Christmas and New Year Ashore

We spent the Christmas and New Year ashore at Wendie’s home….. Wends came to pick us up from Milton Keynes, and we left the boat hoping Finch wouldn’t be around.  Taking with us everything of value, and leaving our friend Colin to check her when he could.  Talked to some of the boaters around telling them we would be away, and left a few beers as goodwill Christmas presents with them. 

From a very quietish life here on No Problem into the hectic world of a young family was a massive change….. first night not in bed till very late, chatting and chatting.. Next day was the works Christmas Do, which we always get invited to as it is family business of course, it was just great.  We won the row boat song contest for the second time in three years, and by the time we had finished on the floor rowing and swinging about, I did have to get someone to put me into an upright position!!  Champers all round as a prize for the winners, and here is Jen (youngest daughter) sharing out the sparkly..

It’s lovely to see everyone letting their hair down at the Xmas do…….. and everybody partied till gone 2am!

Unfortunately I was poorly for a couple of days after that….. wasn’t the party, but I caught ‘the bug’ that the family had a week previously, but by Christmas Eve I was back to my old self again. 

It was lovely to see all our families, Vic’s mum popped in with some of Vic’s family, and my Dad popped over on Christmas morning.  Lunch was just great, both my daughters and my son were at the table plus daughters hubbies as well as my four grandchildren, what more could I have asked for!

After Christmas I re-formatted Wend’s computer as it had been giving her a few problems and re-installed windows and all her programs.  Her broadband connection had me spoilt too… and I took the opportunity to download a few programs and burnt them to disc to bring back with me.

And so to New Year… once again a great night.  The ‘gals’ went out to a local pub, which meant that I didn’t have to taxi this year… and the two granddaughters were settled all night even through the tremendous amount of fireworks on the midnight hour.  Dogs didn’t like that at all!!

My first pic of the year of Vic………. well it was about 1am by this time!  The girls arrived back and we partied on till gone 4am!

All too soon it was time to pack up and think about returning to No Problem.  We had such a great time, I was quite emotional on Monday when we left….. maybe I had been there too long.. Won’t forget it that’s for sure.