31st December 2023

 

Dear All,

I hope you have all enjoyed Christmas? We certainly did – apart from a prolonged journey back from Hove due to heavy traffic and numerous queues. We arrived in Hove at 2,15pm on Saturday, Ben had arrived earlier on his bike – laden with gifts! And Esther and Emma arrived about 5pm.

On Sunday we attended Holland Road Baptist church which is a lively set up near the sea front. It is a large building with a capacity for 790 but I guess there were about 250 attending.

After we walked along the sea front and the sea was rough and the wind fairly fierce with nobody swimming. After lunch some of us walked the “Three Corners Copse” which is a mainly tree lined area rising up from Hove Park.

On Christmas Day the anticipated early start did not materialise as the children slept until 8.30am. After stockings were emptied some of us took a turn round Hove Park which is reasonably large at 39 acres. Andy was chief chef and Christmas lunch was excellent catering for Veggies and Carnivores alike. Carnivores had turkey wrapped in bacon and pigs in blankets while veggies a filo vegetable pie with accompanying sprouts, cauliflower cheese, carrots, parsnips, roast potatoes and stuffing.

Lunch was followed by presents, quizzes and games. The only downside was news of the demise of Esther’s elderly cat William.

  

Stockings

 

Christmas Lunch

  

Present Overload

 

Boxing Day was calmer weatherwise and we walked or drove to the beach where Emma and Ben braved the waves which were still formidable and they had difficulty getting a decent swim. They were far from on their own and the promenade and beach were really crowded.

 

 

Emma & Ben facing the waves

 

 

A few other hardy souls.

 

We all departed on Wednesday morning and Mary-Ann heroically drove Ben back to Streatham as they were lending him a radiator as his boiler broke down before Christmas and it will not be replaced for a few days.

On Thursday we embarked on the high adventure of visiting Morrisons in St Ives instead of the normal Bar Hill Tesco’s run! Then spent a few happy hours searching for and purchasing a new car insurance deal as the renewal with the current company was almost double. Kate also spent time shuffling the Power of Attorney forms which have now been finally posted.

On Friday we carried out a walk recce from Eltisley to Caxton and back and it was quite a slog as the paths and lanes were pretty muddy and we ended with obligatory rain shower.

 

 

Caxton Ford

 

Well, that is 2023 nearly over – have you enjoyed it? We wish you well for 2024.

 

Regards

Mike & Kate