On Monday I was in the kitchen listening to the BBC Radio 4 whilst doing some baking. It was one of my favourite programmes, Start the Week, and (to my surprise) one of the guests was friend and village neighbour Bernie Bulkin. Distinguished scientist and author of one previous book his new tome, Solving Chemistry, is published this week.

The book has been called an “enthralling account” of chemistry in the 20th Century and asks whether all the mysteries of chemistry have been solved. The Radio discussion amongst several eminent scientists can be found on BBC Sounds or iPlayer – well worth a listen. The book (I checked this morning) is available from Amazon. Colmworth bathes in reflected glory! Those of you who follow the blog will have seen photos of Bernie at The Gables. Next time he is here I will get him to sign a copy of his fascinating book.

A blanket of frost and ice covers everything outdoors

As we set out on our Wednesday walk we stopped to talk to Elmo and his owner. Elmo was wearing a fetching Christmas jumper.

On our return we met Carmen and her two dogs, Clarice and Boo.

So cold that I needed this handy tool to open the gates

As all the locks were frozen. The ducks didn’t even want to come out of their house but eventually flew onto their pond and headed off again pretty quickly

Another duck egg was laid today

And Nigel followed us around at feeding time (as he usually does) until it was his dinner time. Mabel always waits quietly by the gate and then joins us in the cat barn.

Has just arrived at the UN compound in Adis ababa to speak at a conference on sexual exploitation and peacekeeping. She is sitting on the podium.

The first duck egg. Come on girls we would love to have ducklings this year so keep on laying please.