Family Christmas in Edinburgh 2011

Happy New Year to you!! I have just spent the day taking down the Christmas decorations and cleaning the house from top to bottom and FP has just rung from football to say he will bring the horse in for me (thank God the stables are near the pub) and tea is in the slow cooker (FP’s third love after Theo the dog and me – in that order) so I have a few hours to send emails. Back to work tomorrow.

Christmas was just great and I am basking in the glow of it. Nothing stupendous happened and J1 would probably tell his mates it was average, but we got through without he and J2 verbally abusing each other (they had the most terrible set to the week before when they passed en route from university (J2) to skiing (J1) and were verbally at each other’s throats in about 30 seconds and then I had to listen to hours of my side of the story from both and I sort of understand where they are both coming from and love them both so I was on tenterhooks. Maybe it shocked them or whatever, but we got through 4 days peacefully – lots of exercise. A* and I spent Christmas Eve sightseeing and shopping in Edinburgh. On Christmas Day all of us except J2 went up Arthur’s seat although FP could not make it to the top even with the dog walking practice. On Boxing Day J1, A* and I went riding and then in the evening all of us except A* went on a pub crawl and I chatted up a very lovely girl for J1 and got her number (the semi porn star made an appearance at 4am on the day after Boxing Day – long story). I can do this with J1 because he doesn’t get embarrassed and thinks it’s a hoot, but even J2 was impressed. It was huge fun. FP did all the driving and was of course top chef. I did hours and hours of food shopping, food prep and washing up, but it was good. Bear stayed on an extra few days and they went man shopping. A* has gone to Clowance (the time share) with James. Her summary was; ‘See Mum! We are not such a dysfunctional family as you think!!’ FP and I went to Gloucester to see his children, then New Year J2, FP and I went to the pub which was low key, but fun. J2 surprised me on the karaoke. What more can I say? J2 has downloaded and watched with me all the films I ought to know about in 2011 including the ‘inbetweeners’ – I couldn’t believe it was a 15. I have bought a ridiculously expensive jacket not in the sale although I waited to see if it would be, but I just yearned for it in a capitalist fashion for months. It has all been good. I am sort of within budget. Oh and Theo did not poo and wee in J1’s batchelor pad or puke over A* and J2 in the 7 hour car journey. Am I blessed or what?!!!

Stay in good health in 2012.