Away with the Martins

Karen's family and friends rates got us a good deal at the Hanbury Manor hotel. Lovely old Manor House turned into a 5* hotel.

We took Alfie for his 'holiday' to East Dean Dog Kennels at Headcorn. Clara returned very distraught that she had left Alfie in a 'cell'!!

We met the Martins at 10:30 to travel to Hertfordshire and arrived in time for lunch at the hotel. 

After lunch we were going to go for a walk and thought that Lea Valley country park might be a nice place to go to. We drove 12 miles and couldn't find it. We found a place called Myddelton House in Enfield with gardens designed by EA Bowles instead.

There wasn't much there to see but there were some bushes in the car park that Cam and Dan was jumping over. Cam wondered if they would hold his weight - "yes" we said. "try it". So he did...

Secret Santa

Some retail therapy in the morning; Clara and Kaylee had some Christmas vouchers to spend. Then over to Detling for the annual secret Santa event. More nice presents for the 'kiddies' followed by secret Santa - 2 wrapped in the Telegraph from today and SIX in the Guardian from the 17th December!!  We played some games; pictionary, higher or lower and guess the musician. Really good fun this year. 

Happy Christmas

Started with a Christmas parkrun - Alfie was wearing his Christmas outfit

Followed by Eggs Benedict and Buck's Fizz then it was present time. 

After presents Graham came over, Jon went with Andy, Dan and Paul to the chequers for a 'quick' drink then dinner - turkey and all the trimmings. 

We watched Dr Who then did some

Lego building until bed. What a lovely day. 

Merry Christmas Eve

We went to see Grandad to exchange gifts this morning. Gareth and Naomi turned up with Rose, who'd been to work with Pat, then Lol and Emma followed by Pat. Nice cup of coffee with some biscuits served by Rose. 

After lunch and a walk with Alfie we met the 'families' in the village at 3:30 ready to get the best seats at church for the family service (is this our 9th year!?). Rev Chris's last service before he's off to Hull - what will next year's service be like?  Over to the pub for a quick drink before Anna and Paul left the party. We saw our old neighbours, Gary and Claire, there - nice suprise and hopefully we can catch up with them in the new year. 

The evening was topped off by a meal at the North Pole - service not up to its usual standard as they were really busy but nice to catch up with everyone. Home to see an episode of Sherlock before bed. 

Happy Christmas Eve one and all. 

Thai night

Vaneda is a Thai lady married to Paul: She is an excellent cook and cooked a Thai meal for Ronnie, Joe, David and me.

Lovely food. 

Duke of Edinburgh presentation night

Cam, along with about 400 other students, was invited to Invicta to receive his certificate for his bronze award.

Happy birthday Grandpa John

Tea at Grandma's in order to celebrate John's 81st birthday.  Happy birthdayGrandpa. 

With Sara, James and Max,  Harriet and Matthew,  Abby and Rex were there too with Jo, Diccon and Celeste. 

O Christmas tree...

The chritmas tree is up and everything decorated for Christmas. Alfie hasn't used it as an indoor toilet or chewed any of the Christmas teddies on the stairs...yet.

He did however have a munch on a chritmas fairy. 

Turkey Run

Cam and I have just got back from the Turkey Run. Good fun 10k through muddy puddles.