Holiday time!
Good news, good news - I passed my Kendo grading! The relief. I was shaking so much I'm sure everyone could see my knees knocking. Now I'm loving it more than ever. Our Sensei put us into armour for the first time last week and we were "fighting" each other. Yeah, I put that bit in quotes 'cause we're not exactly good a this Kendo! But it's all fun. It's fantastic! Why didn't I try this when I was a kid? And at our Kendo Christmas bash I was awarded beginner of the year - for my intensity. Wow. I'm so chuffed. I can't see it myself, but apparently I have a killer stare! If only I had the skill to match, but that will come in time, hopefully. We shall see.
Christmas was fantastic. We stayed with my parents Christmas Eve and enjoyed a fine meal with a very nice Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I'm not normally a red wine gal but this was to die for. Then we were up early Christmas day for a long drive to Mike's family and a rather large gathering for dinner. His family is huge, when you count sibling's partners, children, and dogs. It was a full house! The weather was cold, the food lovely and the company wonderful. What more could anyone want on Christmas day. I walked down to the sea every day to rid myself of a years worth of cobwebs and it feels wonderful. For anyone who's never seen the sea (you know who you are!) I can't recommend it enough. There is something majestic in the power and vastness of the waters that change colour with the feel of the day and lull you with the rush of the waves. I've never slept as well as I did after a walk by the coast.
Now we're back home with the piles of washing and the half eaten cakes and chocolates. I'm taking the chocolates to Sally's tomorrow night. I've got to get rid of them! We measured ourselves up for Kendo armour before Christmas and ordered it and if I eat any more junk food I'll never fit into it! Sigh. Sally's my best friend from school. She's holding a New Year's party at her home and I'll offload the chocolates there. They'll be much appreciated I'm sure. *grin* Sally's just come back from Thailand where she's been working for the last few months. Fortunately, where she was staying wasn't affected by the tsunami. My thoughts and condolences go to those who were not so lucky.
Christmas was fantastic. We stayed with my parents Christmas Eve and enjoyed a fine meal with a very nice Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I'm not normally a red wine gal but this was to die for. Then we were up early Christmas day for a long drive to Mike's family and a rather large gathering for dinner. His family is huge, when you count sibling's partners, children, and dogs. It was a full house! The weather was cold, the food lovely and the company wonderful. What more could anyone want on Christmas day. I walked down to the sea every day to rid myself of a years worth of cobwebs and it feels wonderful. For anyone who's never seen the sea (you know who you are!) I can't recommend it enough. There is something majestic in the power and vastness of the waters that change colour with the feel of the day and lull you with the rush of the waves. I've never slept as well as I did after a walk by the coast.
Now we're back home with the piles of washing and the half eaten cakes and chocolates. I'm taking the chocolates to Sally's tomorrow night. I've got to get rid of them! We measured ourselves up for Kendo armour before Christmas and ordered it and if I eat any more junk food I'll never fit into it! Sigh. Sally's my best friend from school. She's holding a New Year's party at her home and I'll offload the chocolates there. They'll be much appreciated I'm sure. *grin* Sally's just come back from Thailand where she's been working for the last few months. Fortunately, where she was staying wasn't affected by the tsunami. My thoughts and condolences go to those who were not so lucky.