New year, new start.

We've had a lovely quiet start to the year, which after two weeks of going out every night, was most welcome!

Mum and Dad came over to see us in the afternoon on New Year's Eve to distribute more presents and we had a good chat about what's been happening at work and what we did in Lanzarote. I must admit I'm not looking forward to starting back at work on Tuesday as we have a few niggles to sort out, but I can't prolong it for ever! I've had a long time off!

Susie and Elise arrived for their sleepover and Keith and I went out to check that the Chinese take-away van was in the village...which it wasn't! Revert to Plan B then! We had to drive all the way to Kettering and we were really glad that the restaurant there was open. Phew! We took a menu, drove back home and asked the girls to choose their meals before calling and ordering for 8pm.

Whether it was because we ordered a fair amount of food (there were six of us after all) but when we arrived to collect our order, it wasn't ready and in fact I don't even think they'd cooked it! We had to wait a further 20 minutes which made me extremely cross! That'll be the last time I bother to ring up and give them an hour's notice of an order! Huh!

The rest of the evening was great - Keith and I watched the film "Paul" while the girls amused themselves in the conservatory and Mikey stayed out of their way by watching television in our bedroom. We all gathered in the living room just before midnight, though, to drink a glass of Cava and wish each other a Happy New Year! The fireworks in London were magnificent and it must have been fabulous to actually be there.

New Year's Day was spent very quietly and it was lovely to not have a hangover, like last year! Keith and I managed an hour in the pub at lunchtime which was busy with people eating and drinking and there was a great atmosphere.

We had our Christmas dinner in the evening and very good it was too! A lovely roast turkey with all the trimmings (except Keith used all the bacon to put on top of the bird which left none to wrap around the chipolatas!) and an eleven year old bottle of Vouvray to accompany the meal. We'd bought the wine in the village two years ago and it was delicious, the only sign of ageing a beautiful golden hue.

So. that's another New Year come and gone and I really hope 2012 will be a great one!