Christmas

A few pictures from the glorious 3 days we spent at Sara's over Christmas, with the entire family. Magnificent food, lots of wine and some good presents too. We ended this perfect family time with a trip to a local stables and Ruby got her first ride on a pony.

Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt

On Christmas Eve morning, before driving up to Sara's, we had a family trip to the Criterion Theatre to see a theatrical production of Peppa Pig. We all loved it, Lucas sat on my lap, transfixed and didn't move for each 45 minute part. I haven't been able to get the 'Bing Bang Bong' out of my head since.

December 23rd

The 23rd was officially my first day of the Christmas holidays. I spent the morning nursing a horrendous hangover and making 72 sausage rolls to take to my sister's the following day. In the afternoon, we took the children to the Mobily sports centre's soft play room. And then rounded a fantastic first day off with dinner at the Princess Victoria to celebrate Christophe's 40th birthday.

Dinner

On Friday 16th; we had a wonderful pre-Christmas dinner and presents with Lorena, Vittoriano and Claire.

The Show

On December 10th; Ruby made us incredibly nervous and very proud making her theatrical debut in her ballet school's pre-Christmas show. Here she is, during her elephant costume routine.

Day After

Hello and a very, very happy New Year to anyone reading this and hope you had a marvelous Christmas? Mine was absolutely stupendous but has left me horrifically behind with my posts.
So here's the start of a big catch-up; from the day after our big birthday lunch for Dad and Ruby.
We met up with Mum and Dad at the St Pancras hotel, where they'd stayed for 2 nights and had a good look round the splendor of the of the newly refurbished building, which we'd last looked round many years ago when it was equally splendid in it's unloved and decrepit state. It's a phenomenal transformation.
We then had lunch with the rest of the family in Pizza Express, accompanied by a tremendous projection of Antonioni's 'Lavventura'.

Dad and Ruby's Birthday Meal

We threw a, surprisish, Birthday party for Dad and Ruby on Saturday 3rd December.
24 members of the family all gathered round the table for an incredible meal and wonderful way to celebrate Dad's 80th and Ruby's 3rd.

Candles

We were sent this the other day from one of the guests at Ruby's birthday party.

Bowie and Bing

I saw this on it's nice that today and reminded just how much this is absolutely one of my favourite yule tide tunes ever.

it's nice that said:

You know how it is, you’re just minding your own business, making the house nice for Christmas Day and then pow! David Bowie strolls in. So how do you deal with such an unexpected customer? Well you make a little (badly acted) small talk, fire up the old ivories and get down to a hearty duet to warm the Christmas cockles for all those watching. Happy Christmas everybody

Ruby is 3

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago now but the time has flown and all of a sudden it's the middle of the month and I'm massively behind again. So here's what I wrote on Saturday 2rd December:
On this day, 3 years ago, my beautiful little baby girl Ruby was born! Here she is in her first video, just a few days old and one from a couple of days ago. Incredible isn't it that all that separates these two Rubys are 36 months.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad

80 years ago, on this very day, in the city of Bradford, to Mildred and Wilfred Read, a boy named Donald (Don to his friends) was born. Happy 80th Birthday Dad / Grandpa! Your children and your grandchildren all love you very, very much.