Christmas Plans Thwarted

Yes, I know, it has been a while since my last Blog post! Things have been quite hectic here, and things are NOT going according to plan!
I spent a fab day in Edinburgh last Tuesday and met up with Lindsay, who lives there, and Janice from Aberdeen. We had a great time catching up and had a little 'show and tell' with our current knitting projects.
And after that, well it all starts to go downhill I'm afraid. We have all caught this awful flu' that is doing the rounds, and quite frankly I have felt terrible. One night I did not even knit! so bad did I feel!
We have had incredibly cold temperatures and more snow and it certainly has not put us in the Christmas mood!
BUT
The biggest disappointment has been that because of the weather and Rail problems we have been unable to get my parents to Newcastle for the Christmas festivities! Sarah and I left on Tuesday morning and the plan was to meet mum and dad in London then travel back with them later in the evening. However, electric cables across the railway tracks put paid to that. With all trains out of Kings Cross getting cancelled and hundreds of people getiing stranded at Peterborough, who were heading South. Fortunately, I managed to stop my mum and dad making a useless journey to London but we are all, as you can imagine very sad and disappointed. Christmas will not be the same at all, without them.
I know I should think positive, and think well, at least we all all safe in our own homes, and warm and dry and yes, they can still come up early in the New Year but it's not the same is it? Really?
Mum and dad if you are reading this - We miss you already!!
I have more to post, but will do that later when I may feel a) warmer b) more positive  c) find the photos I want to upload.

Previously Last Week

I forgot to mention that, earlier last week we had visitors to stay. Friends of Sarah, Holly and Emma live in Nottingham now and we do not get to see them all that much. However, Holly and Sarah are enjoying a pen friendship (running alongside the usual text messages and facebooking) that has impressed even me (aka Campaigner for the Continuation and Preservation of the Handwritten Letter or Card).
They arrived on Monday, and with Sarah's help this is what we were doing on Monday night.

Sarah and Holly aare knitting beaded bracelets, and Emma (on the left) is doing her first bit of real knitting. Well done girls!

On Tuesday we went to Wallington Hall, unfortunately we chose the only time the Hall is closed to the public! but we still enjoyed the grounds, play area, ice cream and trees!

And....

on Wednesday we caught the train to Edinburgh - a first trip to Scotland for Holly and Emma.

I have to say, I really love to visit Edinburgh and travelling by train to get there is a great way to really appreciate the scenery. True to form (for me) it was raining when we arrived - but, as the photograph shows the sun finally shone for us.