A clearer day for shooting in the field opposite but very cold with thick rhyme encasing twigs and grass.

Then to take the family out for lunch at the Little Paxton Little Chef again that the Southoe branch had closed.

further walk for Sam around Paxton Pits and then hosting Diana’s Christmas Eve family party with Sue across from Colchester having picked up Charles and Norma on the way.

Charlie, Chrisula and their children also arrived later

The fog yesterday had stayed all day but, although the weather today was as cold if not icier, at least it was clear.

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Slow to rise but then breakfast with the family soon after 8.00am and then out with the dog for a short run.

I then got him to join me and, taking my pigeon shooting equipment, managed to get The Jolley engine started and motored over to the other side of the river to moor and get offloaded and set up in the bale hide.

I had no luck decoying the wood pigeon as intended but at least I shot a passing duck and also a crossing starling and would have got any pigeon should they have strayed nearby.

It was very cold with thick rhyme encasing twigs and grass and the frost was falling from the trees so that it looked for all the world as if it had been snowing. After a couple of hours, I was too cold to continue, and sport was slow and so I packed up and came home for a coffee and warm up.

Soon time to take the family out for lunch and we chose the Little Paxton Little Chef again. Now that the Southoe branch is closed, it is funny to see how the little old lady that used to serve there has transferred across and is as keen as ever even if there now seems to be too many people to serve on even the busiest of days.

Back home and a small rest before it was time to take Sam for a good walk around Paxton Pits. The local newspapers are full of the story that HDC have bought half of the land that was put up for sale by the owners of this Local Nature Reserve.

Then Di's relatives began to arrive. Sue was across from Colchester and had picked up Charles and Norma on the way. Charlie, Chrisula and their children arrived late and Bobby & John did not come at all but Diana still had an enjoyable family party for which she had worked very hard.

I was glad when they had all gone and was tired later and able only to update my journal and then join Diana watching the TV before bed.