As you will recall, Max and Millie (and their adopted Dads) were really looking forward to a French Christmas, with French food, in a French house, feeling all French, in French, I mean France!!!! At the last minute our plans were pulled from under our (almost) French feet and we very quickly realised that we could not go. A number of issues presented themselves which meant that we were to stay in the UK.
Are we there yet Dad???
Understandably, both Himself and myself were very disappointed, considering how long we'd both been looking forward to it and also how we'd been boring everyone that wouldn't listen with the "Oh yes, we're going to France for Christmas, it will be the dogs first Christmas abroad"stories...In the end it was almost inevitable that the choice we made was the best choice under the circumstances and so, with Max and Millie strapped in, the cases packed and a tank full of petrolicals, we made our way Oop North, to my Hubby's homeland, to Cheshire, to Nana's House.
Millie soaks up some rays at Nana's...
I have to say that our Christmas was, after the initial disappointment of not going to France, quite lovely. As soon as we found we weren't going Husband called Bunbury Village butcher who the family have known forever and got a fresh Goose, a huge lump of Gammon plus all the other essentials (we were of course going to do a Supermarche à la Francais!). The kitchen went into overdrive as my Man prepared sausage rolls (3 different kinds no less!), mince pies and other festive treats - all of them delicious! Yours truly got it into his head that he would cook for 5 people (Brother in Law & Wife and the lovely Aunty Joannie came over) and do main course AND dessert, which went surprisingly well, no tantrums or stress attacks....not one.
Mincemeat Treacle Tart à la Me!
Although we have been back to the house a few times since Mum died it was still a little sad however I am more than positive that I had a visit one afternoon or more accurately, Millie had a visit with me sat there like a 'window licker' (no offence Window Lickers!) saying out loud "Mum, are you there?".....if she was there, she didn't respond....she probably just laughed and that what a numpty I was!!! Still, we made it very festive ensuring that the house had the 'Ellis touch' with the old decorations coming out - the mini gold tinsel christmas tree on top of the TV has to be seen to be believed.
A small Sherry of an evening...
We did some amazing walks with Max and Millie. On Christmas morning they were adorned in their Christmas collars and we took them to Delamere Forest which is fast becoming a favourite place of ours to take the dogs when we're in Cheshire. Well, you've never seen so many people in silly hats and dogs strewn with tinsel, santa hats and the like!!!!! There was me thinking that Max and Millie would stand out from the crowd in their festive outfits....I was sooooooo wrong!!!!!!!
Millie, Max and Mr. Bracegirdle on Christmas Morning
We ate and drank like Lords-a-Leaping and we enjoyed ourselves so much that we had to call Aunty Kay, who was looking after the Girls, to see if she could do it for a couple more days as we delayed our return as long as possible. Needless to say, Max and Millie make us realise how much we need the countryside more than we do a life in London. I would be extremely happy to be able to offer them the country life but our jobs are here so until we win the lottery we won't be moving far.......yet!
Millie at the Cheshire Hunt on Boxing Day
All in all, despite the last minute change of plans, we had the best Christmas in Cheshire with Max and Millie, we really did. Perhaps 2012 will be a French Christmas, but let's not be making any plans just yet, eh chuck?! I'll leave you with my current favourite track by the fabulous Mr. Patrick Wolf - it's dancey, it's romantic, it's bloody brilliant.....!!!
Happy New Year from Us All!
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