Happy New Year 2015 to one and all.
We got back here to Casas Nuevas on Sunday 4th
January after our trip home. It was wonderful to spend time with family and I
had a very special Christmas enjoying Christmas Day with Imogen and Amy. It was
the first time for 6-7 years, they previously had gone to their respective
partner’s parents, and we had a very relaxed day together. Imogen and Phill parted company earlier this
year and Amy and Carl separated in the autumn, changing plans.
Our trip home started with a speedy exit from the airport
to be back in time to watch the final of Strictly Come Dancing. Keith W and
Imogen hosted the evening and it was all very nice. To avoid any confusion
Keith W is Imogen’s boyfriend and Keith H is her and Amy’s dad!! Keith W had
organised scorecards and posters and bought masks for us to be judges. I was
Bruno!! We drank cava and he made us
nachos and chilli, what a star!! It was a fabulous final Caroline and Pasha
were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and worthy winners.
Sunday I managed to fit in the carol service in East
Boldon followed by a visit to see Kevin and Gaynor and the family. They always
host a pre-Christmas soiree, but this year it was a week later than normal, so
I was able to go and it was in their new house. Amy and I had a good time catching up. We also
popped in to see our old neighbours Heather and the boys Dan and Alex. I also
caught up with Annie and Frank and got all of their news.
Arriving back on 20th December is not the best
of plans but I managed to fit everything in. I stayed with Vicky, who on top of
her usual hospitality let me use her house for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and
New Year’s Day. For many years her and I have spent Christmas Eve together,
usually with my girls and this year we were joined by Keith W. We had a nice
relaxing meal and a few glasses of wine.
Keith W went off for his manic family Christmas Day and I
went to Imogen’s for breakfast, her and Amy did scrambled egg and smoked salmon
and fizz, nice start to the day. We then went our separate ways for a few hours
and met up again about 3 pm. Boxing Day was a big Christmas get together so we
opted to avoid Christmas fare. I did lobster with garlic butter for starter,
followed by fabulous lamb fillet and then puddings (sticky toffee or chocolate)
with luxury vanilla custard. Everything
was designed to be easy, there were no leftovers and it was all very easy to
cook. I cheated with the puds which were from M&S but time with people is
better than endless hours in the kitchen.
Chris spent Christmas day with his auntie Pat and his son
Adam. He then popped over to Cumbria for a couple of days to see his
“grandchildren” Abby and Chloe and his mate Robin.
Chris and I got together on Boxing Day and had a
“Christmas “meal with Imogen and Keith W, Amy, Keith H and his partner Anne.
Imogen had been Chief Elf and used an online tool called Elfster to organise
secret Santa and everyone seemed pleased with the outcome. The work for the
meal was shared out; Amy did the nibbles and Kir Royale, Keith W did a lovely
starter of caramelised red onion bruschetta. Main course was Keith H's domain
and he did rib of beef, Yorkshires and gravy; I was on vegetables (if you want
an easy and delicious potato dish try Marcus Waring’s potatoes en papillote-no
washing up either). Thankfully Vicky has a dishwasher as it was filled several
times. Dessert was hazelnut torte, thanks to Imogen spending hours shelling
hazelnuts and everyone contributed to the cheeseboard. We started the day with
loads of wine and beer but made a good fist of drinking most of it!!
On Saturday Newcastle Falcons were playing Saracens,
there was a crowd of over 9,000 people but it was still freezing. I managed 15
minutes in the pub with Julie and her lovely girls before the game. We lost by
a small margin and the performance was the best I have seen for a few years,
maybe we have turned a corner.
Skip forward to New Year and Chris and I went to Caldbeck
in the Lake District and stayed in the Oddfellow Arms. The hospitality industry in the UK never
ceases to amaze me. We had booked a table for dinner and were told this was
fine but the kitchen was closing at 8pm!! So much for our plans for a late
dinner and then seeing in the New Year!! The weather put paid to our hope of a
walk the next day too. I spent New Year’s Day with the girls and Keith W, with
Vicki joining us in the middle.
Saturday I stayed with Chris and had a lovely meal with
Pat and then it was time to head off for the airport on Sunday morning. At 7.45
it was minus four and the car was totally white, seven hours later we were back
in sunny Spain.
I love to spend time with my girls but at this time of
year find the UK quite depressing. The days are short and often grey; New Years
day was cold, blustery and raining hard.
We have already enjoyed going out walking for two days and might go
cycling tomorrow. We know we are very lucky to enjoy this lifestyle. Yesterday
the 3 kings arrived and we ate cake and drank fizzy cider outside the church
and today the children in the village have their presents.
We have just had a lovely week with Chris’ son Adam; the
weather has been dry and warm. The two of them have done a bit of cycling, he
and I went walking on Sunday and Chris and Adam spent a whole day cleaning and
polishing our campervan. It is gleaming. He is going back today and the UK
weather looks awful.
So what is in store for 2015?? In February Imogen and Amy are coming out for
my birthday, we have a house booked near Altea above Benidorm. The next day
Chris’ school friend Alan is visiting for a few days. We will probably head off
in the camper for a few days too.
At the minute we plan to set off early March heading
north towards Santander for the ferry back to the UK. Our China trip starts 9th
April. More adventures to come............
So again best wishes for 2015
Love
Norma x
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| My fellow strictly judges xx |
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| Francisco-growing up fast |
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