It’s ‘Boxing Day’ here in the UK - so named because years ago it was the day the gentry gave ‘boxes’ (gifts) to their servants. I’m not quite sure but I think we are the only country to have this peculiar tradition after Christmas Day.

For us it’s meant a late start (lay-in today), followed by another walk on Caradon - how different from yesterday, glorious sunshine, cold winds and rapidly melting snow. I know I’ve said it many times before, but it really is like being on top of the world. There is nothing like it to blow away the cobwebs. These walks are so good for us - they really get our hearts racing and our lungs full of fresh air. Last week the news was full of a story about how walking for ninety minutes reduced the risks of heart attack by a huge proportion. Maybe this is my redemption.

This photo of Archie looking out across the hills on the south side of Bodmin Moor, surrounded by granite piles may only be possible for a short time now. It appears that the granite that was hewn from the hillside many years ago (we believe the quarry stopped being worked at the same time as the mines shut), that has been on the side of the hill since that time, is being taken down the hill and presumably sold. Since we were here two weeks ago, there is a big difference in the look of the place because so much rock has gone. It’s quite strange. You can see the tyre tracks from whatever heavy machinery has hauled the rock away behind Arch. I wonder why they have suddenly started to use this resource that has stood here, with no change for so long?

After our walk, the TV went onto Sky Sports News to watch the footie and the Spurs took three points home from their Boxing Day fixture at Norwich. That’s pretty cool as we have some tough games coming up and we go back up to seventh place, after dropping back one mid-week when Charlton won and went above us. So, my new ‘lucky mug’ (a pressie from DM yesterday so I could have a lucky mug here too) has done its job, along with the obligatory Spurs shirt (always worn on matchdays). David too was wearing Spurs gear - his hat proudly displaying the badge!

So, another wonderful day for us. What a Christmas this has turned out to be. I feel like the luckiest person alive.