Home again

This is our holiday, in chronological order:

Friday. Pirelli dinner "The Oriental" Knightsbridge, opposite Harvey Nichs. Fantastic!
(Jo Malone toiletries - beat that!)

He really looks much better than this - grainy phone photo!

Edinburgh on Sunday - the gardens in Princes street - skating & markets.

The Caledonian Hotel .
Photos from our 5/6 mile walk on Christmas morning, in bright sunshine, followed by a couple of our presents - cycling shorts for G & Tim's picture on a tea towel on me - top left is Tim...
(I can't fit the comments under each)

One of the "Caley's" Christmas trees, G on the stairs, with camera.

G on Carlton Hill.

Christmas dinner in "the Pompadour Restaurant", overlooking the castle. Fantastic.

Gillian McKeith & family were there, so it must have been healthy.(she left her broccoli)

He does scrub up well!
He smiled after the champagne.


Wetherby races on Boxing day, with aj, Tim, Jamie & Dick. Aj, Jamie & Dick all left quids in.
We had one winner (& 6 losers)
We had a great time.
Thanks for all of the lovely presents - we still have some to open (beat that!)
Today we bought a TV. A 42 inch plasma screen, Samsung.
God, it's big. You can see every wrinkle.

whatever next!

A seat by the window, courtesy of the NHS.

All mod cons.

A room with a view.

A nice log fire every evening this week - very cold & more to come.

Wednesday didn't seem worthy of a blog as it was spent at George Eliot hospital whilst G had a battery of tests, having woken up with chest pains. He was discharged at 11.40pm as all possible tests had been completed, not because he was being difficult, as has been suggested.
On the contrary, the nurses found him charming.
Obviously, I should stick needles in his arm, make him wee in a bottle & stick wires to hairy bits of his body with elastopast to keep him happy.

Thursday, worked, wrote Christmas cards & slept.

Friday, Thomas to entertain me & a visit to the optician, who fitted ONE contact lens & sent me away. It did feel strange as my unaided eye didn't see as well as the other one. Fancy.
I have a box of disposable lenses for when I want to repeat the experience.
I think that this would work better accompanied by an eye patch on the un-lensed eye.
This may defeat the purpose of enhancing my appearance.

Saturday, we went into Birmingham, did errands & then bought a Christmas tree.

Sunday,I went to church (the Archdeacon) whilst G potted the Christmas tree, then put the lights on tree - 10m of cable with the 80 red bulbs 4cm apart, taking up only about 3m, 7m tucked behind the tree. P, A, J & T came to lunch. J helped to put the Father Christmas's around the house & visited Whitacre Garden Centre to see the wolves.
I led the Shustoke service of 9 lessons & carols at 7.30pm - the church looked wonderful & all went well. It's always a bit difficult reading the small print in semi-darkness.
Home in time to watch the final "Parkinson" show, after 37 years on the air!

Here I am, woken by Prince Charming!

See, He does come in blue!

Galerie Lafayette, from the top.

The Reichstadt (parliament). We ate in the roof restaurant & climbed the dome, which has fantastic views.

The Brandenburg Gate, from the East, with G.

The hotel room - here's my handle.......

One of the sixty Christmas markets - better than Brum!

Lots of these, leading to courtyards of shops & restaurants.

Brandenburg Gate, from the West. Greenpeace setting up a presentation, complete with ice polar bear.

The Sony Centre with lego galore - beat that Tim!

You take a few days off to catch up on your sleep only to find that Tesco, not satisfied with world domination, have The Spice Girls advertising Christmas.
Working a three day week leaves so little time; how did I ever cope with a five day week?
I had a lovely day at Waddesdon with E, T & KP last Wed. It looked magical & is well worth a visit if you are near Bicester.
G & I went to Berlin for a long w/e, leaving on Thursday evening for a night at the Comfort Hotel, Heathrow, & an early flight on Friday.
Berlin was fascinating - The Brandenberg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, bunkers, bombsites, sixty Christmas markets & thousands of "tannenbaum".
Back at work on Monday. I'm getting the measure of the Swad nutters & may have cracked it by next Thursday, when I finish this stint. I'm really enjoying it.
I've visited the gym twice this week, Mon & Tues. Beat that! I'll be spinning next!

Quite a weekend!

Preparations. The long ones were difficult to inflate.

A damaged ear-drum & J took over.

Blow!

Lots of balloons.

The udder ones were easier.

The "Noble" three.

Off to feed the ducks (swans actually, & canada geese. The ducks were "chicken"))

J, G & Oscar visited for the weekend. We celebrated Oscar's first birthday, a week early, with P & A, Jessie & Thomas & friends, on Saturday, & again with B & E, Tim & KP on Sunday. All of the children were delightful & even Grandad enjoyed himself.
I only have Saturday photos.