December heat

Warm air from Africa and the Canary Islands has pushed December temperatures in Britain close to record levels - and put paid to hopes of a white Christmas.

The Met Office reported that the first half of the month had been the mildest for more than 50 years in Wales and southern England and temperatures were as much as 10 degrees above the December average.

The mild weather has proved confusing for many plants and animals.  Trees that escaped the recent gales are still covered in leaves.  Daffodils, which normally start to bloom in late January, are already out in places.  Hedgehogs and bats have stayed out, foraging for food after a bumper autumn of berries, rather than hibernating.

As a result of the mild weather Phil has spent a lot of time in the garden.  He trimmed our beautiful Magnolia tree and then he made me Magnus from the cuttings.  I love him.

Although the temperatures may be mild, at least one tradition is being maintained; there is a lot of rain about.

The warm weather is the result of moist, warm winds from the south.  The Atlantic jet streams this year are well to the north of the British Isles, allowing warm air from north Africa and the Canaries to dominate the airflows.

This is in contrast to the weather of five years ago, when a southerly turn of the jetstreams brought cold polar air flooding across the country.

As with most weather events it is impossible to say whether it has anything to do with climate change.

What is certain is that the exceptionally mild weather is causing havoc for retailers - clothing stores are full of unsold winter coats and woollens.  It's time to go to the SALES.....

And a Happy New Year.

Christmas 2015

Organising the treats for the Advent Calendars heralded the start of the 2015 Christmas preparations.

followed by the grandchildrens' Nativity Plays.

What beautiful Angels.

and then all the excitement of meeting Father Christmas.

                                                         not sure Jamie was that impressed!!

The few days before Christmas were the most exciting days to spend with our lovely Grandchildren, including a visit to Peppa Pig World.

finishing with putting out Father Christmas' and Rudolph's goodies by the fire.  Then once the children were asleep all the magic began.

Hooray Father Christmas came.

And with a new addition to the family.........

  

                                                              STAR LILY

No menu planning for me this year because Alun and Gemma very kindly invited us to spend Christmas at their home.

So the season of indulgence has officially begun, and this debaucherous month's climax is, of course, Christmas dinner - the piece de resistance of December meals, steeped in tradition, oozing with family warmth and Gemma's excellent cooking.  Christmas wouldn't be complete without a feast overflowing with all the trimmings and Gemma really does go to town.  Forget less is more.  Every space was filled with intricate decorations and sparkle.  She is a great party organiser and loves to make everything magical for Emmie.  We are so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter-in-law and to be invited. 

The beautiful cake, made, of course, by Gemma.

                                                   

                                                 Gingerbread man made by Emmie.

                                                 And more fun on Boxing Day with her cousins.

Of course, after Christmas Day comes the Pantomine and we all enjoyed Snow White.

It was then the time for our Australian relatives to visit us and we all enjoyed a lovely meal together catching up with all the news.

Thank you everyone for a truly wonderful Christmas.

A tropical treat.

Following his foot operation, Phil and I decided we needed to get away from the approaching winter and headed to St. Lucia for some rest and relaxation.

We stayed at Windjammer Landing.  This Mediterranean-looking complex is spread over a precipitous hillside on St. Lucia's north-west coast, above a goodish, 200 yd long arc of palm-dotted brown sand beach.  The accommodation was amazing.  Our home for the next 11 nights was 301A on Hibiscus Lane with fabulous views, an extremely comfortable large bed and a hot tub on the terrace.

This was our apartment with the path to the pool

Ok, so when we finally arrived at the resort after a very comfortable flight.  Thank you British Airways

and a two hour transfer, we got stuck in the Castries rush hour, we went to Jammer's Bar and Restaurant right on the beach.  It was the perfect ending to a long day of travel.  Usually, we would end our nights down at Jammers after dinner because they had live music playing every night.  One girl singer sounded just like Adele, brilliant.  However, the steel band on our first night really got us into the Caribbean way of life.  Excellent.

Most days we camped out under one of the tiki umbrellas close to the bar on the beach

Really enjoyed the Mango Crush cocktails.  It's a rough life I know.

I was able to finish three books out there whilst topping up my tan.  We didn't spend any time at any of the 4 - 5 pools, except for my Aquafit class every morning with Wacky Jackie, the beach was our place.

At times it felt like we had the bay to ourselves, it was so calm and peaceful.

The sea was perfectly refreshing, not too hot and not too cold, great to walk out and take a dip in.

Every once in a while we would walk out to the hammocks hanging out over the sea just high enough to barely touch the water when you're lying in it. 

Also, very entertaining to watch other guests trying, gracefully, to get in and out of the hammocks.  The only downfall was the rock army you had to climb over on the way to the hammocks.  To avoid the "ouch" and "oohh" we wore sea shoes, kindly provided by Windjammers.  I am pleased to say the roped off swimming area had no rocks.  It also had a water trampoline with a log to run along and a climbing iceberg.

Whilst we were at Windjammers we did a couple of activities, after all, you can only sit on a beach for so long.  We went on the banana boat and tubing, great fun.  Phil sailed on the Hobie Cats every

day.

Not to mention the "extreme" day when I was with him in one of the larger Hobies and a gust of wind turned us over.  Fortunately, the boat boys came to our rescue.  All the staff are efficient and enthusiastic especially when they rescue you.  A common occurrence for Phil....

the previous day he was diving when the dive boat broke down!!!!!  He surfaced 200 yards away and the driver couldn't start the boat.  Fortunately, only a mile or so away from the resort.

I might like to cook at home, but when I'm on holiday.......I'm on holiday!!!!!  I just want to be wined and dined and not worry about a thing.

The Dragonfly Restaurant produced an excellent breakfast with a gorgeous view.

Jammers was our favourite place for lunch.  Excellent fish, jerk chicken wings and roti

Embers was also a lunch time beach option.  Very good and simple with a fantastic roast beef buffet on Sunday lunchtime.  Cooked just as Phil likes it - rare.

Our fine dining choice was the Upper Deck.  Highly recommend the Filet Mignon.  Our favourite restaurant, especially when we sat on the lower level.  Very romantic.

There was also a good Italian - Papa Dons - at the top of the resort.  Mini bus ride on 1:5 hill that was scary and huge storm whilst there.  The roof leaks!!!

On Tuesday at the Manager's Cocktail party there was great entertainment with limbo dancing and an amazing fire eater.  Also presented us with a bottle of rum and a t'shirt to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary.  Thank you.

One of the books I read was The Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies.  (In the hills of a romantic tea plantation, swathed in mist, the tea planter's wife would have lived an extraordinarily privileged life, but there is a predicament for her that would test all her assumptions about racial differences, and that would explore colonial attitudes and how they spelt such tragedy for her). 

So, feeling in the mood, we decided to visit The Pink Plantation House Restaurant.

This place is wonderful.  A beautiful old authentic St. Lucian Coffee Plantation house set on the Morne in a rainforest garden with humming birds, many ferns, palms and orchids, which frame the superb views over Castries harbour.

We were given the best seat in the house, right on the railings.  Michelle Elliot, the owner, is so lovely and is using the profits from the restaurant to lovingly restore the old lady.  The house is also a pottery and the shop is well worth taking time to wander around.  The ceramics are not cheap as everything is hand painted by Michelle but the items are high quality, full of vibrant colours and scenes.  It is a fabulous place.....brilliant view and really good food.  A lovely relaxing lunch.

What a fabulous holiday.......hopefully, one day we will return.

Thank you Phil, I am a very lucky lady.