Just to say.....

.......... Hello, Happy New Year and we are still in the land of the living!  You would think we have done nothing since November, but that is not the case - I just did not get round to writing a blog!  Can I claim 'winteritis?!!

In early November we escaped for a week in mid Wales.  It was very much a trip to visit Chris's family, but we did escape to the beach a couple of times which Monty loved.  

Mind you he still does not trust those pesky waves!

Looking across from Ynyslas to Aberdovey - another firm favourite of ours and we did get up there for a wander on one of the days.

We took a day out from family visits to meet up with a couple who own four Border Collies who are all related to Monty!  Monty (9.5) is on the far right looking very proud to have so many ladies to look after!  From the left they are Menna (6 months), Gwaun (8), Dot (3) and the grand old lady, Mair who is looking her age, but doing well - she is 15.5. Jane and I had a lovely walk in the woods with Monty, Gwaun and Dot whilst the men sat and chatted and kept an eye on the Menna and Mair.

The 27th November started with a surprise - a walk in the snow for Monty and I!

The family  (our son and daughter, their spouses, the five grandchildren, Chris and I) had gathered for an outing to Stratford.  We had lunch in Fourteas then headed to the RSC to see 'The Magician's Elephant' which was superb.  If any of you saw the stage production of 'Warhorse' - it was the same puppeteers who worked the almost life sized African female elephant.  Just stunning to watch.  Another RSC triumph.  This will probably be the last time we all go as our eldest granddaughter will be off to university next September.  

A gentle stroll back through the town to the car park allowed us time to admire some of the Christmas decorations.

Our son and family came to us for Christmas and our daughter and family joined us for New Year.  It was the first time her sons had made it through to midnight.  A lot of fun and games were enjoyed on both occasions by us all.  

A couple of weeks ago I went up to Derby on the train to see our son and family.  I was shocked at how packed the trains from Birmingham to Derby and return were - standing room only both ways, but I did, thankfully manage to get a seat both ways.  The purpose of my visit was to go to the Theatre Royal in Nottingham with them all to see 'Gangsta Granny' - what a brilliant author David Walliams is and the stage production was amazing.  I also met the newest edition to their family - Coco who was just 10 weeks old at the time.

Life is beginning to get back to some sort of normality, but some things are still not quite there.  Our canal society is still doing zoom meetings, but that is mainly due to the loss of the venue we used to go to.  We did attend the annual lunch last Sunday - it was wonderful to see so many people 'in the flesh'.  We had the privilege of sitting with Heather Wastie (Alarum Theatre which some of you may be aware of) and her husband.  They were very entertaining company.  

I have attended one WI meeting, two WI fun evenings and one WI book club meeting and despite reports that people had subsequently tested positive, I have (so far) escaped catching covid.  There is so much about at present that I fear it is inevitable, but we are both triple jabbed, so we should be okay.  We have taken the decision that we cannot stay locked up for ever.

My knees are not doing too badly, but Chris does struggle with his COPD - however sad the sale of Tentatrice was, it was the right thing for us to do.  She is moored in Kinver and in May she will be re-named 'Rumah Kita', which is Malay for 'Our House'.  I am fairly certain she will retain her distinctive livery, so if anyone spots her out and about (or on her home mooring), please post a picture and let us know!  It is good to know that she has gone to experienced boaters who will care for her and use her.