Christmas at the Sharpe's

Well, what a Christmas.

Patrick and Bora visited with Sumin for Christmas, arriving on Christmas Eve in time to meet the Sharpe's and Simon and Tim in the Belmore for an early evening meal. Eleanor was very well behaved, had her dinner in the pub too.

Eleanor got loads of presents on Christmas Day, then the Bullens and Sharpes went for a short walk round Walton Park before a very late Christmas dinner of pheasant, whisky cream sauce, roasties and all the trimmings. There just wasn't room for dessert.

On Boxing Day, the Sharpes went to see the extended Lancastrian family in Rossendale and Jo had a couple of glasses of wine. And a couple more. Jo's Dad wasn't there as he's still recuperating in hospital but he is doing much better.

The planned trip to see the Hagues' family on the 27th was cancelled due to an attack of Nottinghamshire flu leading to the entire family being isolated in oxygen tents to ensure recovery by the start of the downhill season on the 5th.

Undaunted by the length of the journey, Camilla and Colin decided to set off for the northern wastelands with their Dominic shaped cargo. The traffic wasn't great, so they arrived in time for a nice Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall designed chilli and some Eleanor smiling action before bed.

The Exeter crew stayed for the mulled wine party on the 28th, where home made pizzas were had along with brain scrambling strength mulled wine. The brandy needed more time to burn off, though the light show was very entertaining.

On the 29th the Sharpes plus Laura went to Manchester to do a little shopping and get a bite to eat. Laura baby sat for us in the evening so that we could go to the pub on our own for the first time since Eleanor was born. Eleanor got wind of this (literally) and as a result the pub trip was a couple of hours late starting. Laura did very well baby sitting though and can have another go any time.

We dropped Laura at the indoor ski slope in Manchester where Sam was enjoying his Christmas present from us and Aunty Bernadette - a double session on the big slope. It's rather big and impressive but very cold.

New Year's Eve was spent up the road at Simon and Tim's with a select bunch of friends. Eleanor was very well behaved and stayed up way past her bed time, making various conversational noises and smiling lots.

So, we're all back to work or housewifery now and 2008 is off and running. Eleanor has just gone to 4 feeds a day, though they are big ones, and we reckon she weighs something like a stone. She sleeps a lot and smiles a lot and likes nothing more than being sat on the sofa watching whatever mum and dad are watching.

Shortly we'll be posting up our targets and plans for 2008, as well as those action packed Sharpe family visit reports.