New Year's

A great one here in Taunton was simply a spill over from Christmas. There were so many good photos to be posted that I simply don't know where to start. Here's a selection for all and sundry. I managed to put the camera down by the time we were mixing brandy and champagne (yum) with tequila (not so yum and a bit more ouch).

Dan got a bit attached to his moustache.

Face painting or fancy dress were required by all. Both was even better.

Winter Solstice

Having been in Taunton for a few weeks, it seemed time to get our bearings. What better way than seeking high ground. Considering the time of year and that granny Vicky was up to stay, what better way than a trip up this ol' hill.

Even though snow laden clouds kept us from seeing across the water to Wales, the view across the Quantocks, Blackdowns, Brent knoll and the Somerset levels was fantastic. The short walk up the Tor was strange sense of familiarity, but it was difficult to think about why, since the contemplative silence was rudely shattered by screaming children. Ours. Sorry to anyone who was after a different experience on that particular morning, but it was just a little too cold for them.

From my personal perspective, winter solstice gets far too little coverage in comparison to his equinoctial sister. Its great to wake up early (but not too early), get outside and think that for the next 6 months, its only going to get warmer and sunnier. Here's to hoping...

Mistletoe and Wine

"He's Been!" cried Tallulah at 5.30 AM in Christmas morning. Roughly 4 hours beforehand, Christa, Anna, Dan and I were plotting how to convince the children that the main man had arrived. A half eaten carrot, nibbled mince pies and sooty footprints placed carefully around the room were convincing enough for the kids.

The reason it was special was that we had all the family over. Dan and Anna brought the kids over , plus Rowan, Zara and Kian came too. Grandparents all put in a show too which was great, and Pete celebrated his birthday on the way down to Cornwall. It was lovely to have a house full and was the house warming that we needed.

I cant escape the feeling kids become overwhelmed by Christmas these days. I know its a bit BAH HUMBUG, but the more presents the kids opened, the worse behaved they were. Morwenna said this was her best Christmas ever at the point when she had only opened her stocking. I think the Quakers have it right; keep it simple and focus on the family. The more stuff you have, the less each thing seems to matter. God, where is my soapbox? I'm sure I left it round here somewhere. Don't get me started.

Westward Ho!

Ok, we're here. Its taken a few years of procrastination and recession, but we made it. We now own a beautiful grade 2 listed building in the conservation area that is South Road, Taunton.

We got here in early December and soon realised that the house could do with a lot of work. Nothing tragic, but some damp issues, poor insulation, poorly fitting windows and doors, cracked panes. All stuff you don't pay too much attention to when you view a property in July. Things are a little different during the coldest winter we have had in Britain for 30 years. I remember that one well too.

We loaded up in Norfolk on Friday, unloaded in Somerset on Saturday and started work at a couple of local clinics on Monday. After a frantic 2 days, furniture was in place. 3 days later, family started coming to stay. This was all a build up to Christmas proper, more of which in the next few posts.

We have had a brilliant few years in East Anglia, but family and new Chiropractic challenges have drawn us back this way. Christa has gone back to work now and we are closer to her contacts over here in the South West. We are still 2 hours from Cornwall and 3 hours from Pembrokeshire, but that's a vast improvement on the 8 and 7 hours respectively that it took from Norfolk.