Happy Christmas?

I hope you have all had a happy and peaceful Christmas. We had a great time but it was a bit of a roller coaster mainly thanks to the weather. Exmoor has looked so beautiful in the snow but it has caused a few difficulties. Tim and Bex had a tortuous 8 hour drive down from London on the 18th after spending 3 hours just trying to get out of London but they arrived safely as we went out to a party! We had arranged a large family gathering of 25 on the 19th but the roads where so dicey that we all decided to cancel it. It wasn’t all the food I had prepared or not seeing the family that made me fed up, but the 3 hours I had spent devising and wrapping the best ever Family Brown pass the parcel!

As no one could get out of the village and we had LOTS of food, we gave an impromptu lunch and invited a load of our neighbours. As a result we have discovered the art of getting luncheon guests to leave – just produce a pass the parcel and ask who would like to play and people suddenly have urgent tasks to see to at home! However it was a lovely afternoon and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Derek went down with flu on the Wednesday which meant I had to deal with the horses (with a little bit of help from Tim). After mucking out, loosing the battle of filling hay nets (which clearly have a life of their own) and struggling up with buckets of water on icy steps, Tim and I have both come to the conclusion that anyone who keeps horses must be mad!

We went down to pick Lucy up from Exeter on Christmas Eve and managed to see a lot of the family. Derek was still too ill to come so I had to drive – thank goodness for 4 wheel drive – it is not an experience I would like to repeat in a hurry. On Christmas Day Tim went down with flu so between the 2 men in the house – it was a little bit like a combination of Casulty and Holby City on a bad day. However despite all the signs, we are very happy to report that both are now recovering!

We are waiting in trepidation as Wagtail (one of the springer spaniels) is very pregnant and due any day/hour. I would like to be able to say what kind of puppies she will have but unfortunately we are unsure of who the father is so maintenance claims will be a problem! She is like a large barrel on legs as she waddles around but she still wants to go for a walk. The only problem she has is when she gets stuck trying to get under gates so now waits for me to open them for her. Updates and picture will follow.

The photos are of Dunkery from above Wheddon Cross, hoare frost at Dunkery Hill Gate, Wagtail and Tim and Bexs

We have met so many lovely and interesting people at The Dunkery Beacon and we would like to thank everyone who has stayed with us and to wish everyone a very happy, peaceful and healthy 2011.
Beccy and Derek

PS – Anyone want a puppy?