It’s a long time since my sisters and I spent Christmas together - over ten years at least before my dad died. This year we hired a house for the whole family and everyone came except the New Zealand branch and the nephew who lives in Australia. It took lots of careful planning as it’s not that easy to find somewhere for 15 people and two dogs. Our first choice fell through in October and we ended up paying a bit more for a big house in Llandudno with spectacular views over the bay. It was a perfect location in the end despite being a bit of a trek for some of the sisters. The weather mostly dreadful - wet and windy except for Boxing Day - so we only ventured out for essential dog walking. We spent most of the time in this comfortable house which was decorated in a lavish fashion - all chandeliers, ornate mirrors and crushed velvet curtains. Not to my taste but nice for a holiday.
Santa brought lots of presents especially for the youngest nephews.
In theory we shared responsibility for the cooking. In practice it is Diane who takes the credit - you can see this in the photo above as she’s still in her apron, She is like a whirlwind in the kitchen organising all the vegetable cooking and timing everything to perfection. I had made the pudding though and had queued for well over an hour to pick up the turkey and ham from the butcher before we set off. And everyone helped with washing up.
Here we all are about to tuck in. All boyfriend/girlfriends of the older kids were with their own parents this year so it was just sisters and children. The nephew who lives in Switzerland arrived on Christmas Eve to surprise the family. He’s wearing the Santa suit in the photos above. He had already celebrated an early Christmas in NI with his family back in November so no one expected to see him.
After his Christmas dinner Paul took the dogs home. It was hard work controlling the puppy in an unfamiliar environment and he had had enough anyway - he prefers a quieter Christmas. The rest of us opened presents and drunk wine and played games and ate more. It was very loud.
On Boxing Day several braver members of the family - two of the sisters, one niece and two of the nephews joined in with the Llandudno Annual Boxing Day Sea Dip. Good job the wind had dropped and it wasn’t that cold. Even so there was no way I was getting in, nor was Kate who shares my dislike of extreme physical activity. I supported by buying raffle tickets and to my surprise I won a prize. I appear to be on a lucky streak this month - also won a chocolate hamper in the church Christmas fair.
Here are the dippers wrapped up afterwards. We gathered for a family group photo (minus the late sleepers) with the house in the background - it’s the red brick one above my head on the second level.
Later on Boxing Day we walked up the Great Orme - well halfway since it was getting dark by then. We admired the famous Llandudno goats perched precariously on ledges and enjoyed the view over the bay. Of course we had to take the sister photo. That night there was more food - we finished off the turkey - a music quiz and even some dancing. We had a fabulous time.
Back home with Paul now and planning quiet New Year celebration meal with our usual visitors.
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