Cornish Christmas

I have been rather remiss in posting on my blog of late.  I sense a New Year's Resolution coming on...
Since my last post in November (!), life has been rather manic with work and then the run down to Christmas.  The days before Christmas are my all time favourite time of the year - fairy lights twinkle in windows.  Mulled wine flows.  Baked biscuits and cranberry muffins make an appearance.

I made the annual pilgrimage to my mum's cottage in Cornwall for the festive season.  This year was somewhat different as my sister, with kids on tow, was coming to Cornwall too - a full family Christmas!  Horatio and I jumped in the car and embarked on the massive journey (450 miles or so) a week before the big day, stopping off in Coventry on the way to overnight at my sister's and to collect a couple of eager nephews.  Due to the welcome addition of my sister this year we hired a holiday house in Fowey to accommodate the aunties... ie me, my twin sis and oldest sis.  Horatio rather took to sitting / sleeping in the window.

Days were swallowed up entertaining little people, walking Horatio and drinking coffee (ok, and wine too).  In addition to daily walks up, over the fields and along the cliffs at Fowey, Horatio rather took to the Hall Walk.  This involved a short boat trip to Polruan followed by a four-mile trek along the Fowey Estuary before another ferry trip from Bodinnick back to Fowey.

The highlight of Christmas however came in the form of Scott, who surprised us all with an unannounced visit on Christmas Eve!  On a whim, he decided that a Christmas in Edinburgh without me and Horatio was not desired.  He hired a car that afternoon and drove the 450 miles to join us, staying hardly 36 hours before heading back to work in Edinburgh.  Talk about making an entrance!  I think he trumped even Father Christmas, making my Christmas (and that of two nephews and a niece), perfect.

Yesterday, Scott arrived as per the original plan by plane in Exeter to celebrate Hogmanay.  We took the opportunity to explore Okehampton on our way home from the airport.  Not only is it located on the northern fringes of Dartmoor (which we ventured onto for an atmospheric trudge through mud), it boasts an old-fashioned railway station / museum.  Of course we had to test out the old buffet on the platform.

And so the old year will pass this evening and 2012 will dawn tomorrow.  Hopefully it will deliver lots of running, dog walks and adventures.  We plan to hit Cardinham woods by Bodmin with the mutts.  Have a good Hogmanay and prosperous new year.