The Royal Crescent in Bath
I’m back!
2015 turned out to be a rather hectic year; I settled into my new house, my son completed his A-levels then started university, and my daughter started the first year of her GCSEs. I also did a lot of traveling in the UK to some of the beautiful cities including Lincoln, Bath and York. Despite all odds, I managed to have a relaxing warm-up to Christmas and New Year, which is a first because normally I find it very stressful.
Love these fairy lights!
On the 25th of November I went to the Ideal Homeshow at Christmas with my good friend Jane. Olympia Exhibition Centre was just brimming with inspiration for gifts, home decoration, and interesting food and drink to sample, as well as talks etc.
Jane with some chocolate red wine
Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen holding forth
Christmas itself I celebrated in Copenhagen with my family. Teenagers can be grumpy, and Christmas is no exception, but it’s a joy to see that they’re not too old (and too cool!) to feel the excitement of decorating the tree. Long may it last.
Decorating the tree without moaning!
Playing roulette
New Year’s Eve was a Casino Royale party at the house of an old college friend, and everyone were dressed to the nines in 007 glamour style. Great fun, great food and company, and I even got to hang on the arm of the roulette high roller. If only it were real money…
Saturday the 2nd of January I went ice skating at the indoor ice rink at
Looking pained because I just fell over!
Westfield shopping centre. It’s been at least two years since I last was on the ice, and predictably I fell flat on my front and had the wind knocked out of me.
The holidays ended with a real treat: seeing Jersey Boys at Piccadilly Theatre. This is the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and their roller-coaster journey to fame. The music is both sad and uplifting at the same time, but always life-affirming.
Now it’s back to the grind. Which means doing what I enjoy most – writing – so I’m not complaining!
Henriette Gyland 
Happy New Year – you’ve made a good start!
Thanks, Angela. It was a really lovely warm-up to Christmas, with a focus on experiences rather than commercialism, which made it extra special. Am determined for next year to be just as great!
Lovely post, Henri – it certainly seems that you enjoyed it!!
John
I did, John. As I mentioned in my post, I usually find it extremely stressful, but this Xmas I managed to leave the stress by the door, and just go with the flow 🙂
Happy New Year Henri! (I like those fairy lights too!)
That’s the bit I like about Christmas the most, that it’s an excuse to have lots of lights everywhere. Not sure where the tradition stems from, though, and whether it’s just in the Northern hemisphere, but it lifts the spirit.