Christmas Is A Time For Complex Arrangements

Christmas is of course a time for complex arrangements. Son’s seem to have bypassed us, not for the first time. Drastic measures are called for and we step in where National Rail don’t and offer a decent service from Stoke to Derby.

He is in Stoke at his girlfriend’s for Christmas, so we transport him over to Derby where he is heading for his father’s via his grandparents. By taking him there we not only get to see them both but also to exchange presents in person.

Then we drop them at his Dad’s before hot footing it back to Nottingham where we meet my parents in the Admiral Rodney before we take them back to our place for a roast beef lunch and more Christmas present opening.

(Sunday 27^th December)

New Year

We head up to the Lakes today and leave the snow behind as we do. There’s none of the white stuff beyond Stoke and in the Lakes it’s raining.

We have booked a cottage for three nights in the same settlement of Garnett Bridge in Longsleddale just a few miles north of Kendal.

In the evening we head to nearby Staveley although it still involves using the car along some great narrow roads. We have a drink the Duke William, which isn’t the most upmarket of pubs although they do allow the dogs in before moving to much more plush Eagle and Child. They would also have the dogs in but it’s a bit too busy to unleash our two tonight.

There’s no chance of getting food in the Eagle and Child, so we have another drink which is luckily Snecklifter before heading off with a four pint take out of said Snecklifter to find a takeaway to take back to the cottage. That isn’t an easy job either. We fancied a curry but could only find restaurants and no actual takeaways. The first restaurant we try is too busy to do us a take away but the second one, the Eastern Balti, does do us one.

We have a not so wild night at the cottage as we can’t get much reception on the TV so can’t even tune into our usual Jools Holland’s Hootenanny show. We end up in bed before midnight.

(Wednesday 31^st December)

Its Usual Self

We’ve had Daughter home for a week but it doesn’t really feel like it. Today we take her back to Manchester. Considering the fact she’s had way too many Christmas presents it would be impractical, although amusing, to send her back by train.

Oddly when we get past Stoke, there is no snow at all. Manchester is its usual dank and drizzling self. We go for a meal in the Woodstock Arms before turning round to do the return journey home.

(Sunday 28^th December)

We Are So Traditional

It’s a tradition for us to exchange presents a midnight and Daughter gets home from her Christmas Eve festivities with ten minutes to spare. L and I have long since fallen asleep in a Tuck induced haze but we’re all soon up, rubbing our bleary eyes, dogs included.

After presents it’s back to bed and chance to recover before the traditional Christmas Day drinks, which this year take place at the Horse and Jockey in Stapleford. Whilst there L speaks to Son who is in a pub in Stoke drinking beer... blimey.

We go all Spanish for our Christmas dinner. I’ve no idea what they actually have in Spain but we have selection of Spanish tapas meats to start followed by Scallops and chorizo with garlic mushrooms and crushed potatoes. We are so traditional.

We were going to have Christmas Pudding for afterwards but L has made the most amazing Bakewell pudding/tart. So we fill up on that instead.

Then it’s time for another tradition, falling asleep in front of Doctor Who. Although I actual I resist this year. The falling asleep that is, I actually quite enjoy it and it has nothing do with Jenna Coleman of course.

(Wednesday 25^th December)

Mighty Windy

A new date has finally been sorted for the snowed off Loughborough Half Marathon. It will now be ran on Sunday 9th June 2013, which is a good choice. I was looking at the Potters Arf in Stoke on that day but this will suit just as well. Even L is contemplating having her entry reinstated.

I have no training planned today and anyway my calves haven't stopped pulsing yet from yesterday. The only training today is of the dog variety for which it's going to mighty windy up on the dogging hill.

(Monday 15^th April)