Tuesday 26th December 2023

Slow start…needed a lie in after yesterday’s gargantuan efforts. Got up to find the sun was shining…a beautiful winter morning. Porridged downstairs, then showered. Jim and Emma turned up with her grandchildren, Finn and Cillian. Had a bit of fun chasing them about until we were too exhausted…watched Jim follow the unstoppable force that is 2 year old Finn about the house in a bid to prevent him wrecking the joint and pulling all the doors from their hinges! They eventually left us in peace and we had lunch at the dining table. Drove us all out to Newburn and we had a walk beside the River Tyne. It was sunny but bitterly cold. Ma and pa went back to the car whilst Kath, Aki and myself undertook a short circuit. Got back to the car park to find no sign of ma and pa. Aki and Kath went to see if they were in the pub, at which point ma and pa emerged from the bushes where they had been hiding for some reason…they hadn’t been able to work out how to turn the ignition key in the car, so hadn’t been able to get the heater going! Drove back up the hill to get some odds and ends in Sainsbury’s, then turned for home. Warmed up Aki’s tasty fish pie for dinner, and finished off the Brussels sprouts, followed by Xmas pud and ice cream. Watched a bit of telly. Especially enjoyed the documentary on the extraordinary life of Noel Coward…a great talent. Stayed up to watch MOTD before retiring for the night.