Christmas

Welsh Hills

Monday - we didn't have the best night's sleep last night - too much drink and also Tom was up with ear ache.  I ended up calling the Dr at 8am and got him a 9.30am appointment at Bentham.  We went along, the Dr had a look and his ear was red and inflamed - she gave us some antibiotics - just in case it burst and went horrible over Christmas.

One show off!

We then packed the car and headed towards North Wales.  I drove (Matt was still over the limit!) The roads were surprisingly clear, meaning we had a pretty easy journey across.  Stopped at Chester services and found a noodle place for lunch.  Tom and Matt had chicken katsu curry and were happy boys.

Farming boy!

We got to Jude and Craig's in very good time, did the mammoth unpack and then went for a quick walk around the block before being treated to a very good shepherds pie and ice-cream - perfect food post walk and for a hangover.  We didn't stay up late!

Matt's new friend

Tom's ear did go bang last night (around 12.30) but he seems fine now so decided against giving him antibiotics.  Had a nice lazy morning, then did a 7 mile walk from Jude and Craig's house to a pub for lunch and back was pretty sunny for the majority of it.  Involved lots of mud, hills and quarries.  The pub was welcoming and doing hot food which was good.  We then walked home, I managed to fall over and down a muddy slope and covered myself in mud - luckily not too far from home - if anyone was going to do it, it was going to be me!  Got back, put everything in the washing machine (we didn't bring many clothes with us as we had so many presents filling the car!) had a shower and relaxed.  A nice, easy and relaxed Christmas Eve.  That was until about 9pm until a small boy came down...his other ear was hurting...he couldn't get to sleep.  We gave him pain killers, he still couldn't get to sleep...then he started crying in bed...he was a very unhappy chappy!

In the end I had to get in bed with him and hug him to sleep.  He finally nodded off around 11.45pm - phew.  I was worried what would happen if it got to midnight and he was still awake.

Christmas Day - Tom came in to see us at 6am - his other ear had gone bang and there was stuff over the pillow case.  We told him to turn the pillow over and go back to sleep.  He told us Santa had been - we were very happy about that!

At a more reasonable hour, Tom came back in with his stocking - he had a lot of great things - Santa really is on the ball - what with a DVD of a Japanese train, bath bombs, puzzles, new scouts woggle, chocolate orange and another Eddie Stobart truck.  How does he know?

He was happy with his lot.  We had a nice lazy late breakfast of smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels and then opened up all the pressies.  We were all spoiled.  Tom especially so, with an electric guitar and walrus onesie from us and a huge lego Landrover from Uncle Martin as well as loads of other amazing things. Matt and I did well too.

I am the walrus

At 1pm we headed down the road to Jude and Craig's local pub (minus Craig who was in the kitchen cooking goose for lunch).  It was very jovial and pretty full (it isn't a big pub).  There is a pool table in the pub and Tom was desperate to have a go.  It was monopolised by men though who looked like they were there for the afternoon.  However, Tom, if he wants something, will not be put off by anyone, and went up to them and asked for a game.  They told him he would have to wait.  So he waited and waited and then he went up and watched them...they then came over and said he could have a go.  They played hard with him - no leniency for being a child, but he was happy - he got his game, that was all he wanted (didn't pot even one ball bless him!)  We then headed back to the house as Jude was worried about Craig needing help and being alone.

Christmas Dinner was then served - wowzers.  The goose was amazing, lovely soft, juicy meat with lots of sides of of which were wonderful and of course he is famous for his gravy - and yes it was lovely.  We ate and ate - far too much, but then it isn't Christmas if you don't eat too much.

The rest of the day was spent playing with new toys and then we had a game of Wonders of the World which took us to bed time.

Christmas hats!

Boxing Day was a horrible grey drizzly day.  What to do?  No point staying in the house, so we went to Broughton to the cinema there. We saw Spies in Disguise which was an average kids film.  Had some laughs in it for the adults and wasn't that bad a film, however, the children sat next to us were pretty annoying - not sure how many times they got up and filed past us but it was near to 10 times!  They were dressed to impress, but had no manners at all.  Why go to the cinema if you spend all your time not watching the film?  Pretty pointless and a waste of money.  Didn't seem to have any adults with them, which was, I think the main problem.  Oh hum, it was still a good use of a miserable day.

We got back to Jude and Craig's to find a kitchen smelling delicious.  Craig was making a lamb curry from scratch, it smelt amazing.   It was amazing.  We were all in 7th heaven eating it - think we ate more of that than we did of the goose - it was so good.  Loads of accompaniments too: home made naan bread, onion salad, dhal, raita, chutneys, rice etc etc.  There wasn't a huge amount left at the end.  Thank you Craig.  The evening was spent playing Monopoly, which Matt won easily.  Was good fun though and no sulks from anyone.

And that was Christmas.  On the 27th we drove back home - pretty uneventful drive, then the unloading of the car, followed by laundry etc etc and an easy afternoon.

Thank you Jude and Craig for a very pleasant Christmas.