Foraging!

The main reason for the trip was to go foraging (with expert guidance!). I went on this trip last year and Dad really liked the sound of it so I brought them vouchers for it. (And tagged along of course.) This time was near Ramsgate and more sea plants than the oysters and seafood last year. We got there a little early and wondered around the park.

Sunny!

Directions to Rome

Viking ship!

This was a much bigger group than last time (~25 compared to 3). We set off along the cliff top  first.

sea fennel.

Lucia explaining Alexander seeds to mom and dad

We went through a field and round the back and through some woods. I am not sure if was really a path.

And down to a tunnel through to the sea front.

Heading in.

Day light!

Scramble down to the bottom

Out on the white cliffs.

On the beach front, Lucia showed us samphire and sea-blite which can both be eaten rare.

Samphire

Sea-blite 

After getting samples to take home, we headed to the camp for lunch. Mom and dad especially enjoyed the Sea buckthorn juice.

Drinks list

Menu

It was all really nice and very different from my normal lunch. But my favourite was the desert, a trio of cakes and a glass of elderflower cordial.

After lunch, we headed to an abandoned car park which sounds odd but was the home of the lovely sea buckthorn. We all descended on the trees and collected as much as we could. It sounds bad and we did feel a little guilty but Lucia assured us there was lots around and it was a sustainable plant. 

Sea buckthorn

Way home.

We headed back to st. Margarets and were hoping to check out the lighthouse. But could not figure out how to get to it. (The last time I walked from Dover along the cliffs but we were not doing that.) However we did find the beach so that worked!

Dover cliffs.

That evening, we didn't want a lot to eat so just had a snack at the bar and headed back to mom and dad room (and away from all the kids) for a bottle of wine and movie.

Christmas!

It has been great being home over Christmas. After working in the morning on Christmas Eve, Mom and I curled up on the sofa with mugs of tea and watched the Hog Father, a Christmas tradition for us. Unfortunately my sister and her partner turned up earlier than expected so we didn't get to see it all but it was more than last year! We always have hot pork sandwiches on Christmas Eve, this year long with a fair bit of rose wine. :-) Plus a chocolate roulade with some amazing Gran Marnier cream (which did not skimp on the liquor!).

Christmas day is one of the very few days over the year I don't put an alarm on. I figured as there were no children (or my sister who always gets up early), I could sleep in. I forgot about my Mom! She did wait until after 8am at least though she was up at 7am!

We have sacks of presents (little stuff) up stairs before going downstairs.

Mom and Dads sacks

Mine!

Mom opened hers quickly and gets impatient with me and Dad when we take our time. (I tend to take more than necessary just to see her reaction.) :-)

Opening presents

I got everything practical this year, as I have to fit everything into one suitcase to take back. So I got tights, deodorants, socks etc as well as a hat (as I lost one recently) and matching scarf. :-)

My sack presents

 After that it's downstairs for another cup of tea, toast, and more presents!

The tree.

Mom and Dad liked their presents from Australia! Mom got an opal necklace to match the ring I got her last time and dad got a aborigine decorated wine bottle holder.

Opening her necklace.

Happy with his wine bottle holder.

Though everyone promised not to spend much this year, we didn't really stick to it!

Mom bemused by her new iPad. 

Dad liked his new headphones though.

 I got a lot of clothes (to replace some old ones). My best present was camera stuff. I got some filters from friends (Thank you Matt, El and Clare) and a new fixed focus lens where I can do some fun things and is great for portraits.

Playing with the lens

One of moms many orchids

Another orchid 

Using the tree to play with the lens

After presents, we relaxed while dinner cooked, with a small tipple. :-) It has ben ages since I had Tia Maria but I didn't fancy either Dad's ginger wine (he is a ginger addict) or Mom's choice of sherry.
We put the table in conservatory for Christmas dinner. Usually it's because we need the room, but with there number of deaths this year (it has been a bad one!) it was just the 3 of us for dinner this year. But it's nice in there and something different.

Christmas starts and the well laid table (if I do say so myself!)

Along with a very nice bottle of Pouilly Fume (my favorite French white wine, in fact my favorite white in general!).

Cheers!

There was of course lots of food for dinner! And loads of veg. Though my dad sneakily stolen the last parsnip! It was all very tasty! None of us had room for desert. (We had that today.)

Christmas dinner

After dinner we all had a nap! Before heading to Kerry and Ozs house for a bit. They go crazy at Christmas; their tree is huge! It take sup about a 1/4 of their living room.

Crazy big tree

I got to play with the cats for a while and get my cat fix. Kerry and Oz were a little tipsy when we got there, having started drinking at 8am!
The rest of the evening was quiet one at home. Why is there absolutely nothing good on TV on Christmas night?  :-)
Today is a quiet day. We usually go for a walk (I really wanted to play with my new camera stuff!) but it's raining. :-( So some work, soe job applications, some sleep and some really bad TV (The current film is way too long but there is nothing on and we got no DVDs for Christmas). I am off to drink my Tia Maria coffee now which looks very impressive in its wine glass!
Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Mini Christmas

On Wednesday evening, I went out to dinner with Steve and Eva (as I had no food!), and then back to mine for a mini Christmas. They seemed to really like their gifts. :-)

Steve losing his gift to Eva.

Playing

Dressing up dolls.

Opening presents.

On Thursday I started the trip to the UK for Christmas. The fight to Chicago was fine and I managed to find my favorite sushi place in Chicago airport to eat lunch. :-) The flight to Newark (I had a few plane changes) was fun as I was sitting next to 2 women, a retired teacher from New Jersey and a Chinese lady my age. We spent the time chatting and even exchanged email addresses. However the flight was delayed and I ended up making my closest connection yet. Luckily the gate was next to the one I arrived at so I ran straight across and onto the next plane. :-) And I had the seat next to me free! Score!

I arrived in Birmingham early Friday morning and then after a quick shower went shopping with mom. As I slept maybe 2-3 hours on the planes, I didn't last very long! On the night mom and dad went out. So I got an Indian in (so good!) and was in bed by 9pm!