Twelfth Night

This has been the coldest Christmas I can remember. The temperature hasn't risen much above freezing for nearly a fortnight. Outside at the moment (8pm) it is minus 8 C and hasn't risen to freezing point here for about three days. Frozen snow, white fields and black hedges as far as we could see on the hills above Knighton this morning. And the house is suitably austere for Twelfth Night, with the decorations sorted and boxed and the trees dismantled and ready for the fire. It seems a long time since we were up in the woods collecting firewood and beech branches to decorate. The last of the Christmas feasts for us although we have been back at work for a few days now. Candlelight and bare walls and a large roast vegetable pasta bake to celebrate the visit of the Three Kings.