Today is Shrove Tuesday or Shrovetide, commonly known in the UK as Pancake Day!   Ashbourne, where Eldest is, have their own unique football match which runs along the twon streets and you can only play if you are born in Ashbourne and are on the Up’Ards or Down’Ards sides which is split by the River Henmore which runs through the town.  It has been played in the town since 1667 and takes place during eight hours on Shrove Tuesday at 12.00 Noon and Ash Wednesday again for eight hours.  The goals are either end of the town and last year the Down’Ards won 1-0 the goal being scored on Shrove Tuesday.

Today is also Chinese New Year and this year is the Year of the Fire Horse which if you read about it, the Fire Horse sounds quite frightening.  I always thought my Chinese sign was dangerous, which is The Dragon but the Fire Horse represents Power, Stamina, Independence, Loyalty and Prosperity.  However each trait is amplified by it’s combination with Fire which is the most volatile of the traditional Chinese Elements.  Oh boy as if 2026 was not already bad enough!!  

We actually saw the sun on Saturday and DH got some gardening done, I will show you some pictures when I get chance.  We have quite a large area that had a Box plant in (the large bush on the top left of the bed)  but sadly it caught Box blight last year so we had to dig it up.  As you can see how big it is it has left a big hole and some of the other plants have died too, so it is a whole revamp of this bed.  We have some plants arriving in March so I will again show you pictures then.

Jayne and I went out for lunch today which was great.  We only went to the local pub, but the food is always good.  It was lovely to spend a few hours catching up with each other.  We also have a new Book for our Cosy Book Club between the two of us.

I hope you are having a good week.  Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx