Game on

4 days of playing games for Megs and Katharine 

A waterlogged Martin Mere

Our traditional Christmas visit to Martin Mere - 

On the plus side - new free WiFi for Ben!

On the minus side - the grounds were flooded - so no walk around the ponds.

Fortunately the hides were all accessible - and we had a good afternoon with the swans, geese, ducks, lapwings ..... and  a great display from a marsh harrier!

A day full of Cousins

A quiet post Christmas service at Church 

followed by a big family meal - 

and five cousins together for the first time since 2012.

Then round to Gma's where Jonathan Karen and Katharine had just arrived - 

and a three cousin photo!

A Boxing Day stroll

Horrible rain and flooding across the north of England,

but it did stop here long enough for an afternoon walk.

Christmas Day 2015

A lovely late start - presents at 8.30am!

Church was full for some energetic singing of carols and sharing of presents.

Christmas Day Dinner  with Gma and Gpa -

a quiet afternoon with much lego -

Uncle Chris came for tea -

Skyping Jonathan -

Then round to Ken's for the end of the evening.

Another Christmas done.

Christmas Eve 2015

For my 45th birthday -

a trip to Tatton Park for lunch and a stroll -

Christingle Service at FMC -

then a quiet evening at home watching Arthur Christmas before the Watchnight Service.

This year Ben stayed up with Al until Megs and I were back from Church - 

so hoping for a bit of a lie in tomorrow!

Making Christingles

Making Christingles 

{a sticky job - but with the bonus of as many sweets as you can eat}

ready for tomorrows service.

A wet trip to the Manchester Markets

I'd planned to take lots of lovely, atmospheric photos as we browsed slowly round the markets.

But.... it rained. And rained. And rained.

So instead we scurried round - and the only photo I took was of a rather bedraggled pair  when we were finally at Victoria catching the Met back to Picadilly.

Still - we bought everything we needed 

{plus an awful lot of cheese!}

Carols by Candlelight

Another lovely carol service - 

in which Megs sang the solo verse to In the Bleak Mid Winter -

my {little} star

The Weeping Window

The weeping window from the Tower of London

 poppy installation "Blood swept Lands and Seas of Red"

is visiting Liverpool.

So powerful and beautiful.

A day of Star Wars and Shopping

Train to Liverpool

A morning of Christmas shopping

Lunch at GBK

Star Wars - The Force Awakens in the IMAX 

{so much I could say - but respecting the spoiler phobic amongst my friends and family}

Perfect way to start the holidays.

On being an elf....

..... well, not really.

But I maintain that charity collecting with Rotary, 

walking alongside the Father Christmas float -

as it blasts out carols and Christmas songs -

makes you very nearly an official FC helper!

As always - the most Christmassy thing you can do - 

and all for a great cause too!

At Annie's Party

Great night at Annie's 70th birthday party -

Hig Roast! Jazz Band! Lovely friends!

The tree is up!

Christmas Fair

Following the usual week of manic baking -

we had a great time at the church Christmas Fair.

Nothing better than working with friends.

At the Copa....

Megs had a great week performing with the College Centre of Excellence

 in their production of "Copacobana"