Best Of

Well, we had a very boring Christmas, but that was okay. We've had our share of upsets in Christmas week in the past.

Well done @milliehull. Gosh, that must have been nerve wracking.

We have only done local walks over the long weekend but decided to have a bit of a stride out today so we drove down to Flint Castle on the coast and walked along the North Wales coast path for an hour. The castle is in a poor state in places but seeing as it was built in the late 1200s it's hardly surprising. Richard II and Henry, later Henry IV, did meet there and that meeting was used by Shakespeare in his play Richard II.

A lovely steel bench, better photographed from the rear overlooking the Wirral

And another later on

Plus we came across this chap.

And the silence could be heard throughout CT! Is it something I wrote?

It has been a dull, still, cloudy day, but a little warmer than the last few. We visited the Peovers today, where we had a couple of walks, the second one along to Peover Hall and Church,although unfortunately neither were open. There were plenty of others out too taking the air.

The Tudor mansion of Poever Hall which stems back to its original build in 1585 by Sir Randle Mainwaring

St Lawrence's Church. The original is thought to built in the reign of Edward III, around 1315, with the present brick Tower built in 1739.

It was a bright sunny day with very little wind today but there was a little frost on the ground early on and it stayed around a rather chilly 5C all day. We had a couple of walks by Redes Mere before and after our picnic, and I took another from the caravan in the late afternoon. We are now only one of two units on site now but perhaps more will be arriving tomorrow.

This evening's sunset.

Another fine sunny day with some early morning cloud, which gradually dispersed, but a strong cold wind which kept the temperature at around 5C. We just had a walk around the farm fields from the van before lunch then our daughter and SIL came down for the afternoon, bearing cakes, chocolates, wine and beer! They had to leave just as it grew dark so we have postponed our planned Xmas dinner until tomorrow and instead had a curry!! With a clear sky it looks as if it might freeze tonight.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable and pleasant day, whether with family, friends or just by yourselves.

The newish moon as the sun set this evening.

We decided to go out for Christmas Eve breakfast and very nice it was too

We also met this very merry band

It is a cold but lovely bright sunny day here.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Christmas wherever you are and whoever you are with 🎅🎄

Hope everyone has a happy Christmas tomorrow and enjoy whatever you are doing As promised a couple of days ago here are a few more pics of our decs

We've had a busy but wonderful few days.

We started on Friday by driving down to Morecambe for a night in The Midland Hotel. As it was an upcoming birthday for me I had booked a posh suite. We got there just in time to go out onto the balcony and watch the sun setting. We didn't eat dinner in the hotel as we were going out early evening - so I made use of a posh picnic basket I bought years ago in a sale - packed with home made food and drink.

Then we went across the road to The Platform (an old railway station, now a music venue) tosee/hear Merry Hell. One of the most joyous and uplifting bands I know of. Then staggered back across the road for more food and drink (actually it was Gin & Tonic and Maltesers.

Saturday passed in a blur as I recovered and caught up on sleep.

Yesterday was The Day. Another day older and deeper in debt.

I was given a "Farmer's Bouquet" by my husband who offered to do the weekly shop (which really was an excuse to buy me a bottle of Gin) and my oldest friend who is 2 days younger than me came round wih a present - a cushion with a photo of my favourite farm cat. Then we went across the yard to my son's house for cheese, mince pies and mulled wine with my husband's twin brother and family. There was even a birthday cake with a candle for me to blow out.

Today? Cooking normal food and paying bills. Then maybe icing the cake.

It has been a lovely sunny day with a gentle breeze, just right to get the washing dried outside! We paid our usual visit to Croome Park today with a walk through the grounds before lunch and then through the Hall to see the Christmss decorations and the Rapturous Delights exhibition, which was different from last year.

One of Capability Brown's Cedars with the Hall in the background.

A few of the decorations

Some of the Rapturous Delights light show