MERRY CHRISTMAS

Just a brief blog to wish every one who visits this Blog a very happy Christmas.

Meals and a Walk

Another working week and still no wind-down to Christmas on the horizon. Pete was in London for a couple of days to attend meetings and a Christmas event. The snow that hit the east if England didn't impact Pete directly, but did knock onto his journey home delaying him for over an hour due to points failure near Reading (sounds very Reggie Perrin). Fortunately the 19:03 was delayed leaving Paddington and he managed to catch that instead of the 19:45 so who knows what time he might have got home had he got the later train.

On Friday we went out for a meal with Julie's work friends at the Royal Oak in Malborough, which was very nice. They had a live band too and although always good to hear live music it did rather kill the conversation.

On Saturday we spend the afternoon at Buckland Tout Saint celebrating the birthdays on friends Linda and Ken. There were 11 of us in total and nobody had anything but good to say about the place and their meal. The restaurant is in the hotel, which is a great location and what with the large flakes of snow falling outside the window it made for a lovely setting. All we needed would have been a log fire and that would have topped it off.

On Sunday we went for a walk at Bantham and as the tide was out it would have been possible to walk across the sands to Burgh Island. If we had we might not have got back.

The attached photographs were taken on today's walk.

Birthday Trip & Exams

Every year as we near Christmas we have another celebration to prepare for our son Matthew's birthday. This week Julie took a train up to London on Tuesday to meet up with Matt for his birthday. She stayed overnight at her mum's and was able to meet up with our daughter Gemma at Hammersmith on Wednesday before making her way home from Paddington.

Pete was, as always, busy with work and at the time of booking for Julie didn't know if he would be in London or not - it was not and so he stayed at home to look after the cat.

Matt's meal of choice would be Pie & Mash and if he is out of the country this would always be his first trip on returning home. To celebrate his birthday Julie, Gemma, Callum and Grandad John went off to the Fiddler's Pie Shop where he was first introduced to Pie & Mash. Julie had a great time with the kids and was pleased she went, as it gave her a chance to spend time with Gemma on the Wednesday too.

Gemma is currently engaged on a L'Oreal Colour Degree at their college in Hammersmith and after her exam on Wednesday she was able to go shopping with Julie in the West End.

This weekend we had friends round for an Indian takeaway on Saturday evening with Mike, Lyn, Ken and Lin. On Sunday we went for a walk around Snape's point, again with friends Ken and Lin, but planned by Mark and Sue with Rufus. It was a bit fresh, but really worth it. Pete did a bit of DIY in the afternoon and in the evening we returned to Mark & Sue's for dinner.

Preparation for Christmas goes on and our plans are coming together. The decorations are up and the Christmas cards are sent (not quite all though).

Not a lot to photograph this week except the mist in the valley so I have uploaded one along with a couple of images from the last couple of weeks.