Christmas was spent with very good friends, Sheila & Simon, and their family Andrew, Jess – together with their dogs Dolly and Molly. Since we were last here their Pointer/Labrador cross puppy Molly, who is now eight months old, and resembles a gangly high speed giraffe, has grown considerably ! Here’s a piccie of Jess and Molly which says it all.

Gwen got into the swing of things, smelling out her present without any problem. Needless to say, hers was opened first.

Northleach is a truly beautiful Cotswold town, and has a very traditional feel about Christmas celebrations. Sadly we missed the choir singing carols beneath the Christmas tree on the town square in the snow. The photo below is of part of the square after most of the snow had melted some days later. However, we did manage to attend the Christmas Eve Service at St Peter and St Paul Church, where the choir (of which Simon is the choirmaster) performed with great skill. St Gregory’s Catholic Church in Cheltenham could learn a lot from them ! What is more, I finally got to meet Stevie Windwood, who is one of the choristers.

Just a few more pictures that sum up some of the spirit of a warm and welcoming traditional English Christmas

Sheila’s table decoration – a work of art !

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Once in a while someone walks in to be photographed – and totally blows me away. Meet Carly. She is photographically quite exceptional. She is probably the nicest, and most beautiful model I have worked with so far. More shots of her over on the gallery.

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It was reported that we had a smidge of snow last night. Britain was brought to a halt once again; Euro Tunnel Trains grind to a halt, WRVS are ordered to give sandwiches and mugs of cold tea to passers-by outside closed pubs. The Welsh Assembly calls Wales a “Disaster Area”. Prayers are requested from Radio 4 listeners, while atheists stock up with brandy from Tesco. Well Copenhagen, what do we do now!?

Maybe I’ll go back to bed.

Merry Christmas everyone

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Carol & I had my grandchildren overnight in order to give Anthony & Lisa a break. Now I remember why you have to be young and fit in order to have young children around!! They were as good as gold, and we kept them occupied all of the time – which is easy to do in short bursts. Carol came up with the brilliant idea of cake-making, which was a tremendous success.

And, of course, the results of our labours….

We briefly met up with Clair & Scott the following day. Just a quick piccie. You can see how wound up the children are over Christmas already.

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Congratulations to baby Lara Poole, who was Christened at St Teilo’s Church in Whitchurch, Cardiff, last Sunday. Rupert & Nicky seem to be surviving the joys of two daughters with style !

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I realised that I have not added any pictures of my constant companion recently. So I’ll slip in these two – and especially the second one – while Carol is not looking. (Don’t think I’ve published it before)

So, as a reminder, she went from this….

To a really grown up version….

She may have got a lot bigger, but I’m not sure if “matured” is a word I would associate with her?

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