Festive Touring

Via a series of early starts, late nights, van travels, trains, Christmas dinners and fine hospitality, I've managed to do a micro pre-Christmas tour of friends and family. It got off to a good start in London, where I arrived for lunch on Tuesday and the sun was shining.

I was met by the Nipper and co, and after perusing the wine list, we enjoyed some fine lunchtime dining, Mexican style.

From the city centre, a short train hop got me up to the Poppletons for an excellent evening of fun, games and lots of catching up. (Could you portray a Canary using playdough?!)

After getting turned off the main road by roadworks, a random catch up and a brew with a friend near Grafham was hastily organised on Wednesday; I arrived at Fort Martin in time to help get the lights on the tree before the next team of cousins arrived!

As always, hospitality and service were of the highest order and high spirits prevailed well into the early hours, after, of course, some 'traditional' family portraits.

Pappa Martin had excelled himself with this years cake decorating - complete with mountain climbers!

Managed to catch a few guys from the Bishop Stopford days in town during the day on Thursday, before our next Christmas dinner date with the Loddington villagers at The Hare.

After swapping the desert course for a strong coffee, I set off back towards The Cottage at 10pm hoping for quiet roads and a speedy return to Wales. Sadly the M6 was closed - twice! I eventually arrived back 5 hours later, at 3am! It had been a fun-filled trip, but I needed sleep....