View from one of the back windows a little earlier.

The beehive nuclei (mini beehives) are our homage to what's going on in Ukraine. They have long been that colour, but when I started taking an interest in Ukrainian affairs, I commented to OH they were in the flag colours but the wrong way around. A little later he came in and asked me if I noticed anything different. He had changed them around for me.

I have become so wrapped up with Ukraine that I am now learning the language, with a combo of Duolingo and a couple of other sources. I started in mid-November and am now on Unit 5. Coincidentally enough, some of the first words to learn were for cat (кіт - kit) and honey (мед - med). If we get a new female cat she will probably be called кішка - kishka, the word for a female cat.

The Cyrillic script is becoming more and more familiar. Very much enjoying the double challenge. I would never have thought that I'd be studying a new language, and its associated alphabet in my early 60s, but I believe it is said that learning a new language is a great way to keep the mind active and alert. Just so very sad that the reason for the interest is down to such terrible circumstances for Ukraine. Once the war is (so very hopefully) over sooner rather than later, I may even be tempted to take a holiday there a little further down the line, and be able to communicate with some ease. Already, when reading Twitter posts, I am deriving a great deal of satisfaction that I am able to recognise some words and phrases, and understand some of the spoken words on video before I hit the 'translate' link.

It is easier to translate the written word as I can take my time over that, and not have to worry if I've got the pronunciation right. I suspect when I speak the words, I may well be mangling the language...

So that is my ongoing challenge into next year.