Dear William,

Greetings, Well, it’s that time of year again to travel near and far, give and receive thoughtfully planned & anticipated gifts, eat too much, watch Elf, take pause on what the year has wrought, possibly write it down and bother everyone you know with having to read it. This year we’ve traveled from Lewes to Mutley Farm outside Bridgnorth, Shropshire where the ground is saturated, the roads flooded, the smell of cows and their activities as close as they've ever been outdoors, the wifi nonexistent, 3G only available close to my corner of the bed(relief), the board games in ready supply and the isolation, beauty of the barren oak trees and rolling countryside terrific.   Our thoughts as always, go out to everyone we love but could not be near and hope that you ate half as good as I’ve done in the last week-in which case you’ve made out alright. I’m feeling marginally less like a stranger in a strange land these days, as much as that is possible...