Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

This year we spent Christmas day in York. My dad and step-mother, Jacqui rented a house just outside York for a week and shared it with Jacqui’s mother, Jacqui’s sister and her husband and their son, Charles. Then, on Christmas day they were joined by me and Liddi, my sister Toni with her boys Benji and Barney, my sister Mia who also travelled up to Yorkshire and my mum. So, we totalled 13 for Christmas day, and I am reliably informed that the birthday boy was there in spirit (but has a very small appetite). We couldn’t manage snow to add to the atmosphere, but it was very cosy never-the-less. We started with an enormous present giving and opening session, after which Benji got everyone removing sellotape from giftwrap so that it could be re-cycled, while Jacqui and her helpers (her mum and sister…not elves!), put the finishing touches to the feast that was our Christmas lunch. We had a goose, stuffed with chicken, then stuffed with pheasant, rounding off with stuffing in the middle!! You can imagine that this, together with a multitude of trimmings left us all feeling rather stuffed ourselves! Mia had compiled a family quiz which we then played after lunch. It was Yorkshire vs Surrey, and as Yorkshire team captain I am pleased to say that we trounced the Southerners (obviously). Well done for all your hard work and preparation, Mia. I thought it was great fun! We stayed until the evening, and then got a lift back with Mia to Beverley. Thank you to all my family members and extended family members who made it such a fun and relaxing day.

For New Year, my friend Caroline and her daughter Natalie came up to stay for a few days which included New Year’s Eve. Daytime on 31st we went into York and looked at a few shops to see if there was anything complete irresistible in the sales, but luckily for my bank balance there wasn’t! By the end of the afternoon, just as it was starting to get dark, we headed for Cliffords Tower and the open air ice rink that had been set up for a few weeks over Christmas and the New Year. It surrounded by trees sprinkled with twinkly lights, so we thought that at dusk it would look a little more magical, which it did. Caroline and I decided to let Lydia and Natalie skate while we watched and took photos. Because the weather had been mild for a few days, and because of a bit of rain during the day, the surface of the ice was rather wet with a few large puddles. For those poor unfortunately souls who could not skate well, or were unsteady on their feet, this meant that not only was a fall embarrassing, but also very wet and extremely cold. Lots of people were skating around with very soggy trousers and jackets. Caroline and I found it extremely stressful to watch as more and more people fell victim to the icy puddles. Luckily, Lydia and Natalie managed to stay upright and more or less dry.

That evening (New Year’s Eve), my sister Toni joined Caroline, Natalie, Lydia and myself at my house. We took a leisurely attitude to preparing a nice meal of stir fry pork in a tasty cream and wine sauce, with giant prawns to start, and a glass of real bubbly, thanks to Caroline. (best to have it first while you still know what you’re drinking, rather than save it for midnight!!). We changed into our evening wear, had our meal, a few drinks and managed a bit of dancing (well, Natalie did). By 11:40 we decided to venture into the town centre as I’d heard that’s where all the local people gather for the midnight festivities. We were a little disappointed to discover only a couple of dozen people milling about. We dropped into the new, very smart ‘London Bar’ in the middle of Market Place, and then watched the streets and pavements outside quickly swell to hold hundreds of party revellers around the Christmas tree and town clock, spilling out onto the roads and pavements and stopping all traffic. We stepped outside with a few minutes to spare, and listened to the countdown to midnight (was it really accurate??), took a photo and then set off our party poppers. Yippee, 2007 had arrived! Brrr it was bit cold, so back into the bar in time for a free glass of pink champagne. Before we knew it, an hour had passed and we decided to wander home. We’d had a great evening, no huge expectations and therefore no disappointments, only pleasure.

Happy New Year to everyone – let’s hope it’s a great one!