Deck the Halls

I got this gorgeous picture from Helena's blog today... apparently she was not impressed about having her picture taken on a sweltering hot day, but she looks gorgeous all the same. Love the hair Helena - am jealous of the blonde curls!!!

I had a great weekend. Friday night was a very quiet one (Mark was pooped and went to bed early). Saturday, I got up early and took Adele over to the garden centre in Coton to get some Xmas shopping. I managed to get a load of stuff for my fish tank, which inspired me to give Elvis and Priscilla's home a thorough clean and a bit of redecoration (plastic plants ahoy!). They are quite funny, as they seem to display proper human joy when they have been cleaned out - am sure it was not my imagination when Elvis gave me a big wink and a celebratory wiggle... :-)

In the afternoon, went with Mark's Dad and Bro to watch the local team play Cambridge United. Well... was all a bit embarrassing really! We beat them 5-0, which is quite frankly shameful on their part (considering they are in the league above). Our celebrations were muted for a little while as Mark's Dad and Paul are ardent supporters of Cambridge United... "there are some games you just want to forget". We were quite good, and managed to resist rubbing it in a little!

Saturday evening we headed over to Hitchin to see Kevin and Heleen, and sixteen of us went for a delicious dinner at the Regent Cottage Chinese restaurant... it was absolutely superb, but incredibly busy (as ever). I didn't drink, which was made easier by the presence of two pregnant ladies (Heleen and her sister-in-law Claire, who are both co-incidentally due on exactly the same day in April!) and a fellow driver. After the meal, we went on to a bar, which (unfortunately for sober me!) didn't seem to ever close... we ended up getting home at 2:30am on Sunday! Despite my sobriety, I had a really good night - they are such a lovely crowd. We also saw Kevin and Heleen's gorgeous little girl Kristin, who has changed so much since I last saw her! She must be about 19 months, but has gone from being a baby to a proper little girl with masses of gorgeous blonde hair! We also found out that Heleen is expecting a little boy, so their family is complete!

Sunday, Mark (unsurprisingly) didn't get up until late. We finished putting the Christmas decorations up around the house (thankyou Jen and Sofie - I now have a Danish flag and a Sydney opera house to hang on my tree!), and put lights on the tree outside the house. In the afternoon, we popped to Mark's parents for an hour, and then made our way to Robert and Emma's place for dinner. We had an amazing dinner there. Emma had made a gorgeous Pumpkin and Sage soup with garlic bread, and Robert did smoked haddock on a bed of "twice cooked" cabbage, and tiny little fried cubes of potato with pieces of bacon (for all but Mark). Dessert was a pecan tart and cream. His presentation is immaculate; just what you would expect in a very posh restaurant!

Unfortunately, I managed to over-indulge in wine (possibly due to being so good on Saturday night), and have felt rough as a badger's arse all day today :-(

Spoke to Tracy this morning. she is finally in the house, and is loving it! She said the kids slept so well, that she had to get out at four to check that little Oscar was not dead (this is only the 2nd time in his little life that he has slept all the way through!). She seems very happy, and trying to make preparations for Christmas. She is a bit run off her feet with the shop though as one of her manageresses has really really sadly been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. A REAL shock - she only mentioned her raised glands in her neck to her doctor as an afterthought at the end of an appointment for something else. I feel SO sorry for her. She has to start chemotherapy pretty soon. We have had so much depressing news in the last couple of weeks (my half cousin's husband was also killed in a car crash last week, in addition to Noel's brother), would be nice to hear some good news!

Anyway... must get on. Have posted almost all my cards today (a few exceptions - FIONA, what is your address?!?!?!!?). Tonight I am going to do most of the food shopping for Christmas, so wish me luck!

Much love

Hayls

xxxxxx

PS. Big HAPPY birthday to Harvey, Olivia and Ruby - Sarah's triplets, who are five today! This is actually a fairly old picture (I think they are only three here). I hope they are having fun!