Merry Christmas
I continued to work from home today, polishing off a review of the year which will no doubt be published on our main news website in a few days time. I decided that unless I had to be on the TV it would be foolish to venture too far from my rural fastness. However a quick run out this afternoon to replenish depleted stores led to lots of adventure as, just after cresting a snowy hill which I'd taken a run at to build up momentum, I came face to face with a tractor towing a car in the opposite direction. There then followed a bit of rapid gear braking followed by a long reverse back down a snowy lane, a task made more interesting by the Landrover and car which came up behind me. Then, like the Grand Old Duke of York, I had to make my way back up to the top of the hill again.
No crash, no getting stranded overnight, so I'm not complaining. But if you live in the countryside here, and don't own a 4X4, every journey these days is a case of keeping your fingers crossed and hoping for the best (although warm clothing, a shovel and a couple of bits of old carpet improve your odds).
Anyway, as of tomorrow, Wednesday, I'm on leave and I'm not intending to do any more blogging here until 2011. So can I wish you all, motorists on icy roads, pedestrians on ungritted footpaths, travellers stuck in far flung airports and those confined to their homes, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let's hope for a bit more warmth in 2011.
I'm 
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