25th December 2014 - Merry Tedmas! **Picture Heavy Post**

Merry Christmas!

Early morning! I didn't sleep great, waking up every couple of hours. Not fantastic when you have a mad couple of days to follow!

Oh well.

Paul and I had a brew and exchanged presents. He was very happy with his and I loved mine also! I didn't take a photograph of them, but they mostly involved denim goods!

I showered and repacked everything then we filled the car to the brim and headed down the motorway to Lichfield to see my parents!

It was a fairly easy journey, except for some hideous rain around Crewe, made even more awesome by our choice in audio entertainment for the trip!

We like a good road trip CD. This one is quite a good one!

We got to Lichfield and had a brew at Mum and Dad's house, I ironed my top (long story), we cuddled their kitties, then we headed over to my bro and sis's house for Christmas Day shenanigans!

I can say that, as there is little to no evidence of what went on. There are a lot of pictures to follow...but they are all very similar.

Guys, there's something I haven't said in a while...

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It's been a while, so I think you need to be re-introduced to my super cute nephew on his very first Christmas! Everyone - it's Edward!

This gorgeous little munchkin LOVES looking at himself in the phone if you have the front facing camera on. So guess who had the front facing camera on her phone pretty much all day? That's right - Auntie Whiney! :)

Yay!

He had a nap not long after we got there so we were able to talk like grown ups for a little while! There were 7 adults (Me, Paul, Mum, Dad, Michael, Annabel and Judy - Annabel's Mum) and the men were in the kitchen doing all the cooking whilst us girlies were watching whatever was on the TV!

When Ted woke up and came downstairs, he had a whole new abundance of energy to show off, including his little commando crawl which is super cute (pretty much everything he does is super cute!) so I had to get it on video, of course!

I just love this little dude!

I could watch these videos for EVER!

After some good play time, it was time for Christmas dinner! YAY! We had eaten some pate etc earlier on but the big show was about to commence!

A joined effort of my Dad and Paul, featuring superb pigs in blankets made by my bro! Well done, all! It was delicious! I just couldn't eat it all! It's not like me! I should invest in stretchy trousers for next year to fit more in!

Bellatrix decided to inspect the post-dinner carnage. She blessed the wine, which is good. Ok, she was really looking for scraps left over. She loves her food!

I did the non dish washer washing up and Mum dried. We had to tell Michael to go and sit down and relax for a while. He's still healing from his biopsy last week. It didn't take too long. Thank goodness for dish washers! Think we're going to want one for our next house!

Then it was back for more play time! Grandma Hartley got in on the action as well this time!

This is Ted's little dance. It's very cute. Obviously.

AH! SQUEE! Look how happy he is! Annabel, if you're reading this. please go and give him a big kiss from me! Just coz!

Cue montage of happy faces made by Google!

Thank you, Google!

Ted will be 10 months old on New Year's Day. He LOVES being on his feet and sort of knows what to do to walk. Obviously, it's too advanced for him at this point, but just standing up is a joy to him!

All smiles! :)

Two of the other residents of the Hartley Household were present and observing the Christmas festivities!

Bellatrix is a very social cat and loves attention and fuss. Boris is more an observer but is also a little flirt and a very handsome man cat!

So Ted got to open his presents from Auntie Whiney and Uncle Dino. One was chosen by Paul specifically for Ted and the other was bought on request from Mummy.

We bought Ted his first drums! There are other instruments in there but the drum and the tambourine were instant hits!

It's good to see him actually liking what we have bought him!

We also bought him Elvis the Activity Elephant, seen here on top of the drum. This isn't as fun as the drum kit, so off Elvis went!

Me thinks he loves his drum. I like to think he's giving it a big kiss...not just putting his mouth on it like kids do. That's definitely an 'I love my drum' kiss! :)

Unsurprisingly, but a little amazingly, given the noise, my Dad fell asleep. The other men in my life found this hilarious.

Yep - that happened. We were going to change his Facebook picture to it, but thought that would be cruel!

Mum decided that we should get a picture of her and Ted with sleepy Granddad. OK.

Ted then wanted to explore why Granddad wasn't joining in on play time!

There's only one thing for it: we're going to have to crawl on Granddad.

Ted kept touching Dad's face. Much to the amusement of my Mum who was in her annual fit of giggles!

Thank you for the montage again, Google!

You do see correctly. Ted is groping at my Dad's mouth and my Dad is still sound asleep!

Nearly a fish-hook there, Ted! Still no response from Granddad!

Hahahahahahahahaha! He did not wake up at all during this interaction!

Ted went for his bath and then to bed where he did NOT want to sleep. Poor Michael and Annabel! We stayed downstairs and had a chat.

Dad only woke up with the promise of cheese and port. We had cheese and port and Paul tried to persuade Mum and Dad to come out to stay with us in France next year. Hmmm.

Mum and Dad left, then we retired to the living room and watched Star Trek which was on tv. The original Trek and TNG were always on in the house when we were growing up so there is no surprise that I could easily sit and watch this with my bro!

Paul was tired and went to bed. Annabel watched most of it then too, went to sleep, knowing she'd be up in the night a couple of times with Ted. Michael and I watched to the end of the film then also went to bed.

Bellatrix was already snoozing.

It's 9pm. Lame.

PREVIOUSLY...

2013

26th July 2014 - More Surprises!

Despite waking up at silly o'clock, both Paul and I were able to get back to sleep. We did sleep quite late though. Oops. Lots to do today and the time needed for it to get done is slowly creeping away!

Once we had come to, we had a brew then headed into town as I had an urgent birthday present to buy! I knew exactly what I wanted, so off we went.

People were literally lining the streets to see us go past!

No joke!

Ok, slight joke! There was an event going on in Liverpool today, which ordinarily we would have gone to see (maybe) but as we already had plans, it didn't happen.

We headed home after I got what we were after, then Paul went to get a new tyre put on his car while I showered and beautified myself.

I learnt how to do a new hair style, which is nice. I didn't take any pictures of it though. It lasted all evening, which I'm impressed by!

After doing my hair I pretty much needed another shower immediately afterwards as it's really warm again!

Paul also got ready and we got in the car and headed over to a Golf Club just outside of Stockport for a little party!

It's my friend Sue (and her idential twin sister Becky)'s 30th birthday on Tuesday and so their husbands decided to organise a surprise party for them both! It was a bit of a feat, especially with Sue living in Switzerland now, but they pulled it off and in a very lovely location as well!

These pictures really don't do how beautiful the view was justice! Just trust me on that one, ok?!

Well, all the planning paid off as neither of them had any idea! I have never seen such shocked faces in every surprise do we have been to!

It was good surprise!

We had a few drinks (me maybe more than a few) and said our hellos! We had some food and generally chilled out!

We spoke with a few people but we don't really know anyone so just sat and waited for the cake to be cut before we made a move home!

Becky is on the left, Sue is on the right. Rick, Sue's husband is the chap in the last picture.

We stayed to finish our drinks and got talking to some elderly relatives of Sue's (not sure who they are, sadly) who were lovely, then once they left, we pretty much stole their seats! Rick's sister, husband and friend came and joined us, followed by Rick and one of Sue's friends from her old job, followed by Sue a little later...we started the party, folks!

Paul was getting bored though, as he couldn't really drink, so I gave Sue her present (a mini Superlambanana!) then we headed home.

We had a cheeky gin and tonic, which Paul deserved, then went to bed as we were both shattered!

A (unexpectedly) fun evening was had! Yay for surprise parties! Although I'm glad we have no plans for the next few weeks now!

PREVIOUSLY...

2013

28th June 2014 - SURPRISE!

An early start for a Saturday. No earlier than in the week I guess but it's bloomin' wrong for a Saturday!

We got up, dressed and headed out to the train station. We're going on a trip to LAHNDAHN!

Our train was a little delayed getting to Liverpool, but that was ok as we had a bit of time to spare. When we got to Lime Street, we headed over to the platform to see a sight which was not welcome.

CANCELLED.

Great. Just great.

They advised us to get on another train, which was slightly later, but we had paid for First Class and there was no guarantee that we would get it. We managed to squeeze into the First Class carriage and luckily no one asked to authenticate our ticket as it might not have been valid!

A short change in Crewe and time to grab a quick coffee, then on the next train! The proper train company but obviously we didn't have reservations this time. We managed to get a seat (just about) and then let the First Class party begin!

Yeah.

This was the First Class party.

It was a box. That's it! Inside it was a croissant, some jam, some cranberry raisins, a yogurt, some water and some juice. That's about it. RUBBISH! We got a free brew as well. WHERE'S MY BACON SANDWICH?! Hmph.

We joked about it a while but in the end were that uninspired it stopped being funny. Thank goodness our first class upgrade didn't cost an arm and a leg. I really would have been miffed!

We got to London and got a tube to Oxford Street. At least, that's where I think we went. We had to change though, so I took a tourist picture for all you fans!

Exit here for Madame Tussauds!

We did some shopping and hid from the rain for a while. We had time to kill! We also forgot that it's Pride this weekend so the streets were fenced off ready for the parade. I believe that they didn't let the torrential rain stop them from partying hard!

We ducked into a nearby pub, which was also very camp and had a quick beer to try to work out our next plan of action.

It was allegedly rather warm in London today! Why is my phone being an idiot?!

Blurry Paul and his blurry beer! Just to prove he was there!

We didn't go into the map, though it was tempting!

We had to get to Kings Cross (not to attempt to get to Platform 9 3/4...I wanted to but Paul told me I wasn't allowed. Meany.) as that was our main destination for the day. We got there and we milled around for a while to kill some more time! We then headed to the pub, which was our destination all along. The area where we were headed was actually a little terrace inside the train station, which was nice. At least there was a view, right?

We weren't the first people at our destination, so we helped set up for what was going to be a nice epic surprise!

We are well aware that it already looks to be the after party, rather than the party beginning. Consider it a theme!

Congratulations banner! Champagne flutes!

Paul unimpressed with his London beer. It was supposed to be amazing. It wasn't.

Stained glass Tetris over the platforms.

I guess I should indicate what we're celebrating...

Yep - we've come all the way down to London to celebrate an engagement! Katie and Matt's to be specific! If you recall, Katie was our best woman and she got engaged to the lovely Matt a few weeks ago! Matt organised this party for her as a complete surprise! How could we not come down for it?!

The lovely Katie with Paul. I didn't get a picture of Matt. I fail.

We had a lovely time and might have had rather a lot of fizz. We couldn't stay late, sadly as we had to get a train back to Liverpool and make sure we had our first class seats. Yay.

We did have to run for the platform, even though I was sure we had more time than we did. Joys of fizz I suppose. I was so classy I slept pretty much the whole way home. I waved as we passed where my bro and sis-in-law live (but they weren't in...my Mum was though!) and slept some more! Bad wife. Paul listened to music, drank beer and read his book. I hope he didn't mind.

We got home and managed to get a taxi back ok. Into house, feed cats (I think) then bed. Where I passed out. Bad wife.

So big congratulations (again) to Katie and Matt, who have provisionally set a date in May 2016! Excellent!

PREVIOUSLY...

2013