Burley in the New Forest

Amelia was up and ready for our early morning dog walk, one which was in dry conditions for a change, although the puddles remain as full as ever for now. Alison has been feeling under the weather for a couple of days now and Joe was going to be working from home, so I planned to take the children out for at least of the day to make the most of the forecast.

Maria stayed home, also a bit under the weather, but I took Joseph, Evie and Amelia off in the motorhome for an adventure in the New Forest where we parked up at the cricket pitch just up from Burley. Joseph has been very keen to play football in his Liverpool kit and with the new football he got at Christmas and we had a good kickabout to begin with until I took the girls off for a walk amongst the trees and horses, leaving Joseph practising his goal kicks.

Once back I started on the picnic food with sosmix sausages in the fryer, crisps, rolls, ketchup, gingerbread and cheese, a right old mixture but one which they enjoyed hugely. We walked down to Burley for a look around but most of the shops were closed, no bad thing as I had no intention of buying more things in the midst of Christmas when we've all had so much already.

By the time were back at the motorhome, a football match was underway and I watched as the children played football again, loving the fresh air and freedom. The teams were absolutely hopeless! I was amazed on the one hand at how poor they were but also impressed they had got together to play a game they obviously loved. Fair play to them.

Once home I took Juno out for a good walk, a couple of miles in the company of Kirsty Young as guest on Desert Island Discs before starting the tea, a chickpea and butter bean korma with basmati rice, pitta bread, onion bhajis and samosas. It was a lot of work after a long day but it went down well before Alison and I settled down to watch the Gone Fishing special with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer. Always appreciated and even more so with a guest appearance from Ted, the lovable dog who is looking older these days.

Sore throat is making an appearance so we will see what develops. In the meantime I finished The Merchant of Venice making it 52 books I have read or listened to this calendar year, one a week. Same again for next year?

Joe is going home with the children on Friday to meet with Kate who has been visiting her parents, Paul having been in hospital. It could be our first night as just the three of us for days and days, until they come back for New Year's Eve the next day, along with Joseph who is sleeping over. It is fair to say we have had a lovely time but need a bit of a rest now. January is going to be a time without sleepovers I think, giving us, and Maria, a bit of rest and an opportunity to do other things.