Happy new year to you all.

I needed to take Bertie the camper out from his compound. Xmas Eve was a nice day so I went to visit him. Just as I thought the battery was flat. Luckily I had a jumpstart pack so connected up and he fired into life. A drive out for 45 minutes to get everything warmed up and turning as it should and back in the compound.

I knew the battery would go flat again and especially with this cold spell we’re having and no sun for the solar panels. So I looked through his history folder and found out the last time he had a new battery was in 2016 so that battery has done very well. He will have a new one when he goes off to a new owner.

The Xmas BBQ never happened. The weather was dry but the north wind was cold so Nikki decided to cook inside. which was nice as we had roast beef, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings washed down with some Guinness and wine it all went down very nicely.

No photos last time I checked in so this time you’re getting a good number of photos. Starting with a walk along the canal on a frosty morning with no wind. That’s the weather not me. The canal was so still and the reflections were great.

Our neighbours invited us around for a Xmas drink. I did point out we don’t do Xmas but we do drinks so that would be nice. We went there after Xmas day and in before New Year’s Day. She had done some nibbles also so that was nice. Nice to talk to them for a while rather than a passing moment. They are a nice couple which is good when you live in such a small place.

New Year’s Eve came around and did we party……NO. If I am up and hearing the Big Ben chimes it’s because I have got up for my second wee. I went to bed early as normal but Nikki set her alarm for 11.15 so we could get up and watch Jools Holland Hootenanny which I do like and he had some good guests on this year.

So we got up and it was good but I only managed to watch half of it and then went off back to bed. Watched the rest the next morning on catch up or You Tube. And also watched the fireworks in You Tube. So that was 2025 gone.

A couple of days ago we had snow forecast and they were right. Not as much as they said but a good covering, enough to close the schools and stop people getting to work.

When the snow started we walked up to the local shop at the end of the village. Just to get some fresh air and some eggs for our tea. We didn’t get the fresh air in the shop just the eggs. It’s a proper little village shop that’s open every day for those things that you have run out of at the most important time. You pay a bit more for stuff but it supports them and it’s cheaper than taking the car out and going into town.

The snow kept coming and going and it was forecast for more overnight. So when I woke the next morning we had a good covering of snow. So the car was staying where it was and I was off out for a walk and photo time.

The walk was just under five miles but got some nice photos as the conditions were just right. Sunny, and the canal was still and some snow to top it off. Not many people about so that was nice but the ones that were around were very polite with a happy new year.

On my walk I stopped off at the campsite in Chirk where we worked a while ago and said happy new year to the staff there as I knew them. They were out clearing snow from the reception area. I then walked on to the local shops in Chirk to get a couple of bits.

I came back a different way across the fields which was nice and only saw one person walking his dog. And some sheep and two pigs all of which had escaped Xmas dinner. So that was good for them. I saved my two favourite photos of the day to last. It was so picture perfect and I spent ages just staring at the reflections. Hope you like them.

So that’s us up to speed and I wish you a happy new year for 2026 and let’s see what this year brings. I hope Bertie goes off to a nice couple who can enjoy him as much as we have. And when he has gone I will be on the look out for a small VW camper so watch this space. I already have my wish list for it just not the bank balance so it will be a compromise. Enjoy.