Short Version Friday 5 hrs journey up. Stone-chipped window, rear tyre pressure low. Pizza for dinner Stayed at the Travel Lodge, basic but functional  Saturday   Breakfast at the Ruddington Arms. Good food, coffee not that great. Caught up with Wendy Bell-Brown, mother of Lauren. Coffee at ØKENDE, one of Robert and Laurens ' favourite haunts.  Walked around West Bridgeford park and debated potholes. Nottingham city centre in the afternoon. St Peter’s church, rebuilt 5 times

Merry Christmas, I hope it is a good one, without any tears. Talking of tears, does Christmas come at the end of the year, or does it provide its turning point? Is it a moment when we close the door to all that has passed in the month that has preceded it, or is it a time when we open our arms and say, 'Come, we are ready, we will embrace it all'? Christmas begins with a baby, Christmas is all that is unknown, all is cherished and all we must shield from the winds of fortune

Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year. Where has the year gone? Well, it has, and we have to accept the inevitable. What happened in the last year? Well, Susan and I both put on a few pounds, which will no doubt carry on into the festive period. It is those mince pies, full of fat. Matilda was the winner; she steadily gained weight from January, getting quite chubby. Then she decided enough was enough and lost quite a bit of weight,

🍂 At Kingston Lacy This Autumn I felt the need to go out and get some photos of the colours of autumn. Kingston Lacy was the chosen venue. Two reasons: the colours are normally spectacular, and it has a good little coffee shop. The Middle Smiths joined us with Daniel and his girlfriend Ellie, who were down from Cardiff, Wales. I know, but some people do live there. Anyway, they joined us, great seeing the boys again. Kingston Lacy did not disappoint us. Autumn is when the wh

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