All over for another year

Photo: Dunbar's decorations in storage for another year

Ah that's the last of the baubles put away in the garage, although i am sure there are a few stray ones lurking behind the sofa. The good thing about decorations are that they hide the mess. Now they are down, that dirty chipped paint work that had been hiding behind the garland was fully exposed. With time on my hands the job had to be done. Out came the magnolia and the hall and a bedroom were done, helped by Stuart and Andrew who were so enthusiastic that they even painted each other.

Christmas went well. The build up to it at school came to nothing as our friend the snow caused it to shut early on the Wednesday and never reopen. Numerous Christmas party's and nativity plays never happened. No time for farewells and Christmas greetings, just a mass exodus of staff heading home to avoid the snow monster. This did us a favour because it meant getting an early start for our journey south. With our street being completely covered in the deepest snow yet, I wasn't sure if we would make it beyond Adsa, but luck have it, this was localised snow and everywhere else was clear. So we had a smooth journey, giving us bags of extra time and leaving us with the the rare opportunity to call in at the New Balance Factory Shop in Shap. It's always a bit hit and miss in there. Emma got a very good pair of cushioned shoes for no less than any other place, but I managed to get a good pair of support shoes for £15! I was tempted by all the other shoes in the size 12 and over bargain boxes but the Christmas pinch was being felt.

Once in Manchester it was a great few days of soaking up the Christmas joy, with assistance from my dads malt whisky selection and a banquet of food. We had a shopping trip to Stockport to pick up a few loose ends and watch the people. I like Stockport. It's a good looking town but it could do with increasing its gene pool a bit. Shop after shop were filled with slightly (through natural causes and general wearing down by life's hardships) disfigured and ugly people. Obviously all related and from one of Stockport's many small estates where having a 3rd nipple and hairy palms is standard. Later that day we saw the more refined side of Stockport at its fantastic Plaza Theatre where we saw the pantomime of Peter Pan. This is what theatre going is all about. A beautiful art decor building saved from ruin and life as a bingo hall, restored and run by volunteers, including an organ recital before the panto. Brilliant to experience. The show was short on gags and didn't really transfer into panto despite Boycee's performance (him off Only Fool and Horses). Nevertheless we enjoyed it and it was a good way to spend Christmas Eve.

It's anyones guess who will turn up at my mum and dads on Christmas Day. Throughout my life I have joined many a waif and stray for the festive merriments. This time we were joined by our Jane's Andy's lad Mark, Aunty Dorothy and Uncle Frank and John! I am not sure who he was but he fitted in well. We had been over at St Margaret's Church earlier for the service. After which it is a a sort of speed dating scenario of trying to see everyone before the verger shows us all the door.

We didn't do a lot in Manchester this time. We went out for a walk with the whole of the Pugmire family. Nice to see them all but really too many kids, dogs, distractions and not enough time to get beyond 'oooh haven't you grown...or how bald are you'. I managed to get a few runs too. The most memorable was a 10 miler into Stockport and back via the Mersey which had frozen over. Running there requires a lot more forethought, and consideration to things like a) how many roads will I need to cross b) will I get mugged c) am I likely to get mauled to death by a stray pitbull. That said, there are a lot of runners about and i'd love to do a race down there some time soon.

So with all the pressies opened and a MacDonald family party to get back for, we returned on an equally easy journey. Not sure what's happening next year. Rumour is our Colin is back from Oz, but it is probably our turn to host it. What will we do?

St Margaret's Dirty Weekend 3

Photo: Evacuees after mike burnt the toast.

It's that time of year again when we have been away to Langdale in the Lakes with friends and family from our old church in Manchester, St Margaret's. I call them 'dirty weekends' as on the first one they ran out of water and all the loos were backed up and there was no water to shower in. The name has stuck. This trip was much more hygienic and quite a relaxed couple of days. The youth hostel is so big that we rarely saw the kids all weekend, except for a walk into Grasmere with all the other kids. It was an opportunity to stock up on Kendal Mint Cake as an energy supply for the marathon and womble around the shops. At night it was all about chatting to people we've not seen for a while, and to aid this, St Margaret's craft genius Sheila Brown had laid on some craft activities, and their very own quizter Mark Stansfield put on some great quizzes. I had a turn at pom pom making! Yes it is one of those things that I have seen people do and always wondered how it is done, so now I have a pair of fluffy balls that I am trying to find a use for! (suggestion welcomed) It is a new life skill that will sit there alongside others such as my 'O' Level in pottery.

We had great weather. bright sunny days, snow capped mountains and an opportunity to see the Lake District at its best. I couldn't resist a run, partly to see how my dodgy heel was getting on. Not too bad was the answer, although I could have done without the hills back up to the hostel. When i got back the fire alarm went off so there was an evacuation (for those who could be bothered). It turned out to be nothing worst than Mike burning the toast. Still, it got everyone out of bed early.

That was Christmas

Well slightly belated but I hope you all had a great Christmas. We headed down to Manchester for a week of food, drink, shopping and a bit more. Our great plan of leaving early on the 23rd December were shelved when we woke up to the most snow I have ever seen in Dunbar. The traffic news reported that the A1 near Dunbar was closed and on the bypass near Edinburgh, there were 2 hour delays. So we decided to stay put. Obviously the kids were out in the snow, and before long so was half the street. The neighbours were calling for me to come out and join them in a big snow ball fight, and so I obliged. There was no order to it, just hit anything with a pulse. Stuart got one smack in the face from his PE teacher, but I managed to get revenge and landed one on her head. We also built a snowman. Here is ours in the back garden (below)

By 11.30am the roads were open again so we headed south. It took a while driving from East to West, but I hate driving in snow and for once i didn't mind being stuck behind that driver who only goes 40mph. Once in Burnage we discovered that the council had not gritted the roads. Arterial roads were like farm tracks covered in ice which caused a few problems for the buses.

The bulk of the holidays were spent meeting people, eating and drinking. Christmas Day itself was a bit like going back in time, as for the first time in a long time for me I was sat at the Christmas table with Uncle Frank & Aunty Dorothy, plus 16 others. Before all that we opened a few presents and headed down to St Margaret's Church for the service. Fog had joined the snow and ice, making for a pretty Christmas scene. Not quite Spott Parish Church but it was good to see people I have not seen in ages. Back to the food, it was yet another extravagant feast for all. My mum and dad stock up well for Christmas including the box of dates. Who eats them? Nobody seems to..perhaps its the same box used each year. Photos: St Margaret's and Burnage in the snow.

The rest of the day was spent on the X-Box and watching the Royle Family, Dr Who and a few other things. It was soon all over, but with a few more days ahead of us in manchester the holiday was just begining. Photo: A few other Christmas photo's