Strange times indeed! A real winter for the first time in twenty ish years and a good old fashioned recession to go with it! Except of course that it isn't an old fashioned recession because time have moved on, this is a global, not our fault, let's spend our way out of it type recession. The trouble is our government is spending our money which we will have to find at some time in the future! Oh well, too big a question for me to answer so let's hope they get it right on our behalf.

Winter on the other hand has proved to be embarrassingly cold so that my attempts to change the wood burning stove to an open fire have been a disaster. Some issue with down draughts has meant that we have had to rely on candles to give a bit of atmosphere to The Inn in the coldest winter for decades. Not only that but Rob and I chose this winter to start keeping free range pigs, which is a challenge for both us and the pigs! However, they have proved to be hardy, resilient and very tasty too. Last weekend we had a 'Death by Pork' evening when Lee produced a stunning meal from all parts of one of our pigs which was very well received indeed.

The snow has been great fun though not entirely good for trade. Monday lunch was quite busy as most people took a 'Working from home' or Snowday as Emma's boss called it and hence lots of people were walking round West End and called in for a drink and a chat and even a bite to eat. Some people on the move needed refreshments and as the schools were unexpectedly closed we even had some exceedingly well behaved children in the restaurant with their parents. Unusual at any time, but especially a Monday lunch. Monday evening was not so busy and Vicky Andy and Dan decided that they should make the worlds biggest snowman at the end of the evening. Fortified by Niepoort's Ruby port I would say they made a pretty good job, wouldn't you?