Tim in his new 'at! 

View from the hotel early one morning.... 

Grasmere from Grasmere terrace 

Christmas spirit personified!! 

Chickpea's first hike in the lakes... 

A major treat...

As we are not going skiing this year for obvious reasons we splurged on 3 nights at a really lovely hotel called The Samling (http://www.thesamling.com/) in the Lakes. We have been to the lakes at this time (in between Xmas and New Year 3 times now and have always had fantatsic weather and a great time whether we are staying at Ambelside YHA or a right fancy hotel. The weather was really spectacular: cold (about zero for most of the day) but with blue skies and unbelievable views. Managed 2 longish walks (about 6-7 miles) but mainly on the flat given the fact I'm 20 weeks and it was pretty icy. On Wednesday round Loughrigg Fell via Loughrigg Tarn, Gramere and Rydal water and on the Thursday up to Troutbeck and through the valley - both really enjoyable (though I got a bit knackered on the last walk and did mention the word 'taxi' once or twice!).
The hotel was fantastic and really relaxing with amazing food: just a shame Tim had to drink all the wine himself!

Natasha: party girl (age 4) 

Christmas morning 6.30am! Sarah, Natasha and Imogen. 

Imogen - Christmas eve, 'little pudding' 

Christmas week...

Was spent at Adrian and Sarah's with our neices: Isabelle, Natasha and Imogen, with Christmas day at the folks. Threatened the girls with dire 'all you'll get is coal' consequences if they got us up before 7am on Christmas day and was woken at 6.30 by lous whispenring of 'he's been' and 'but we can't open anything till 7' at 6.30 and so feeling guilty we all got up!
Great Xmas lunch with a goose AND a turkey and all the trimmings, lovely, as well as great food on Xmas eve and boxing day: we were well victualed.
Played alot of poker with the adults which, I think, is a good life skill to acquire!
Very lovely and strangely relaxing few days even with the kids excitment - or maybe because of - after all in the end is what it's all about.

Janine and Chris - next up! 

Tim, Dan, Jenny and Galvo. Very merry. Nice handfbag 

The lovely bride and groom (boy, it was COLD) 

Christmas Kick-off - Lucy's Nuptials

It's been a busy few weeks... to kick off the Christmas hols we had Lucy and Malcolm's wedding - which was of course lovely and the bride (and for that matter the groom) looked radiant. Saw lots of old school friends which was 'interesting' - some I hadn't seen for years. Was nice to see Kay and Janine after the hen night - makes you realise how much I miss friends 'oop north' sometimes, but thems the choices you make.
Felt like the fat fairy on top of the tree but that's what happens when you wear pink at 18 weeks! It was a really lovely occasion. Janine's to look forward to now in April - when (fingers crossed) I really will look like a fat fairy!