The last CJS Weekly of 2007.

The frost still hasn't lifted and in some places has got thicker, it really is 'earth, as hard as iron' . The wood stove is roaring away keeping us all toasty warm and getting rid of some of the paper which is usually shredded prior to disposal into the bargain. It's been a funny week, frantically busy with the December edition of CJS monthly and preparations for the break, beginning work on the next Special edition but CJS Weekly is another small one, eight pages plus one for the Training Calendar. There are 51 new paid posts this week, 35 of which came direct to CJS and as this is the last edition of 2007 (where has the year gone?) we can tell you that this year we have advertised 4865 posts, a slight decrease on last year but we think that's because we've been more choosy in which ones to include in the digest.

Last online update on Monday.

CJS Monthly - December edition on route at last!

After a several delays and more than a few problems (some mechanical, a few technical and some human error) we finally managed to get CJS Monthly, printed, put in its envelopes and it's now somewhere in the postal system. Bearing in mind Christmas post it should be with you by the end of the week. However, it's freely available online as usual.

Today has dawned bright and very cold, treacherous underfoot when out with the dogs this mooring. The birds are queuing for the feed station – it's now early afternoon and where the sun hasn't reached the frost is still lying thickly.

Birds, lamb, sprouts and jobs

We've had an exciting week, on the nature front we've had a new bird in the garden on Monday we spotted a Redpoll, of course it didn't sit long enough, or still enough, for us to determine which subspecies it may be so we're guessing at the Lesser but whichever sort it was it is the first time one has visited the garden. Today the first of the winter Bramblings came for a feed and the numbers of Siskins have to be seen to be believed, festooned over every feeder (except the red nut feeder which was bought specifically for them as they are supposed to like red feeders – ha, not here, sunflower hearts please!). The wind is fierce and today bitingly cold making it feel like winter, earlier in the week it was exceptionally mild and wet more like autumn and yesterday was a typical grey miserable November day.

In other CJS news AW's lamb went to slaughter earlier this week and when it returns nicely jointed in bags from the local builders merchant some of it will be swapped for a turkey for Christmas dinner but the sprouts failed so some will have to bought – gasp, buying vegetables, unheard of!

It's must be almost Christmas as CJS Weekly is only a little one this week, eight sides containing 83 new paid posts 62 of which were sent direct to CJS. And it's just about finished printing so will be on its way to you very soon.