It's firmly that time of year where bracing morning walks with the dog become a thing. I've managed to change my routine a little this year with the girls being older meaning that instead of walking by torch light, I'm out a little later.
I think my preference will always be the heat of summer (when we get one), but to be honest the depths of winter aren't too far behind. The only weather I really don't like is when it's mega windy. Unfortunately being on the coast, that happens quite frequently.
Yesterday was lovely though. Still, cold and relatively clear skies. Lola and I have mostly been walking around a park a few hundred yards from the house, but yesterday we went for a mooch about the cemetery. We've not been for a while so there were plenty of new smells for her to inspect. I don't think we did more than five paces without a sniff stop!
The low mist made it especially lovely and quite fitting for a walk in such a location.
I love the architecture of the old chapel which is no longer in use. It was build in 1902 and I think is now used as a workshop for people preserving some of the gravestones. Being on the cost there are many naval graves. The old naval hospital is just a few miles away.
Those remembered here include crew members of HMS Pintail which was sunk by an acoustic mine on 10th June 1941 in the Humber estuary. Those buried here are from an earlier incident on the same ship when it was bombed in the Thames estuary in October 1940.
We were met by a rather perfect sunrise as we completed our circuit.
Warming food is also a must this time of year. Youngest and I have been trying new things based on a theme. This week we had pork chops, something we rarely eat, and had a few tins of butter beans.
The chops were served on mashed butter beans cooked with onion, garlic, stock, crème fraîche, spinach and peas. It was jolly nice!
The second meal was a simple warming soup made with kale, carrots, onions, celery and a good grating of parmesan.
As usual, today will be a roast dinner. It'll be chicken. There wasn't much of a choice to be had on the meat front this week. The bones will be used to make stock for Thursday's Christmas turkey dinner.