...mistletoe and wine...

Christmas happened at Millbrooker Towers. It was bound to really, ready or not. We were ready, but only just. Rather than blether on incessantly, here's a small selection of photos with a a short commentary on each. You know what happens at Christmas, give or take a family tradition or two we all do much the same...

Christmas dinner was at about 1:30, we began with one of my homemade cheese pates accompanied by wholegrain toast. There should have been Nobi sauce as well, but the chef had a Jack Woolley moment and left it in the fridge. Here's the starter after being attacked by the ravening hordes:

Starters was quickly followed by venison roasted in a redcurrant jelly glaze and wrapped in blanched cabbage leaves, there were all the usual accompaniments. Bloomin' loverly if I say so myself.

Shortly after dinner the present unscrambling began. Here's my old mucker Chris opening a whacking great tome about the Romans (a particular passion of his) whilst displaying a unique and daring taste in peek-a-boo footwear: Dozybean was able to join us for a couple of hours in the afternoon; sadly her small but perfectly formed fellow parent-to-be wasn't well enough to partake of the festivities. YarMatt was greatly missed at Millbrooker Towers. We're hoping to do a second Christmas dinner in the New Year when he's out and about again. Meanwhile, here's Dozybean proudly showing off her new birthing ball (apparently preggers people are supposed to sit on one of these things and roll along the street to go shopping or something). And here's Milly the Mother-in-Law alongside Lizzie who was very pleased to get some new and deeply sexy slipper-booties: Boxing night saw us being treated to dinner at the Liscawn Inn by Milly and Trickers which saved me an afternoon in the kitchen. The Liscawn's landlord is a dry witted fellow. When Milly asked him what was on the fisherman's platter his response was immediate: "dead fish". It made me laugh. Here's yours truly, Chris and Mrs The Millbrooker at The Liscawn. Chris is about to tuck into some mint sauce: A couple of days later the Canadian contingent descended upon us. Sadly the weather was at its worst with bucketing rain and howling winds so it was a bit of an indoorsy sort of afternoon. Here's Steve with his three offspring Jess, Megan and Danny alongside his Kanuck missus, Kathy. I spent a short time explaining to Kathy that Millbrook Lake may not be a lake by Canadian standards but we still like to think of it as a lake and not as a pond, nor yet as a puddle. Despite the weather a fine afternoon was had chewing the fat and sipping the wine. They're back off to Canada very soon; bon voyage, see you again next time, don't make it too long!

So that was Christmas,and yes we had fun. We saw near ones and dear ones, old and young. Hope yours was a good one, too. Onwards, then, to New Year...