time and we had a lovely meal with her in her restaurant. It’s not actually her restaurant. But she is the assistant manager. The Bay Horse Tavern, if you are ever in Manchester’s Northern Quarter and looking for traditional pub grub prepared and cooked from scratch. Last year her poetry book, written as a fundraiser for Manchester Maggies, sold out. So they have re-issued it. Let me know if you want a copy.

Matthew

Matthew is doing well at work. He now has a full time contract on the Coniston steam gondola. He started as a general crew member and then he qualified to work the engine room. Now he has his merchant navy ticket, which qualifies him to skipper the boat. They were so busy this summer that he has had to wait until now to take his holidays. All the travel restrictions have frustrated his plans. But he has a new car and will be making some road trips I expect.

Basil

Matthew was really hammered by Storm Arwen. Outgate, the Lake District hamlet where he lives, had no power for eight days. When he could get past the fallen trees he came to visit and met the latest addition to our family, Basil the Patterdale terrier. Basil will be three months old on Christmas Eve. Mike wanted to call him Trotsky, but Basil won in the end.

We are having fun trying to train him before he trains us. With any luck holidays will be back on the agenda next year and we will be looking for dog friendly places to go.

Wishing You All a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year!