Christmas, 18 - 25 December 2010

Saturday, 18 December: France to Spain... and then a wait...
I flew to Spain after work on Friday 17 December, so arrived too late to pick up Ruby and Finn. That excitement had to wait for the next day. So Saturday at 10.30am I picked up Ruby and Finn and headed to Girona for our flight to Gatwick at 2pm. I must say I was prepared for the fact that we might not get back as snow was already starting to fall on Friday when I left London. Heavy snow was forecast for the Saturday and airports in London were already beginning to close as I left. But there was never any intention not to go as I would rather be stuck with the children in France or Spain than not see them when expected. So, we got to the airport and waited and waited... until finally at 5pm the airline cancelled our flight. I went to the Ryanair desk to do all the paperwork for another flight the next day. I felt quite smug as for the first time ever I "accidentally" bought insurance for all of us for that flight. Then it was off to find a hotel for the night.

Ruby and Finn hanging about in the airport.

 The bar at our hotel - we had hot chocolate and juices before going out to dinner - a short walk to the airport!

Dinner at the airport - I think we had hotdogs and chips.


Sunday, 19 December: London - finally!
After a really good night's sleep we were back at the airport at midday to wait to see if our rescheduled flight would be off today. It was due to take off at 3.25pm. We boarded a little late and then had to sit on the runway for two hours due to the backlog of planes flying into Gatwick... but we had no choice to be ready to go when told, otherwise we would lose our slot. Eventually we got back and took a train to London Bridge and then a tube to Belsize Park. The views of snow coming in to land were spectacular!

Finn and his beloved Max (received as a prize for a game at Abigail's birthday).

Ruby playing games on the iPhone.

Max taken by Finn.

Finally on the tube on the way home.

We were supposed to be going to Janine, Colin, James, Matt and Will's place for a Christmas lunch party today but obviously we missed that. Instead we went to bed as early as possible as Monday was football for Finn and sewing lessons for Mlle Ruby.

Monday, 20 December: Football Academy and sewing lessons
We were up early as Finn had to go to Football Academy at South Hampstead High School (which he went to in the last holidays). We took the bus there and Ruby and I walked home in the freezing cold to begin our sewing lessons.

Father Christmas fast asleep (the hats came care of Datamonitor's Christmas Party).

Ruby doing her sewing - here embroidering using a hoop. She finished the patchwork piece that she had begun in an earlier holiday, then we cut a heart and Ruby sewed it to the cushion front. She used running stitch to secure it and then chain stitch to embroider her name. She did really well and was genuinely surprised and delighted that she had created something so beautiful and accomplished herself! Bravo Ruby! You were patient and did fantastically well.

Finn dressed to go out for dinner at Pizza Express Hampstead. It was Dave's treat for us... promised from the last holidays when Ruby's choice prevailed (Cafe Rouge). Dave came before and we all walked together after his presents for Ruby and Finn had been opened: a Playmobil coast guard boat for Finn and a doctor's set for Ruby's doll, Coco. We (well, Finn and Dave) HAD to make the coast guard boat up before we went, so we were late going to the restaurant. And then, we had a long walk uphill in the snow to make it to the restaurant...

Ruby having a quiet moment at the restaurant.

Dave and Finn discussing something very important... probably building or, perhaps, the waitress...

Finn reading the letter the lovely waitress wrote him, telling him what she would like for Christmas... which amounted to a smile on everyone's face. Look how delighted he is!

Finn and the waitress. So happy.

And just Finn. Such a smiley wee boy.

Thank you David for a lovely meal and evening out together! He tipped the waitress £20 and I thought she did it for love! :-)

Finn looking like all his Christmases have come at once!

 

Back home it was time for more presents - these from me. A Playmobil police station for Finn and a highchair/swing for Coco for Ruby (both requested)!

Tuesday, 21 December: Coq au Vin
OK, we took Finn to Football Academy and then returned home for another sewing lesson - to finish Ruby's patchwork cushion. We just got back and then got a call from the Football Academy to say that Finn wasn't feeling well... we had to go and pick him up. This we did which meant saying goodbye to our sewing lesson. We picked Finn up, then went to the 02 Centre in Finchley Road to shop for groceries as Stuart was coming for dinner this evening. We bought ingredients for Coq au Vin and Moose Milk (a secet Canadian recipe from Andrew Haslip). On the way we found two costumes that Ruby and Finn liked and we all swore that these would be the absolutely LAST presents! Saint George and a beautiful nurse.

There he is... the handsome George himself!


Wednesday, 22 December: The Royal Opera House - Tales of Beatrix Potter
Lillies for a haircut and from there we went straight to the Royal Opera House... by the good old 168.

Awww, shucks! We had such a nice time. The first ballet we saw was Les Patineurs - not surprisingly a dance about ice skaters. It was fun seeing the different personalities in the skaters as they came into the rink. Next up was tales of Beatrix Potter, which was fabulous. Jemima Puddleduck was probably the hero of the show, but Jeremy Fisher was fantastic too.

Jemima Puddleduck and Mr Fox.

The ballet was at 12pm so we had time to finish Ruby's sewing lesson after we got back. Here she is pressing the patchwork piece, have learned to butt the seams up against each to create a smooth finish. She is wearing the skirt that Abigail gave her for Christmas. (Thank you Abigail!)

While Ruby was sewing, Finn was playing with his police station.

Ruby carefully sewing the front section to the back of the cushion. This was the only bit done by machine. We could have done it without a machine at all but Ruby was very keen to learn to use the sewing machine.

Ruby proudly showing off her beautiful patchwork cushion.

 Close up of Ruby's embroidered finish to the patchwork.


Thursday, 23 December: Oliver!

At 2.30 in the afternoon we saw Oliver at the Royal Theatre Drury Lane. It was fabulous, with Griff Rhys Jones starring as a Fagin. We had been talking about the Oliver story for so long and these holidays were the last opportunity for us to see it in London as it finished in January 2011. We thoroughly enjoyed it and sang along to the songs.

Friday, 24 December: Off to Rebecca and Jonathan's for a Christmas sleepover
Today was an important day we had been waiting for... finally, Christmas Eve! We went to Rebecca and Jonathan's in the afternoon. We made Moose Milk again and enjoyed that early in the evening. For dinner we had takeaway pizza - which was yummy - we got three pizzas: pepperoni, ham and pineapple, and vegetarian.

Jonathan with Ruby and Finn on the couch.

A very dark picture of Rebecca...

Finn and Jonathan hanging out...

Saturday, 24 December: Christmas Day!
Hooray! A family Christmas. Simon and Lil came over at 11am and we opened the presents accompanied by a glass of champagne for big people and juice for little people. I got a lovely Apple mouse and beautiful Mimosa candle by Diptyque from Simon and Lil and Ruby got a lovely little cube game for storytelling. Finn got a mini microscope which he loves! From Rebecca and Jonathan, Finn got a puzzle ball, while Ruby got a wonderful art course for her DS. I got a carving knife and fork with a meatboard which was not only beautiful but much needed - about two hours later! Thank you everybody!

We all made a share of the dinner... Rebecca made salsa and avocado hummus with haloumi and pita bread. Yum! I made a roast leg of lamb stuffed with spinach and gremolata, potatoes dauphinoise, and whole carrots with peas. Lil made a vegetarian option main and Simon made some lovely bread with fennel in it. Rebecca and Jonathan contributed a cheeseboard, while for dessert Lil had made some beautiful cakes (see below). Ruby made a fruit salad for everyone - having chosen the ingredients herself at the supermarket the day before.

The discovery of Christmas stockings...

George is back...

A beautiful Christmas nurse...

Simon and Lil enjoying fruit salad and a cup of tea.

Ruby made a lovely fresh fruit salad which she brought in small dishes to everyone to kick off the eating for the day! Well done Ruby!

Finn with his Addict-A-Ball.

Ruby and Finn eating Christmas dinner.

Ruby with one of Lil's beautiful cakes rounded off a lovely meal and a lovely day. Thank you everyone and especially thank you beautiful Ruby and Finn for once again bringing so much energy into our home.

A final post-holiday photo
There is always something sweetly poignant about tidying up after Ruby and Finn have gone. It is always so lovely to still feel their presence as I put things away that they have been playing with, but at the same time sad to be putting their things back, waiting for our next time together. (The putting back is the final goodbye.) I was sweeping behind the couch and came across these made by Finn - in a line down the side of the couch. (I know it was Finn, because only he would do this, but also I saw him doing something by the side of the couch before we left for Rebecca's but didn't know what it was.) He had stuck jelly babies on the giraffe's feet, giving them the appearance of them wearing great, stomping boots. Thanks for the laugh Finn!