Happy Birthday J

Twelve years old.  How is that even possible?  This past year has gone by in the blink of an eye....and  I really cannot get over how much you've GROWN!  You are now taller than I am.  This has been another tremendous year of growth for you - just don't be in a rush to grow up too quickly!  Being a kid is so much fun!   Next year you'll be 13 years old and I cannot even fathom how all my grandchildren will be teenagers!

It seems like only yesterday your Mum placed you into my arms for the first time. 

You love soccer, using the gym, lifesaving and I hope you will grow to love ski-ing.  Chloe tells me you are very good at it, you just need to relax and enjoy the slopes. 

Aside from sports, you also enjoy video games as well as board and card games.  You love any type of game that requires strategy.

Thank you for a lovely evening to celebrate your birthday - down at the pub!

You have the kindest heart.  Happy 12th birthday.  Love always.  Nanna. 

Pass the Fizz. Pass the Turkey.

 

To put us in the mood for Christmas we visited the Windsor Illuminations with the Invincibles.

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening.  Excellent light shows on easy to navigate trails and the weather was kind.

 

Caroline and Mike kindly host the Rees/Hilton Get Together party every year.  It's not a huge party, there's 17 of us.  It's become a family Christmas tradition and starts off the magical season.  So great to all catch up and spend time together.

 We visited Kingston Lacy just before Christmas.  The National Trust always go to a lot of trouble to make it all festive.  So many decorated trees in the House for a Christmas Ball. 

 

Afterwards we enjoyed a woodland walk around the estate.

We were invited to spend Christmas at Caroline's.  We arrived on Christmas Eve and spent  the evening playing Poker.

Guess who won?

Mike and Chloe decided to go for a Christmas Day Plunge in the sea.  I decided to spectate.  What an amazing sight to see them and their friends taking the plunge into the sea!  The atmosphere was electric, some of the costumes were truly spectacular, and the festive spirit shone brighter than ever.  Alun and family also decided to take the plunge.  I really enjoyed my hot chocolate with Baileys.

After hot showers it was time to open the presents.  Jamie and Chloe had opened all their presents when Mum and Dad said look inside your Christmas stockings.  There were a pair of Mickey Mouse socks in them.  Jamie initially pulled a face then said "Wait a minute, are we going to Disney?".  Chloe looked under the tree and there they found Disney soft toys holding their passports.  How exciting.

How different from my Christmas presents as a child.

On Christmas Eve we always left a glass of sherry and a mince pie for Father Christmas and, of course, the next morning, the contents of the glass and the mince pie had mysteriously disappeared!  An old pillow case was left at the foot of my bed.  I remember waking up at some ridiculously early hour on Christmas morning and feeling in the dark, the mis-shapen pillow case and that thrill, knowing that Father Christmas had been.  It would be filled with all sorts of goodies.... Annuals - my favourite was Bunty or Judy then later Jackie.   Maybe an Enid Blyton Famous Five book.  A magic colouring book and brush, this was truly magical, a drop of water and the colours came to life!  A cut out dress up doll book.  A net of chocolate coins.    Games like Snakes and Ladders or Tiddly Winks.   A Cadbury's Selection box.  A tangerine.

Time for the traditional Christmas turkey roast.  It's the most wonderful meal of the year. Caroline it was perfect.  Five star.  Marian and Bill, Mike's parents, also joined us.

After lunch we played Traitors.  Lots of fun.

Santa snatch which has quickly become a Christmas tradition.  One person holds a pack of cards and won't be playing the game.  Amusing and impractical wrapped gifts are placed on the table.  The cardholder shuffles another deck of cards and deals out all the cards.  The cardholder then reads out the first card from the top of their pack.  Whoever has the same card chooses one of the gifts but they cannot open it.  When the second card is read out whoever has the same card can choose a gift from the middle or pinch the one the first player picked.  Play continues like this with the players stealing and grabbing gifts from the other players.  When all the cards have been read out, the players who have hold of the gifts get to open them and keep the contents.  Our gifts contained funny items like a roll of toilet paper, a tin of beans, etc or something nicer like special chocolates or money in a matchbox.

We also played a brilliant fast-paced card game called Yaniv.  A draw and discard game.  Suggest you look up the rules for this on Google.

Driving home for New Year through the New Forest we spotted pigs roaming freely beneath the trees. This seasonal tradition is known as pannage, and it's one of the most ancient and fascinating practices still alive in the New Forest today.  Pannage was extended to Sunday, 4th January, 2026 due to a heavy acorn crop.

Thank you Caroline and Mike for all your hard work to make Christmas so magical.  Thank you for the planning, the organising, the shopping, the preparing and cooking and everything that you do to make Christmas special.  I am so lucky to have such a special family.

Happy New Year to you all.  We were in bed by 11 pm and slept through any celebrations.  I think the coffee martini after champagne was the clincher!

    

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La Gomera: Our hidden jewel in the Canaries

It's November, the nights are drawing in at home so we head for La Gomera where the  days are still long and sunny.

La Gomera is a beautiful volcanic outcrop located a short one hour ferry ride from Tenerife.  However, the two islands are worlds apart.  No nightclubs, water parks or cafes touting a full English breakfast.  Instead verdant valleys and soaring rock formations.  But the best views of Mt. Teide on the island of Tenerife are to be found in La Gomera.  We were fortunate to get a low cloud day for some unforgettable views on approach to Tenerife.

Playa Santiago has the accolade of being the sunniest spot in  Europe with a stretch of volcanic sand backed by a charming, whitewashed town.  Just up the hill is HPBs El Balcon de Santa Ana with its lovely staff and atmosphere.  The stunning sub-tropical gardens and grounds are immaculate  and the ocean views are enthralling.  A very special place  worth the 12 hour journey.

Tennis and Pickleball Courts

Our apartment was GE15. A lovely spacious apartment with a beautiful view from our private balcony.

 

There is a lovely restaurant on site and happy hour for alcoholic drinks is also a very popular and welcome bargain with fabulous sunsets.

 

Its a 15 minute walk down a steep hill to get to the town, Playa Santiago, where there are several restaurants and a port with ferries to San Sebastian and Valle Grand Rey.

The town's history is intertwined with the growth of the agricultural and fishing industries on the island.  In the early 20th century, the Norwegian company Fred Olsen and the Tinerfena company Rodriguez Lopez settled in the area.  Both were engaged in the agricultural export sector, but the latter also operated a fish cannery called Santa Rosalia, the only one in Playa de Santiago and one of three on the entire island.  In addition, the two companies built a series of dams and reservoirs, allowing agriculture production to prosper.

The 1970s marked a downturn for the companies.  This decline was compounded by the death of Don Alvaro, leading to the closure of the factories and widespread unemployment in the municipality.  Many residents opted to emigrate to Cuba in search of work.  Eventually, the Rosalia factory was demolished and replaced with an apartment block, with only the old Indian laurel tree remaining in the small square as a testament to the area's history.  Fortunately, the recent growth of tourism has brought new opportunities to the region.

Our favourite restaurants:-

Tasca Enyesque

If you're in the mood for some delicious Spanish Mediterranean cuisine, then look no further than Tasca Enyesque.  This small restaurant is the perfect spot to share generous portions of tapas with a modern twist.  Don't forget to save room for dessert!

La Chalana

If you're looking for a laid-back lunch spot with a lovely atmosphere.  This charming little beach bar is the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy fresh, local food while listening to the waves crashing against the rocks.  The calamari and fish of the day with Canarian potatoes are excellent choices.  You might have to wait a bit during busy times, but it only adds to the charm of this quaint little shack.  Just be sure to check their opening times before you go - you don't want to miss out  on this hidden gem!

Restaurante La Marea

A fresh fish for six?  No problem.  It came on two platters with all the accompaniments.  It was delicious.  Book a couple of days ahead though.  Inexpensive wines and good value.  Can sit inside or outside but you will need to book as it's very popular.

The best meals though were our self catered dinner parties.

If you jump on the Fred Olsen Ferry you can visit Valle Gran Ray.  We saw lots of flying fish on the journey.  This valley town is located in a spectacular ravine that meanders all the way down to the beach.   Restaurante Paraiso del Mar is a lovely restaurant overlooking the sea.  Absolutely love this place!  Great food and great service.  Speciality is fish and sea food.  We can't wait to return next year.

Good times and wonderful crazy friends make the best memories.  Singing in the taxi and dancing in the moonlight.  Thank you for a fabulous holiday.

Sadly it was time to leave La Gomera and on the ferry to Tenerife, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

                                                                     

Cheers!