Oh dear, oh dear ... they've changed the way I do this so I hope I can still make it work!  Only 10 days and I'll be home - why couldn't they just have waited until the new year?

It's been a flurry of farewells really yet in so many ways, it feels as though I've only just arrived.  I do find myself wondering how I'll cope with 'running a house' again after all this five star treatment - and the eight boxes I filled and put in my loft so that I could rent 34A out, are rather playing on my mind.  At least I shall have something to DO when I get back - it sounds as though most of my NZ friends will be paying me back and going on holiday themselves!

I left Christine and Alan's on Thursday morning and drove across to Sutton Valence for another two days.  Ingrid and John have spent time at 34A so certainly know my weakness - pate on toast for breakfast - and  the unknown - pheasant casserole for supper.   Both were catered for but I can report, now I'm back to Steph's scales, that after losing that first half stone (while I was a bit poorly I suspect) my weight seems not to have risen despite all the fabulous fare.  I expect that with a little effort on my part, I can wipe out that deficit over the next 8 days.

The Christmas trees are out and there was a really white frost this morning.  We did have a short snow flurry on Thursday (in Kent) but apart from some whiteness on the hills beside the motorway yesterday, there wasn't much to show for it in the south, at least.

The car has done well - we're discussing the need for antifreeze in the radiator and then I expect it should go on the market.

We won't however, discuss the fact that my suitcase has definitely shrunk.  I shall put off the evil hour for as long as I can, but I rather suspect I'll be using a second suitcase for the overflow.

Today we're off to see Father Christmas - I think I'll ask him for a win at Lotto.  It would certainly make these farewells a lot easier.