Boxing Day at the Wallace home was a noisy day with twelve of us eating a large meal and then playing silly games. The four children disappeared playing in other rooms for much of the afternoon. Pass the parcel ended up as "Throw the parcel" with two parcels being thrown to anyone in the circle of twelve and when the lights flashed the person holding a parcel took the next wrapper off resulting in them either winning a prize or having to do a forfit. Great fun and a lot of tired people at the end of the day!

Wishing you all a Great Christmas and a Really Good New Year

Here's hoping your Christmas and New Year as really good - our best wishes to you,

Erica and John

The South America link

--- and we are not the only globe-trotters!

It was only in January that we helped move Simon W. into a flat with Rachel in London, (also taking in a pleasant evening meal with friends Daz and Sarah in Watford), but on November 5th Simon W and Rachel set off for over a year’s visit to South America. If you want to find out how the are doing, go to http://simonrach.blogspot.com/ , they regularly update this with news and pictures, it is well worth a look.

Life is not all a holiday (or is it?)

Perhaps surprisingly we still find time to fit in regular visits to the Halle concerts, we have joined a small local orchestra, and our family history interest has led us to actually meet up with distant relatives from USA and some living in Hampshire as well as make e-mail contact with others around the globe.




We also continue to make good use of our National Trust membership even visiting 2 sites in 1 day with Dave and Anne in Wales! - the photo was taken at Bodnant Gardens.

On another trip to Wales we stayed at Julie’s home (John’s niece) looking after her cat and dog while she was on holiday and while there even built her a fitted wardrobe – we know how to have a good time! Gizmo (the dog) was great fun and ajoy to look after, but Tiger (the cat) refused to sit on knees and seemed to enjoy waking us up in the night (not like a real cat at all!)

Paris in the Spring

And the early summer in Paris proved very enjoyable with Liz and Norman. It was part of an International Caravan Rally but we also did several visits to Paris and around while there.

Venice

The Venice trip in April had been planned to be with Vince and Pat, but sadly Pat's illness kept her at home (perhaps better luck next year Pat!). But that created an unexpected and pleasant break with Margaret and Morris. Leisurely walks round, many canal trips, (a few bar stops) and a Vivaldi Concert. We made it a partly self catering break as we wanted to sample the vegetable and fish markets that look so inviting in Venice.

Cruise

We went on a cruise this year – but that doesn’t really give you an adequate picture, as it started from Salford docks and ended at Liverpool Pier Head taking in the full length of the Manchester Ship Canal. Industrial Archaeology and wildlife were well worth the trip even if the weather let us down.

Our other trip with Margaret and Morris had better weather – Venice!