New Year 2011-12 in South Creake

Click above for the photos

We didn't really have any plans for New Year, so it was lovely to have a last-minute invitation to Norfolk from Toby, Rach and Archie (pre-Harry). (It turns out I forgot to mention this in the January blogs!).  We returned to the beach at Wells, with the two boys in the rucksacks, and fed the ducks in the pond between big, hearty, winter meals, sharing a glass of bubbly whilst watching Jools Holland ring in the New Year.  As always, Archie and Euan had a great time playing together.  Click here for the photos.

April showers, May showers...

We've had a lovely couple of weekends with our friends from Durham. 

Echoing last summer's road trip, we had a visit from Jez, Debbie and Tallulah two weeks ago.  Tallulah has grown a lot since we last saw her, and has taken to moving round the floor on her knees - getting up to quite a pace.  We had a few trips to the park and to the Discovery Centre for lunch and to sit on the big blue tractor, finishing Saturday with a grown-up, home-made meal for 4 and a few bottles of wine.  With Sunday brunch at Okka, we were well fed for the weekend!

Last weekend, we took a trip to Shropshire to see Sarah, Rob and Lucy and (for Tim) to meet Lottie for the first time (even though she's already 7 months old!).  We took a stroll through the wet and muddy woods, and Euan and Lucy played hide and seek behind the trees. 

Tim, Eugenie and (still Euan's favourite) Adella joined us for the rest of the weekend, and we had a surprise visit from James, Catherine, Katelyn and a 3-month-old Toby.  Tim got a little practice in, holding a sleepy, snoring Toby while the girls made cupcakes.  Thanks to Sarah and the family for putting up with all of us, and preparing some amazing food.

Christmas 2011

It has taken the usual 4 months to get round to posting our Christmas photos.

We blogged in January about all our visitors and trips over the Christmas period, so if you'd like a reminder to go with the pictures, click here.

Christmas no.1 was with Granny and Grandpa Reid: gingerbread men, a crib service, champagne, Torta di Risotto and Christmas morning itself. Click on any of these photos for the full album.

  After a lovely Christmas Dinner of spinach, mushroom and chestnut filo pie with tomato and ginger coulis, we settled in for Christmas no.2 with the Howards and Grandma and Granddad Concannon.  Photos are below. I've taken some liberties here, including in the above album a late November shot from the Harpenden carnival and the picture below, from Euan's Christmas Party at Thomas's house.

Our final Christmas Party after a quick trip to the zoo and before heading to Norfolk was with the Callingtons and Aunty Paula and Uncle Dave.

And here are the zoo pictures.  It was too nippy to hang around, and there will be plenty more photos from the rest of the year as we enjoy the annual membership.  These fellas had just finished a long night shift but were happy to sign autographs and eat carrots.

Roof work - December 2011