Birthday Retreat…

This year Sue and I rented a lovely, converted barn in the wonderfully named Cackle Street for my birthday weekend. It is on the edge of Ashdown Forest and we spent a good deal of time walking through it and across the heathland. We spent a couple of cosy evenings where Sue prepared some delicious food and we snuggled up to watch a couple of movies. On our way back home, we stopped and walked around the nearby Sheffield Park. The evening we played board games and Sue cooked another delightful meal. I felt very spoiled.

Welsh Wales…

A few of us visited Cardiff for a weekend where our eldest godson Tom is at university. We explored the lovely town and harbour and especially liked the Victorian arcades and dramatic castle. We did also enjoy a few bars, such as the The Botanist and The Alchemist, and we enjoyed eating at Mowgli so much that we went there twice, and got the cookbook.

Wassail…

We made an impromptu decision to attend the Dorking Community Orchard Wassail and took Deb, Howard and bemused Jodie and Lou along with us. We first watched some Boarder style Morris in Dorking before processing up to the orchard for the ceremony around a large bonfire.

Xmas Travelling Circus…

This Christmas we were able to move about more freely as there were less strict restrictions than the previous year. This meant we went on our traditional Travelling Circus moving between friends and family gift giving and partaking of celebratory indulgences.

We spent a lovely day wondering around RHS Wisley and then went back to Howard’s for a lovely dinner.

I ventured out to the cinema and caught the new Marvel Eternals film and then we played board games with Chris and Carole.

Christmas lights were out on the houses around Westcott and one evening we took a stroll to see them.

Deb’s Caribbean themed birthday dinner went very well, and we were joined by Howard and the Browns.

A group of us had a day out in London on our anniversary visiting Borough Market, Market Porter, and Bar Y Taas.

On Christmas Eve we were entertained at the Brown’s, and on Christmas Day we were in Sutton at Barbara’s and at Deb’s with the family. On Boxing Day, we went to Whittenbury’s for a delightful meal.

In between Christmas and New Year, we watched the epic Beatles Get Back Documentary, went walking on Reigate Hill with Whittenbury’s and Matthews, and played more board games later on with the Browns. As the weather was pleasant, we had a walk to Wotton Hatch during that time.

As is often the case we spent New Year’s Eve in the comfort of our own home.

New Year’s Day a gang of us all got together and had a long walk at Leith Hill.

To complete the festive season, we attended the final night of the Glow illuminations at RHS Wisley with Deb and Howard.