A sad night, Ellie has just come home from her last Brownie meeting. Next year she will become a Guide. The Brown Owl at Ellies group also retired tonight, after 25 years as a Brown Owl. As a bloke who is married to a Brown Owl, all I can say is well done to her… 25 years running a Brownie pack, give her an OBE. She will be more deserving of it than some of the muppets that get OBE’s.

Ellie didn’t seem too upset finishing, she is just looking forward to Guides. Having said that, she will be donning the brown sash tomorrow with Tricia’s pack, who are singing at the British Legion. It did ocur to me though when I picked her up, that my little girl was growing up… she towers above most of the other Brownies, and is nearly as tall as Brown Owl.

I had a day off today, using up some leave I am owed. A relaxing sort of a day. I needed it. Tricia bought some Christmas crackers today… so we definately have everything now.

I think.

Ghosts of Christmas past

The first photograph is from a breakfast on Christmas morning 2007. Our usual Christmas breakfast is croissants and bucks fizz. The second photograph is from 24 years earlier, after midnight mass 1983 – I think. Dad is taking a picture of me taking a picture of him… I wonder if he has the corresponding picture anywhere ? In the drinks cabinet there is some Stella Artois, and on the shelf above, the Christmas cake. The cake would have done well to get as far as being iced, as we would sometimes eat the cake before it got that far. Having made it to Christmas, it certainly wouldn’t have lasted to New Years day !