Humbug

We are back from Brum. No snow, lots of rain, lots of freezing which I cannot recommend, but it was manageable and we didn’t have to book into a five star hotel (I admit I was a little disappointed).  It has been a long day. Nice, but long.

Jason decided after checking the weather forecast last night, that the last thing he wanted was to be trapped in Ascot thanks to snow, so he arrived home with a small, snoring boy riding shotgun at midnight last night. I have to say that I was relieved. Anxious while he drove home, but relieved that he wasn’t snowed in. I don’t know how relieved he was.  The house where he had been staying had its own indoor swimming pool and a cinema.  He came home to an overflowing kitchen bin, Pringles mashed into the carpet and toys strewn everywhere.  It isn’t even in the same league.

By the time he got home it was snowing, and settling, but some time in the wee small hours it all turned to rain and then kept raining.

Thankfully British trains can do rain and so both trains we took today actually ran on time.  This was somewhat amazing, and we got seats on both of them, which was even more amazing.

We got there early this morning just in case of emergencies.  As there were none it meant we could go shopping, which delighted my heart.  It also delighted the girls, as their aunt had given them some T.K. Maxx vouchers.  Tilly, who is now becoming a young woman, bought herself a handbag and a pair of tailored shorts in grey pinstripe. Very tasteful.  Tallulah, who only aspires to be a lady when there is no other choice, chose a computer thingy that beeps and whirs and allows you to look after virtual pets and organise your day and other things.  She was most pleased with it. 

I promised myself that if I did brave the sales that I would get myself two decent pair of jeans.  I Gokked my wardrobe over the holidays and finally said a sad goodbye to my favourite jeans, which were more hole than jean.  The second favourite pair I only kept because I had thrown away all the cheap jeans I bought in a misplaced attempt to save cash, and then never wore, but they are also on their last legs.  So today I bought two new pairs of jeans (Fatface and Bench) and then I was naughty and bought an Oilily handbag, which I tried to get Tilly to buy first, because it has shiny birds on it and is actually for children.  She chose something much more staid in a kind of Burberry check.  I couldn’t resist the birds, and so it had to be mine.  I will take photos later.

We met my friend for lunch in a tapas bar where we filled the table with small plates and grazed in a very satisfactory manner.  The play was better than last year, and the children loved it.  We went to see a musical version of A Christmas Carol at the Birmingham Rep.  My friend and I agreed that it was hideous, and that next year we would avoid all forms of musical, child based entertainment.  We consoled ourselves at the ice cream parlour afterwards, which made us feel much more jolly.

Considering I was planning for disaster recovery, formulating plan Z and panicking about today, it all went remarkably well.  I am very impressed.  With the last festive jaunt out the way I now consider Christmas well and truly over. I may even take the tree down tomorrow as a special treat.  Scrooge has inspired me.

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