IN BRIEF
Friday 22nd
Amazing change in the weather today, fog disappeared and was replaced with sunshine and blue sky. The hoar frost of two days was still attached to everything and made for some very photogenic scenes. Hoped to be off to collect Robert for 10.00am, but knew I would only have this opportunity for a short time, so dashed out armed with camera. Really pleased with results. Apologises to everyone who saw my photos and were impressed with the images, but not the spelling!
The journey to Cambridge down the M1 was pretty clear, but the nearer we got to the town, the foggier it became. Parking up where Robert lodges, he soon arrived on his bike, complete with the last bottle of wine he had been given from work, in his rucksack - well they are heavy to carry all at once! Off then into Cambridge to do some last minute Christmas shopping. Robert also thought it good to show us, or rather lead us round King's College, where the carols would later be broadcast live. By this time the fog was so thick we couldn't even see the famous stained glass window of the chapel from the path. We paused at the bridge over the canal and were asked to take a photo of some hardy Japanese tourists and peering over the side we spied a group 'enjoying' a trip in a punt. Rather them than me! All this and we managed to clock up £7.00 car parking charge. Before leaving I thought it best to check the tyre pressures, as my car decided on the journey down, it was going to pull to the left . Having found a garage, I read the instructions and decided that with Robert's help we could pump the tyres up well within the 3 minutes allotted for 50p. Next followed a scene not dissimilar to 'Jeux Sans Frontiers' in the dark - Robert entrusted to pumping up the tyres being encouraged (by me) to fit the end on on the valve in the shortest time possible - we're still speaking, just...

Saturday 23rd
'Early' start to take Lucy to work and surprise, surprise a husband chez-nous when I got back home at last from America! Lunch out which was good, but no turkey in sight, Graham nodding off on the way home (I was driving as his knee still 'playing up'), so Robert and I went off to do yet more last minute Christmas shopping while he had a snooze. Went to town later.

Sunday 24th
Nearly ready for Christmas, so found time for short trip out and walk along Tissington Trail after lunch. Managed to find coffee shop open in nearby Ashbourne and a generously given a free cup of tea when it was inadvertently missed off our order, well... it was Christmas...

Monday 25th
Are Christmases disappointing or is it just me? Much in need of reminding of true meaning of Christmas, perhaps we should have sung more carols. Had short walk out after Christmas lunch to local hotel where Lucy's friend was holding the fort, then back for 'pressies' and far too many 'eats'. Nice presents, lovely jewellery from Graham, best present: music score from 'About a Boy' by Badly Drawn Boy from Robert. Robert's ulterior motive is that I will teach him how to play it when I've worked it out. The score looks straight forward, but like all good 'pop' tunes, involves rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time (in musical terms). Relatively easy to play, but got so involved was accused of being antisocial... didn't mean to spend so long, it's just such good fun to have something musical to 'get your teeth into'.

Tuesday 26th
Lucy spent most of day with Ben (boyfriend) and his family. The day was only marginally better weatherwise, but we did make it to The Stone Centre at Wirksworth and a walk up and down the incline, which helped to increase the heart rate and burn off a few of yesterday's extra calories. Afterwards on to Matlock Bath for afternoon tea and yet another sticky bun (also for Graham to have his 'fix' of motorbikes).

Wednesday 27th
Trip to see parents. All packed and ready to go before 11.00am. First stop to see Sarah and marvel how she managed to sleep 11 people in the house without a full set of carpets, plaster on the kitchen wall or a surround for new bath. Kathryn, is having a year out, but couldn't quite make out what she is doing...She has a place at Coventry University to study music composition (envy, envy...) Left there and headed to Stratford to find somewhere for lunch and a quick stroll to drink in the ambience. After large meal, headed for Lakeland Plastics and 'bumped into' Judy Dench (about to star in " Merry Wives - The Musical") on a shopping spree with a nice young man to 'protect' her from us lesser mortals...would have loved to have asked for autograph, but felt it too much of an intrusion.

Thursday 28th
Lucy's special lunch of roast pheasant was followed by a trip to Cheltenham to see Graham's mum who was spending the festive season with his brother, Dave. Dave and his wife made us very welcome with numerous cups of tea, assorted sandwiches and a chocolate cake to die for! Graham, in his quest for tracing family ancestry, cleared up a few discrepancies with his mum about her mum's name. Shock horror, she was born out of wedlock and seems to have been punished for it for much of her life (odd). Dave regaled us with stories of civil engineering feats interspersed with jokes like: "I went to Specsavers yesterday, guess who I bumped into?...Everyone...ho, ho!!" On the way back we went through Cheltenham to see their Christmas lights. (I think Heanor put on a better show!)

Friday 29th
Quick trip to Condicote to exchange Christmas presents with Ted and Chris (my aunt and uncle). May have helped if Ted had told Chris of our imminent arrival (which he forgot), but we did see her for 5 minutes just before we needed to leave. Packed our things and departed about 2.30pm and home before 4.30pm - I drove most of the way. Good to be home, hopefully no more packing and unpacking, although Robert and Graham will be back at work on 2nd, just as we were getting used to all being together again.