THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS 21ST TO 23RD DEC

We have just spent the most beautiful weekend imaginable. We had arranged with our daughter, Jacqueline to pick up our grand-daughter Xanthi from school and to whisk her away for a weekend in London. Xanthi had no idea of this and everything was a pure surprise for her.

Father Christmas called to see us and gave us information on what to do in order to give Xanthi a special Christmas. We were told that since he was so busy, that Xanthi had been so good and that we were in England then we were to deliver her a very special Christmas present. Now, folks it should be remembered that all that follows was a gift to Xanthi from Santa and we were only the deliverers of this special gift.

She was met as normal by her Nanna and Jacqueline as she left school. Having no notion that we were intending to be there, she screamed with delight when she saw us standing there. She was then invited to join us on a train ride ‘to drop off some things for a friend, thus giving us the excuse to take her on the train to London.

Her face and squeals of delight when she eventually realised we were going to London for 2 nights was priceless. Even other passengers on the train were joining in her delight. All we told her at this point was that Santa had approached us and told us to take her out for a special weekend because she had been a really good girl. We refused to tell her our plans for the weekend, letting the events unfold progressively. Of course, we had special plans for her!

Not having been to London before she was a little anxious when we went on the tube train but soon got over it. As we approached the hotel and she saw the Christmas lights around the hotel her comment was “That’s well pretty”! She was more than happy with our room, settling in at ‘her desk’ and claiming the space as her own.

We were told by one of the passengers on our train about a Winter Wonderland fairground set in Hyde Park. Once we checked into our hotel it was off to Hyde Park where we had a whale of a time.

We started on the smaller rides and then progressed upwards until as a final ride we went on the ‘Wild Mouse’ roller-coaster, a ride which frightened me let alone a 9 year old!

It was only after the ride that she informed me that she had never been on a roller-coaster before!

The next morning we slept in til 9am. Since we had plans to shop for a new outfit and attend a show at 2-30pm it was a mad rush for breakfast and then a trip round Oxford Street for a new dress before returning to the hotel to dress for a trip to the theatre.

 At this point she had no idea and it was only when we arrived at the Lyceum theatre for ‘The Lion King’ that she realised our evil plan.

The tickets had been purchased beforehand and the tickets sent by post. Guess what? This clown forgot to bring them but fortunately I had paid by credit card and thus was able to get a re-issue! Phew!!!

After the show we spent the evening walking around London in the pouring rain just enjoying the lights and the window displays of the city.

There's a great store to visit - the M&M Store near Leicester Square. A massive store with four levels all dedicated to M&Ms. 

Since it was only a short visit to London we never got to the major sights but she did get to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament from the top of a double decker bus! Here was one happy little vegemite who was so full of energy that we had to call it quits at 10pm and return to the hotel.

Sunday morning finished our trip with a visit to Madame Tussauds and a photo session with Justin Beaver, the boy she is in love with and is going to marry. 

From there it was onto the Athenaeum Hotel for High Tea and then home on the train to her Mom and Nanna.

Xanthi is one special girl and this weekend has, for sure been one of the real highlights of this trip.

Believe us folks; SANTA DOES EXIST!

Happy Christmas everyone. And sleep tight Xanthi. We love you dearly and will see you soon.

HYTHE, SOUTHAMPTON – 15th to 21st

This entry is a bit late; I make no apologies, we’ve just been having too good a time of it! Let’s face it; we’ve not had a day off since the beginning of September! Come on then, all together; Awwwww!

As such, this blog will be short and to the point in an effort to catch up.

Left Looe on a rainy morning and drove to Southampton. Then it was out to dinner with Anna and Shane. As usual we had a great time. I even got a chance to have a decent drink, He! He!

Sunday we took the ‘kids’ (Shane and Anna) to Bath for the day. We gave them a visit to the Roman Baths and Therma Spa as an early Christmas present. They, like us were blown away by the experience. Also, like ourselves they like experiences over material things and see them as much more valuable.

They have a gorgeous puppy named Randall. In a word; He’s nuts!!! He loves people and took to us straight away. Rain or shine he likes (and demands) his daily walks and we were privileged to go with him for his daily walks in the New Forest. He is obsessed with sticks and thinks nothing of carrying a stick twice his size home and then spending hours in the garden demolishing it!

Anna had to work as she couldn’t get the time of work (as a bed manager in Lymington) but Shane was off sick so was able to take us around.

We spent a day in Beaulieu, home of the Motor Museum. This houses the largest collection of cars imaginable.

The grounds and Manor are exceptionally well preserved and well worth a visit if in the area.

The weather was atrocious for most of our stay but we just got on with it. After all, I did want Julie to experience a winter Christmas. And she is doing so, even if it is rain and not snow. There’s not much sign of snow at the moment. Damn!

Took a day to visit Salisbury and had a look round Salisbury Cathedral.

I lived and worked there for 2 years, my job being assisting with the setting up of a home for mentally disadvantaged children.

I managed to find the unit and it’s still open so I guess I must have done a reasonable job 30 years ago.

We also made a trip to Stonehenge. Now that is an ‘under-whelming experience if ever there was one. But, as I explained to Julie, when in the area one must visit Stonehenge. Really, it’s just a few heavy rocks!

Being the 21^st of December, the winter solstice, the druids were in their caravans nearby preparing for ‘the end of the world’ no doubt. Seriously though, the arrangement of the stones is an interesting sight.

Hythe is a pretty town with a really nice harbour and marina.

As is Lymington. We went there for a drive and to do our last minute Christmas shopping.

All in all, it was a great week and it was fabulous to see Julie with her son. As for any mother, (and parent for that matter) the importance is undeniable. It was one of the highlights and very precious to be able to spent this time with family.

Shane and Anna were perfect hosts and our stay was by far superior to all our time recently spent in hotels.

I was delightful to be able to have a family dinner with family again and it was with great sadness that we departed on Friday morning to go to Eastbourne to pick up our grand-daughter and take her to London for a special Christmas treat.

More of that in the next blog!

LOOE, CORNWALL 8th to 15th DECEMBER

Arrived in Looe, Cornwall. Had a good run and arrived in time for lunch in what is one of my favourite places on earth. I was ready to be disappointed since it is somewhere in the region of 40 years since I was last here. Hopefully, Julie will like it as much as me.

For me it is as if time has stood still; from memory very little has changed. It remains quaint and charming. Looe itself is a working fishing town with a devastated fishing industry.

Some forty years ago it was fighting back with tourism and it has done well to survive without an overdependence on commercialization.

Our accommodation left much to be desired; one of my less successful bookings. It sounded really good on paper but in reality it left much to be desired. We even had to supply our own towels! To be fair, it's name, Pixies Holt was indicative of a very quaint place.

Electricity was on a meter system with pay as you go. Since the heaters were one of the most inefficient types available the electricity costs were very high. This was of course compounded by the bitterly cold weather of the first couple of days. Still, whinges apart it was a great stay.

When we arrived Looe was just recovering from some flooding and they had a repeat a couple of nights later. Fortunately it was only minor and we weren’t directly affected.

Next door to Looe is Polpero, another gorgeous fishing village even smaller than Looe.

Again this place is locked in the past with very little change apparent over the past 40 years or more.

Our son, Shane who lives near Southampton has been unwell and was due to go into hospital for surgery on Monday. Although we are planning to go to stay with them for a week after Looe we went to Hythe (Southampton) on Sunday and stayed for a couple of nights. We then took Shane back with us to Looe for the remainder of the week. This gave him a chance to recuperate and spend some time with Julie.

Wednesday we all went to Lands End. We found this to be very commercialised but because of the time of the year this wasn’t a problem. Most of the cafes were closed as were the souvenir shops. 

In many ways this was good because it gave us the place pretty well to ourselves. In reality Lands End is a ‘must see’ for anyone visiting Cornwall since it is the southern-most tip of England.

The next day we took a trip to yet another quaint town – Cornwall is just full of these – called Fowey (pronounced Foy).

We actually drove to Polruan and took the ferry over to Fowey; It saved driving the long way round.

I have to admit, we didn’t do much on these days, just looking around and calling into magic little pubs and cafes to dine! No wonder our weight is piling back on.

On our last full day in Cornwall we visited the ‘Eden Project’; a project that turned a disused clay pit into a major tourist attraction.

The core of the project is rainforest under a massive dome. The whole project is run by volunteers and supported by tourism and ‘tax breaks’ from the government. All in all a must  see visit of in the area and well worth the trip.