CHRISTMAS 2006

Christmas starts with a visit to Santa and our trip was on a steam train to Totnes from Buckfastleigh - Santa's grotto was in the front carriage and the journey from the back was fraught with swaying coaches and shots of steam  

Elliot ungratefully discarded Eeyore when he saw Koby had been given a yellow helicopter 

Koby's first nativity. I didn't cry but I felt very proud ! 

Party ! The first of our festive feasts 

Party Mark 11 - awaiting the arrival of the family 

Preparing the punch on Christmas Eve 

Sue and the girls turned up in these wonderful ball gowns they had found in Age Concern 

Koby did the seating arrangements, all the children together, all the men together, and all the giggly women up the other end (with Jon the chef). Worked surprisingly well ! 

Whatever game we all play it always ends with charades 

Waking up on Christmas morning 

The goodly go to church and the rest prepare the dinner! 

I know we had a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a pheasant but don't you agree this is a perfect sausage? 

This is quite extraordinary, but Santa came again and this time he gave one present to everybody even the grown ups. We were all surprised when he confided that he used to have a hair braider like Peony's but then he explained it was to plait his beard. Jemima was missing the whole time he was there despite Nana calling and calling her 

Is it? No, surely not. Yes, it is! It's Jack Sparrow! 

More food! It is the buffet that we always set out on Christmas Day evening. Every year we say we could not eat another thing and every year food magically disappears from the table. The potato salad went even before the rest of the table was set 

I can't spell Scalextric so I will not mention it 

Queuing up for our beauty manicure

Dinner is served! Slow roasted pork, venison, creamy mashed potato, sausages and vegetables followed by trays of fruit crumble 

Suzanne managed to fit 27 round her table including 2 small families who wanted to see what a big family christmas was like - they now know and will appreciate their own small celebrations much more in future 

The aftermath of a noisy argumentative game of 'Family Fortunes' (it was fixed!) 

A farewell concert marks the end of another non-stop festive celebration. Happy New Year everyone !