The final month of the year started with Tricia and Nikki putting up the lights on the large conifer at the front of the house. The bush had been trimmed up the month before, Tricia’s bush as we call it, always looks better after its annual trim! A fine looking display at the front… last year we were late getting the lights up and people kept asking when we were going to put them up. This year, all done Dec 1st. In the evening I picked up Rob and Amy from the airport. On the Thursday the 5th, we had a Xmas meal at the Pilgrim, with the Webb’s, the Docwra’s, Robinsons, and Malcolm. Very pleasant as well, and as you can see, they even did a GF Xmas pud for me 🙂

On Friday Tricia went up to Lincoln to see Ellie and go to the Xmas Markets. Deb, Carlos, Matt and Charlotte joined them on the Saturday. Me, I stayed at home and wall papered… Trying to get the hallway, stairwell and landing decorated before Christmas. Sunday I did the reading in Church, and had a mummers rehearsal.

Monday 9th Tricia went off to Oxford to meet up with Sybille who was over in the UK. In the evening Bob and I went off to see West Ham play Arsenal. 1-0 up at half time and playing well… But lost 1-3 after 10 minutes when Arsenal turned it on. Tuesday Bob and I were out at the Samaritans in MK with the Mummers to do a show at one of their meetings. A good final dress rehearsal in a way. On the Wednesday I was in the office and had a flu jab. Here is Tricia with Sybille.

Thursday was my team Xmas meal… At Wagamamas. For goodness sake. Of all the places, but that is what the team wanted. Thursday was also General Election day… Boris won a thumping majority. 80 seats… He subsequently passed his bill to leave Europe, which we will do at the end of Jan. Friday and Tricia and Nikki went out to Brackley in the morning, visiting the antiques centre. Then when she was back, we went off to Kew Gardens with Pat & Clive. The light show was great, and enjoyable… Then afterwards we went for some food in Richmond. At Wagamamas. On the Saturday Tricia decorated the church Xmas tree, and then met up with the meditation group for a lunch at the Bell in Winslow. I wallpapered. On Sunday Nikki went with Charlie to go and collect Ellie from Lincoln and bring her home for Xmas. Tricia took a drive over to Stanton to collect her brolly after she left it there on the last retreat. Here we are at Kew, and eating Wagamama’s… Clive doing his finest Humbug impression.

On the 16th Tricia hosted a ‘girls night’ at home. On the Thursday was the Mummers show… Quick fire, we started at Weedon, then North Marston, then Quainton, then Oving, and then back to the Pilgrim. I played John Bercow and loved it… Great fun.  Friday was Carols at Caroles… Again great fun, and very festive. I was now finished with work for Xmas and not due back till the 6th Jan. There was no football on Saturday, the Liverpool game postponed due to them being in the World Club championship. I wallpapered instead. In the evening all the family were in for a Xmas curry.

Sunday, we did family prayers in church, Ellie coming along to take part. But then back home, and we had a call that Grampy wasn’t well, the ambulance came out and he was taken into Wycombe hospital. He was kept in and stabilised. On the 23rd Tricia took her Mum to the hospital, and again on the 24th. Pumped full of antibiotics he had improved and was allowed home on the evening of Xmas Eve. The downside was that they identified a ‘aortic abdominal aneurysm’ that will require an operation. On the 24th I cooked gammon egg and chips for all, including Clive before going up to Church … I was doing the final reading at the Carol service. A privilege. In the beginning was the word…  Tricia returned from collecting and getting her Dad home. She was tired, but still helped get some prep done for Xmas Day, and then went of to midnight mass. Ellie had been baby sitting at the pub, and when she finished she sat with Matt and crew and enjoyed Xmas Eve in the pub.

We had Xmas morning breakfast with Matt and Ellie. They then went to Matt’s parents for the day, Tricia went to church. I walked Reg, and then started the Xmas day dinner. Nikki and Charlie joined Tricia and me for Xmas lunch. In the evening Matt and Ellie came back. Boxing Day we hosted as usual, Ellie and Matt, Nikki and Charlie, Rob and Amy, Gran and Gramps, David & Manda with Isobel and Sara. Oh and Dave and Manda’s puppy. In the evening we scarpered up to the Pilgrim for the quiz. Then it was the 27th…. My favourite day of the year. No cooking, just left overs…. And world darts on the TV. It was a glorious, relaxing day. Here we have some Xmas pics… A Merry Xmas flag from Robbie, which we put up on Xmas Eve, Ellie modelling an Elf jumper, Father Christmas (Peter York) doing his now famous Xmas Eve tour round the village, Reg trying to get to the dog biscuits we put in a big Xmas bauble, Reg guarding the turkey cooking in the oven, then we have Tricia, Ellie, Nikki and Charlie on Xmas evening… cheese and biscuits on the table, below that Reg on a glorious Xmas morning walk, then Nikki with Reg on Xmas morning… then Ellie with Reg on Xmas morning, Lily the cat on Tricia’s lap, me opening a present, Matt opening a present, Ellie and Nikki playing a game…. and finishing with a picture of Amy and Rob on Xmas day, not with us but thinking of us. Phew.

Saturday Dec 28th I went off to see the football with Bob, home game against Leicester. We went a different route, driving to Hangar Lane and then catching the central line into Stratford. We lost. Tricia went to the pictures with Pat to see Cats. Sunday 29th, Pat & Clive came across for a meal. On Monday 30th, Tricia took her Dad to Stoke Mandeville for some blood tests. I hit a pothole and took out two tyres, front and back… I was not very happy.  New Years Eve, Tricia walked Mathews Way with Reg…. I finished the NY quiz… we watched Paddington 2 which was quite funny, and then we saw the NY in at the Docwra’s in what is now a traditional way. Here we have some pics from NYE… Tricia with Pat, me and Clive, Rob and Amy, some shots of the room, a blown out tyre, and a little tribute to Martin Peters outside West Ham stadium… A world cup hero, and West Ham legend, he passed away over the Xmas period.