The Toddy Times

Todd-orama - The Rhythm of the Year

The year always begins on a high note with friends gathered around the table for lunch on New Year’s Day. It’s a tradition we cherish; we walk, we talk, and we put the world to rights. Usually, this involves getting incredibly muddy in the winter lanes, but we always conclude the afternoon with lashings of tea and cake which makes up for it.

In February, we were delighted to meet up with my sister Kay, her son Tom and his son, Teddy. In fact we’ve managed three trips ‘oop north to visit family and acquire a hedge on My Family … page.

We’ve made the most of our National Trust membership including visits to Nymans, Petworth, Hinton Ampner and Dyrham Park. We’ve also enjoyed visits to the RHS Malvern Show, Raymond Blanc’s  Raymond Blanc’s Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and David Austen Roses. Pictures on this page Gardener’s World

We hatched successfully six Indian Runner ducks this spring. Of the six, two new girls have joined the rest of the flock in their magnificent run. To find ourt where the drakes went see this page …and Other Animals

Life at home hasn't been quiet as we’ve been chipping away at various improvements to the house and garden. It’s a race against time to see if we can finish the renovations before we officially run out of enthusiasm. You can read more on the Grand-ish Designs page.

Music continues to provide the soundtrack to our lives. We’ve been involved in musical events throughout the year, whether we were the ones on stage or sitting in the audience enjoying the performance of others. It’s been hectic at times, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. For a deeper dive into what we’ve been playing and listening to, check out our Make Some Noise! and Live! sections.

Finally, our garden has been a source of both joy and exhaustion. We managed to grow a fantastic variety of produce and flowers this year (in spite of the weather) some of which even made it to the village show. But we’ve also been inspired by visiting other gardens, have a look on this page Gardener’s World.

We look toward the 2026 New Year’s Day walk, we’re grateful for the predictable rhythms and the unexpected joys that make life so satisfying.

The New Workhorse

In March, we said goodbye to our old Niro and welcomed a new member to the driveway: an ‘experience green’ hybrid Sportage.

It has certainly lived up to its name, facilitating a range of experiences:

 The Family Cruiser: taking us on long trips to see family in Nottingham

 The Roadie Van: packed with band equipment for various gigs

 The Workhorse: loaded with materials for our latest house and garden projects

 The Skip-on-Wheels: ferrying defunct kitchen appliances to the dump.

Despite its rugged capability, the Sportage has one additional custom feature. Our granddaughter, Ophelia, is a self-proclaimed Glitter Princess who brings a certain sparkle to everything she touches, often literally. No matter how many times we vacuum the seats or scrub the carpets, the interior is accented with a layer of stubborn, shimmering glitter. It’s a reminder that while the car handles the heavy lifting of our lives, it’s also the vessel for our family’s best memories. The glitter might be permanent, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our lives often follow a pattern - frequently predictable, sometimes unexpected but always interesting. As we look back on the months gone by, what makes our year special remains the same: good company, a bit of hard work and a touch of creativity.