Since my last post, Christmas has simply flown by. Rita and Roger arrived on Christmas Eve - seems incredible that's a week ago now. We enjoyed our usual Christmas Eve seafood feast. Andrew prepared a ceviche of bream fillets, followed by scallops with samphire and some squid. After the meal we all watched Muppet Christmas Carol, and singing along was compulsory!
Christmas Day followed its usual routine. After waking up, we all opened our stockings, and Father Christmas had managed to find Rita and Roger too. Then we had some coffee and took the dogs out for a nice muddy walk. Andy lay on hte bed while I was opening my stocking and was utterly enthralled by the wrapping paper, and enjoyed tearing it all to shreds.
Once we came home we fed the woofs and had smoked salmon and scrambled egg with toasted muffins. Thus fortified, upstairs for shower, out of muddy clothes and put on something smarter (my favourite black dress with roses print) and jewellery/make up. Then back downstairs and we had a leisurely afternoon of present opening and drinkies. Made phone calls to various family members, then ate our festive meal around 5 ish. Roast turkey, goosefat roast potatoes, home made stuffing, lovely gravy, sprouts, cranberry sauce, pigs in blankets and carrots. We served it with a Shiraz, which was delicious. In the evening we relaxed and chatted and enjoyed watching Downton Abbey's Christmas special. Definitely a return to form. Eventually to bed, tired but very happy.
Boxing Day was leisurely and enjoyable too. We took the dogs for a very wet walk up to Garw Nant, walking round the Llwyn Onn reservoir. On the way we saw a local gun pack working the mountain with their hounds - beautiful Welsh foxhounds, shorter and hairier than the English and as daft as a brush, but so lovely. We took a thermos of coffee and some flapjacks with us which were very welcome before returning home to enjoy traditional turkey sandwiches. We were astonished at how busy the retail park at Merthyr was- I think that would be my idea of Boxing Day Hell.
The day after Boxing Day, we took the dogs for yet another muddy walk (very drizzly at the moment) had lunch then Rita and Roger departed back to Bridgwater. We had a very quiet day on Wednesday and on Thursday we went down to Swansea to see Hilary. Spent a wonderful afternoon with her in her lovely conservatory although it rained solidly the whole time we were there.
Today has been another fairly quiet day - we popped into town this morning as L'Occitane were having a sale and I also visited Cath Kidston. I bought her newest book "Patch" which had been on my Christmas list, and a very lovely small handbag which was in the sale. The shop was absolutely heaving and I was stunned to see a man with the most enormous pushchair (why are all the modern pushchairs so damn HUGE?) lurking in the shop while his wife/partner shopped. He caused constant queues, bottlenecks and problems and I felt sorry for his baby who was constantly bumped and shoved by people (and their baggage) trying to get past. I really couldn't understand why it would be simpler to just wait quietly outside the shop while his wife browsed.
It's lovely having Andrew home and being able to simply relax and enjoy each other's company without clock watching or dashing about. The dogs are enjoying themselves too - they all liked having some leftover turkey but just seem to be constantly muddy at the moment. We made a big effort to clean the car interior before Rita and Roger arrived - hoovered out the inside, washed the dog bed covers and fleece on the back seat and put in a new air freshener thingie from Yankee Candles. There was a brief, glorious moment when the interior actually looked and smelled quite acceptable. After a few days of muddy walks it is now back to its default state of hairiness, muddiness and a certain ripe aroma comprised of damp dog, mud and essence of countryside. Sigh. Now we are looking forward to the New Year.
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