Alex, Gabby and Nick are amazed. |
Christmas is the big, annual holiday here. Unless you work in retail or for an American company you can expect a few days leave. For some of us Christmas runs into New Year, giving us about a week off.
The schools here didn't close until the 21st, which suited us fine. However, there was a lot still to do in the run-up to Christmas. Hanna had most of it in hand and we enjoyed two sedate evening visits to the boutiques of Cambridge where it was pleasant to pop in and out of the independent shops in the older streets of town. We avoided the crush of the busy malls but, like most people, we resorted to the Internet for the bulk of the shopping, despite misgivings.
Our party consisted of ourselves (Jim, Hanna and Dan) plus Nick and Gabby and our friends the Lambtons (Margaret, Nigel, Alex and Harriet), making nine of us in all. We made a party of it by bringing snacks along to add to the mince pies and booze provided on the train. The party atmosphere was encouraged by the friendly volunteers who wear bright waistcoats for the occasion. Special guests popped by in the form of Santa and by a rather sinister looking clown.
Hanna and a creepy clown. |
That evening we all gathered again at our house for a meal of bits-and-bobs from Marks and Spencer's, washed down with some rather good wine.
......"And so to bed", as they say.
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Glamorous Gabby. |
Alex and Margaret
Harriet and Nigel |
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