HAPPY ENDINGS.

Somehow the New Year has begun, and I haven't tucked the old one away properly yet.    So I thought I'd just publish a few pictures to round things off.   For a couple of old biddies, we do seem to lead quite an eventful life,  though much of it goes by unrecorded by our cameras.   However, here are a few glimpses into the final weeks of 2010.

We spent a couple of fun-filled days at Mary and Lewis's cosy cottage just by Marlow Bridge and did so enjoy 18 holes of golf at Lewis's Club in the sunshine on a crisp frosty morning.  John was provided with a buggy on which we all enjoyed cadging lifts, and everyone had their share of 'good holes', though to Mary and my chagrin the boys beat us (for a change!).   Delicious food and drink are always highlights of any visit to Magnolia Cottage, so we try to exercise as much as possible in the vain hope that our waistlines won't suffer.    We took a lovely long walk beside the Thames one sunny afternoon, but it having rained heavily the day before, we found ourselves  slurping through stretches of really muddy footpath in not the most suitable footwear, the result being that I lost both heels of my black leather brogues.  Hey, they were old anyway, so now have taken retirement to become my Gardening Shoes.

John and Sam came to stay for a few days with us later in December.  Jon had driven in glorious sunshine to lunch with Kerry at her home on the Gower, but by the time he and Sam arrived here the temperature was falling, and a day later we awoke to a layer of snow, which by next day had doubled its thickness.    My studio resembled a Swiss chalet - pity we had no sledges on hand to reach it.

We took the opportunity of a gloriously sunny Saturday to walk the Strawberry Line into Winscombe for milk and papers, stopping off for a hot drink at the pub, before making our way back home again through the lovely powdery snow.

A couple of days later we threw caution to the winds and set off in appalling conditions to take Kerry her Christmas presents and to treat her to a Christmas meal.    The M5 and M4 were down to one lane in the falling snow, but we got there in reasonably good time and much enjoyed our afternoon together.    However, on the way back, when the roads were much clearer (but the roadsides piled up with freezing snow) we had a little mishap, ending up astride the crash barrier on the inside lane near Cardiff West Services.  We were so lucky to emerge unharmed , shaken if not a little stirred by our experience, and our trusty old Honda too showed that like her owners, the old ones were made to last.   We spent a night in a Travel Lodge, and next day were rescued by Jon and Sam in their 4 x 4.    Never were we so pleased to see anyone - they sorted the car for us, got us back home, and were endlessly calm, kind and reassuring.   I have to say that both of us shed a tear of relief when we knew they were on their way, and felt ourselves  very blessed to have a family around us who all were immediately in touch and full of loving concern.

Looking out from the Pub on the Pond where we had lunch with Kerry (but the pond was frozen.)

Waiting in our Travelodge room for the arrival of our shining knights.

Christmas then at Harewood House was all the sweeter after our 'near miss', and Kim and Martin and the gorgeous grandkids did everything possible to make it really special.    Kim has written a superb description of the festivities in her blog, so I won't repeat them here, but I thought a few of John's pictures might be illuminating.

                                        Christmas morning - Jon and Sam's presents.

The slaves tackle the washing up after Christmas dinner.

Brotherly Strangle (..  I mean Love)

 Rosie's after-Boxing Day-meal game. ..........  No, James wasn't telling us about his latest catch.

Feet up at the end of Boxing Day.

And what better way to end our stay at Harewood House than one of Kim's superb brunches - don't those new laid eggs just make your mouth water.

THANKYOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING. 

With heartiest and sincerest Good Wishes for a Fantastic New Year.

xxxxx