2nd January 2012

On 14th December, while Nan was at her hair appointment. I travelled to Sheffield to collect Sarah.  After a pleasant lunch in Whiston, we returned to Thurcroft to load Nan’s belongings into the car, before hitting the M1 south to Leicestershire.

The following week was bitterly cold. Even with the central heating on and a log fire blazing, Nan insisted she was constantly chilly, while I found the lounge bordering on tropical. It reminded me that the weather perhaps seems harsher the older you get, a fact I’m not in a rush to confirm personally.

On 21st December, I joined Roger at the funeral of Beryl Bowler, a former colleague from Farndon Fields. Beryl was well respected for her teaching and her uncanny knack for keeping the school’s resources in order, some would say, too in order. The service was an upbeat affair with a request to avoid black attire, and it was good to reconnect with old friends. Roger and I skipped the post-funeral tea; I needed to visit Charlotte, and he was keen to get home to Fran.

The rest of the week had an air of mystery, as those in the family I phoned sounded distracted, the background music suspiciously Christmassy, and their whereabouts evasive. I think last-minute shopping was afoot.

Thursday brought the Catholic Club’s pre-Christmas tradition: the snooker group I play with each week brought food for an informal party. As ever, it was relaxed, cheerful, and a pleasant way to wind down the year.

On Friday, the Rothwells and Jamie arrived, filling the house with energy. My study, normally a sanctuary, was swiftly annexed by Ellis for his sleeping quarters. I made a curry for dinner, and on Saturday Charlotte returned the favour with an excellent Chinese meal.

Suraj had given me a very thoughtful pre-Christmas gift, a faster dual-core Pentium computer for video editing. During the rare quiet moments, I happily installed software and tested the new machine.

Christmas Eve:
With the whole family at Willow Bank and the weather unseasonably mild, the house felt positively tropical. Unfortunately, I caught Ellis’s cold, mercifully milder than last year’s festive lurgy.

Tradition dictates a Christmas Eve bowling trip to Kettering, but this year we went virtual with an Xbox version on the large screen and projector. Ellis joined our knockout tournament, and I was narrowly beaten by Sarah in the final.

After the children went to bed, Santa arrived and left presents beneath the tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Day:
I was the last to surface from sleep, greeted by the sight of everyone dressed in red, already breakfasted, and gathered around a cosy fire. The children, assisted by the adults, had arranged the presents into neat piles. Coffee in hand, I joined the gift-giving ceremony, although Santa seemed to have muddled my list, as this year I received just one bottle of beer.

The afternoon was less about TV and more about Space Putty, courtesy of one of Santa’s more mischievous helpers. A cross between Silly Putty and low-level weaponry, it was soon being thrown, stuck to ceilings, and shaped into questionable ‘art’. We also discovered it’s particularly unkind to hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boxing Day:
After breakfast, we set off for our annual Salcey Forest walk. Ellis had a cough, so the Rothwells detoured to Corby for medicine. I then misread the SatNav and added 22 extra miles by heading south of Northampton. To my surprise, no one complained.

Salcey car park was heaving, but we struck lucky with a departing car and quickly parked up. The walk was warm and pleasant, and even Nan made it up the Tree-top Walk. Afterwards, the rest of our group went to the sales in Northampton while I drove Nan and the children home.

 

 

 

 

Greyhound Day (27th Dec.):
We headed to Peterborough for the races, Harley joining us bright and early. This year was an earlier start than usual, and we had booked prime seats and priority service at the bar. Unfortunately, wins were scarce, but Harley managed to strike gold in the last race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Museum Day (28th Dec.):
With Jamie and Suraj now back at work, the rest of us went to the New Walk Museum in Leicester. Lucas had been disappointed on his last visit when the dinosaur exhibit was closed; this time, it was open and did not disappoint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pantomime Day (29th Dec.):
Jamie secured time off to join us for Dick Whittington at the Corby Cube. The seats were far better than last year’s, though the show leaned heavily on singing at the expense of slapstick. Ellis, perhaps too young, grew restless and needed a few breaks. We returned to Willow Bank in heavy rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Lunch Day (30th Dec.):
Lee arrived after celebrating his birthday, and we attempted our usual Christmas meal. Without greyhound winnings to subsidise it, we aimed modestly, failing first at the pub in Middleton before securing a table at the Red Lion in Weston by Welland. That evening, Suraj produced some excellent homemade pizzas and still managed to keep Sue’s kitchen pristine, to my great surprise and mild disappointment.

New Year’s Eve:
With Sarah working at the rugby club, Charlotte and Suraj enjoying a party, and Lee heading home, Sue, Nan, and I looked after the boys. Ellis was asleep by 7 pm, and Lucas soon after. By 10 pm, we were all in bed. Harborough’s infamous battle zone fireworks failed to wake anyone. However, Sarah’s return at 2:30 am did!

New Year’s Day:
Most of the family gathered for lunch. Charlotte and Suraj looked suitably worn out and stuck to soft drinks. Jamie was absent, though rumour placed him somewhere in Harborough. By evening, the Rothwells had gone home, and Willow Bank was quiet once more.