Winter Wonderland

After quite a nice drive down the M1 yesterday (well, as nice as motorway driving gets, and with a brief stop at Newport Pagnall services when the rain stopped me seeing more than 3 feet in front of the car), we set off this morning for Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. With the exception of my 20 year old nephew for whom such delights hold no interest whatsoever!

A quick train into London, tube to Green Park and a brisk walk, and we arrived. There were lots of little wooden chalets selling all sorts of food and drink, and Christmas goodies for those to lazy/disorganised to have everything bought by Christmas Eve :-) I swear though, if you lived down here you could get away with that! We wandered round, and sheltered in one of the food areas with mahoosive hot dogs (and a pasty for my sister in law, who doesn't eat sausages) when the rain came. I bought us all little tea light holders with a thing on top that swirls round with the heat of the candle - Paul and Shan got Christmas trees, I got snowflakes and Danielle got mooses (is that the plural of moose? We werent sure...).

We spent the afternoon tootling around Harvey Nicks and Harrods, where I found a lovely tin of Twinings blossom earl grey - you can't get that for love nor money any more so it would've been rude not to buy it! Paul also bought some ridiculously expensive grapes but unfortunately , to Danielle's real disappointment, Harrods have stopped selling ridiculously expensive dogs. The grooming depart is still open - and I'm assured it costs more than my hair ever might - though not for long.

Danielle and I had shared a bed last night - this rented place isn't as big as their house in Yorkshire (having said that, I suppose nothing in their price bracket would be!) - and, being single for a long time and a very light sleeper, I hardly slept at all, just dozed a bit. That niece of mine is a flippin' fidget too!! Anyway, the upshot being that I was absolutely shattered by this point, and the train journey back was awful - our train had been cancelled so we (and the rest of our train) got on another train. We were like sardines for much of the 30 minute slow train journey and it was boiling.

We met Shan's parents at the Hinds Head in Bray (which apparently belongs to Heston Blumenthal, though I didn't see those distinctive specs!) where a pint of lime and soda revived me, then went off to see where the new house they were buying was. I thought we'd just drive past, but we pulled in and I asked whether the owners would mind us parking in their driveway. Paul said, well we're the owners so it's fine! They had completed the purchase last Friday and kept it a secret! It's a really lovely house - or it will be once they make their mark on it - in a lovely area near the Thames and I'm so pleased for them :-)

A couple of glasses of coconut and grapefruit gin (weird, I know, but actually really lovely) and tonic later and I staggered up to bed. Poor Danielle was relegated to the sofa - ah the joys of not being the youngest in the family!

Blippers, I hope Santa gets round to you tonight and brings a little bit of joy and love to you and yours. Merry Christmas!!

x