Planning a Trip

We are making plans for a little adventure in April. Friends invited us along on a short break to Rome which is lovely but we have decided to extend the trip and travel on to Venice afterwards. I've been to Rome before and whilst I would love to see it again - of course- I always enjoy a new place. So, a bit of both. Mike will get to see Rome - he particularly wants to see the Sistine Chapel, we'll get to hang out with our four friends and then we will whisk ourselves away on a train journey into Venice. Cannot wait, it's too exciting by far!

Thanksgiving

Yesterday was our little niece's Thanksgiving Service at their church. Sadly I was unwell and decided I better stay home (very disappointed!) but Mike went - they live near Liverpool - and they all had a lovely day. The service was very nice and she was good as gold and afterwards they went home for soup and fresh bread and puddings. The men walked it off while the ladies stayed home and talked.
She is a lovely little girl and we wish her a blessed and happy life xxx

This is our friend's dog, Indy. He has a lovely personality. When we first knew him he didn't bark but then for a few months he and our friend lodged with a lady whose dog barked a lot and Indy copied him. Now he barks a welcome when anyone arrives at his house.

A magical time

It truly has been a wonderful time with friends and family. We now look forward to 2008 with all the blessings that the year brings.

We wandered home....

....popping in to see Ros and have a piece of her delicious Pillar Box Christmas Cake - what a triumph! Alexander proudly showed off his new bike too! Then we dropped in to see James and Rebecca in Darlington - their grandchildren were staying with them and after that we finally stopped at Mike's parents. We visited his Grandpa, sat by the woodstove and Janet's red and green tree and generally chilled out with them.

And so we went to Edinburgh...

as ever we chose to spend New Year at a special gathering of friends in Edinburgh. We got there on the 30th and stayed this year with Margaret which was wonderful. We enjoyed great conversation, a walk through Stockbridge, and some poetry. On the Monday we enjoyed a trip to the Portrait Gallery, passing a house that Henry Raeburn had lived in enroute. Mike and I particularly enjoyed the cafe in the gallery. We chilled out and ate cake. That morning we had run a workshop so it was good to debrief and just be by ourselves for a short while.
At midnight we walked up Carlton Hill and watched the most amazing fireworks we have ever seen there. We stood on a patch of grass with a huge crowd and marvelled at the colours and patterns before wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Ali and Abi came to visit

It was so lovely to be together - the first time since our wedding! The kids had all grown more and were chatting about their Christmas adventures. Much hilarity was had, cake and tea consumed, a walk in the gloaming to Abbey Fields and the swings, back up the old high street pointing out the fairy lights on the cottages and home for chips for the kids. Then they all went back home and peace was restored at our house!
When can we do it again?!

Cool Presents

Too many to mention, plus I didn't get pics of them all. Absolutely loved the "Glasgow in a Bag" - what a great idea. I have it on the mantelpiece now that the decs and cards are gone, yummy new perfume, a glorious kaftan, an Afternoon Tea book, a black silk nightie, an Italian leather notebook (truly gorgeous) a red fluffy dressing gown. My mum loved her Lake Louise jigsaw, the polar bear felt box, a few pairs of earrings, a lovely cat jug. Dad finally got his pen, and the illustrated Cremation of Sam McGhee book!!, the book about British piers, Mike enjoyed the car and train toys, he liked his cravat, the train books, the fireside basket, the Canadian Pacific picture, the Sherlock Holmes DVDs.
What fun we had!

Boxing Day

We enjoyed another walk from Wappenbury this time - Mike and I like it there, it was good to look at all the Christmas lights at Eathorpe. At home we got started on the mammoth Christmas cake (why did I bake such a huge one? and with a whole bottle of brandy too!) then we came back home and had dinner, remembering the crackers this time and watched the adaptation of Ballet Shoes. It made me want to read the book again - surely it must be back in print by now?

We had a lovely lazy Christmas Day, starting with pain au chocolat and coffee (No-one else indulged but it starts my Christmas off on the right note!) lots of fun-filled present opening, a new game - Apples to Apples which we enjoyed, some Canadian-themed gifts which made us nostalgic, an easy dinner with all the trimmings. We had no room for Christmas cake til Boxing Day.

Christmas Eve

We enjoyed a walk near the castle, into the fields, talked to the horses and Mike collected some firewood. Then we settled into a warm house, blazing fire, Carols from Kings and then Christmas Eve dinner all together.

A round-up of 2007

We moved out of our little house where Mike lived in peace and quiet until we got married! We will miss the quietness of the garden, the beautiful acer with the colourful leaves, Mike will miss his trains and I will miss the cat who visited me most days.
We are settled (sort of...) into the other house which we normally rent out. It's organised chaos really. This is my busiest period for work so I was all over the place trying to do too much really. At the eleventh hour we got it semi-sorted for Christmas to have my parents to stay for a week which was lovely.