Went to Brendan and Lynda's in the evening with Kelvin for the annual Christmaa meal. Had a gig on Friday at the Henley Living Advent Calendar. From 1st to 24th December they have a half hour performance every evening from 6 15 to 6 45. The venue for each day is published but the performers names are kept secret. We did OK. Lots of warm applause from the 50 or 60 so audience at the Eyot Centre. Even got a write up in the Henley Standard and the Henley Herald. Went for meal after with the band and Mike's wife Daphne who I'd met before and Peat's wife Dawn who I hadn't. Good start to the day on Saturday for me at least, didn't get up until after 12. Did the sound in the evening at RSAC for the Scarlet Vixens again. Had a slight accident on my bike on the way there and seem to have strained my left hamstring. Madeline has some boots. Amy's sister Kathryn has covid so hasn't been able to see much if her. Lazy day on Sunday resting my leg and watching the World Cup final. Very one sided with Argentina 2 0 up until France got a penalty in 80th minute and 90 seconds later were level. Agentina went ahead in extra time but France equalised with another penalty. Agentina then won the shootout. Mbappe got all 3 goals for France and scored a 3rd penalty in the shootout. All in the same place.

Took the EQ unit round to Bob Noyse on Tuesday but he couldn't find a problem with it. Went for a ride to Henley in the afternoon with Kelvin and Graham. On Wednesday evening I went up to London to see Billy Strings at the O2 Forum in Kentish town. I met up with Chris Gavin and some friends for a pizza first. Doors opened at 7 and we got to the gig about 8 15 assuming there would be at least one support but there wasn't and they had already started. I also lost the others on the way in. Apart from that it was amazing. They played for 2 and a half hours and even though it was more or less all bluegrass in never got boring. I was tempted to try and get to the front but I had a great view from the right hand side just in front of the bar near the top of the steps. Played right up until the 11 oclock curfew with no tedious encore. I even managed to get the slightly delayed 11 32 back but had to stand. James, Amy and Madeline came on Thursday and stayed the night before flying to Toronto the next day. I took them to airport. Anne and Wynn then arrived in the evening, travelling light.We got a cab to the Fox and Hounds then walked to the lido for a meal. On Saturday did the walk out to the Loddon Brewery and settled down to watch England lose 2 1 to France in the world cup quarter final. It could have gone either way. Harry kane scored a penalty and then missed one. Earlier Morocco beat Portugal to be the first african team to reach the semis. A first white Christmas for Madeline on Sunday. We had a walk round Dinton Pastures followed by lunch at the Castle. Seagulls standing on ice.

Possibly had a pint too many so a lazy day on Thursday. Quite a day for the World Cup though. Both Belgium and Germany went out. There was controversy about Germany's dismissal, they won their game but Japan beat Spain and in the build up to their second goal the ball seemed to go out of play so the ref disallowed it but it was overruled by VAR.