Snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey

The cake Virginia did for Carmen's second birthday.

Our eldest cat Tabitha is now officially 10 years! Officially 10 years old as we don't know her real birthday so we have to settle for when she came into our midst. If the Queen can have an official birthday which isn't her real birthday then so can our quean. Please check out the pictures of how Tabitha celebrated living half her life with us!

British Gas gave us a new boiler, and after a mishap they also gave us a new ceiling and carpet.

"Push" is a film I started off watching not with high hopes. Another entry in these people have special powers department. Mysterious secret government departments. Run of the mill stuff. Or so I thought. But I was wrong. "Push" is set in Hong Kong and uses that setting superlatively well. The city is a major character in the film, the range of settings adds depth to the final impact of the film. Big cities are worlds in themselves and that is very true of Hong Kong. The film is intelligently written, and pieces which seem not to fit fall into place by the end. Some of the special powers involve being able to twist what people think so at points in the film you don't know what is true what is untrue. It's only by the final scene, or even on reviewing, that it all makes sense. The special powers themselves are nicely balanced, and not completely run of the mill. Dakota Fanning has a strong role as a young girl who can see into the future, albeit through a glass darkly. Her predictions, and how they will come to pass, and what they really mean, all add layers of richness to this different film. A shame the hinted at sequel was never made.

We do a cruise to the Baltics taking in palaces in St Petersburg and bogs in Estonia.

The cake Virginia did for her parents' 51st anniversary.

We took Friday 11th off work so we could go to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular at the Thursford Collection in deepest rural Norfolk. Took longer than I expected to get there - over one and a half hours. We tried out Virginia's Satnav in anger, though we didn't take its advice to start with. The Satnav in its female voice kept telling us to turn round as soon as possible. As we neared the destination we decided to be friendly and follow its directives. I got a little dubious as we started driving along one track lanes and through farmyards - and when it told us we had arrived there was no sign of our destination! Happily we were only a few yards away from being able to see where we hoped to be. The Thursford Collection (a collection of fairground organs and roundabouts and steam engines) was heaving with multiple coach parties. The toilets were oversubscribed, and we had to sit on one of the roundabouts to have a bite for lunch. Still we were in time for the Christmas Show itself which was very impressive! An anachronistic spectacular of dance, not alternative comedian (so funny without being obscene,) Christmas carols, illusionist, and song and dance numbers. Worth going to. On the way out we tried the Winter Wonderland exhibit which wasn't quite worth the £4 a head entrance fee, but was appealing to one's inner child. We will be booking up to see the show in 2012! A long drive back, the coaches helped to block the surrounding roads a little but we got back in one piece.

We didn't go to the "Hotel Felix" for quite a while, assuming it was priced out of our bracket. It had an upmarket ambience, but Sunday lunch wasn't super expensive. The artwork round the dining area set the mood. Modern, stylish. The service was good and mannered and genteel. The food was well prepared, and one felt well take care of. We tended to go to the "Hotel Felix" for our cats' birthdays. It seemed appropriate! Sadly we didn't take our cats which probably seems rather mean. As of 2021 the "Hotel Felix" has closed its doors, doubtless thanks to the Covid epidemic.