footloose

Seems I need to get this onto the blog before it's ridiculously out of date - so just sneaking it into January!

It was the gloriously sunny winter's day of the Grenoside Sword Dancer's annual traipse around the village back in early January.

Gathered with friends, we watched them perform on the village green with the world (well South Yorkshire anyway) spread out below and beyond

took a brief sortee into the woods while they lunched in the Old Harrow

Caught up with them again after the pub - ruddy of face, oblivious of the freezing temperature and still dancing (them not us!)

Never heard of the Grenoside Sword Dance?  Well you can read more of their long history on the webpage below - even see a video of the dance, buy a Grenoside Sword Dance board game. . . .
Grenoside Sword Dance webpage

So there you have it - I can move on into February now with a clear conscience! 

Chinese New Year celebrations to come next ..........................

cup of kindness

We'll never forget the happy end to the year as 2013 spun into 2014 in a rush of laughter, love and fun that was Rachel and Ben's wonderful sparkly wedding.

New Year's Eve has always been one of my favourite nights of the year and this ranked amongst the best.  The fun started as soon as we arrived at the Malmaison on the beautifully revamped Prince's Dock, right in the shadow of the mighty Royal Liver Building

Now I do regret not taking my camera along, but I thought my iphone would be up to the job.  Sadly the pics are all a bit fuzzy - so sorry about that.  But the evening was amazing and I hope this captures the fizz and fun despite the fuzz!!

order of the night

sweet music as we supped arrival champers . . .

the best man and the groom await the bride

there are readings

and the knot is tied

then the bride and groom lead us all out with an amazing Conga line - to the utter delight of all assembled

glamourous new mums-in-law

generations of family

the new Mr and Mrs Giles arrive for the wedding dinner, to much applause and cheering

then the brilliant speeches full of love and fun under fabulous pink lighting

with a rapt audience

followed by a wonderful live band and plenty of crazy dancing, as it said on the card!!

then all too quickly the midnight hour was upon us.  Onto the balcony for fireworks and ships sirens over the mighty Mersey as the Liver clock struck twelve.   Auld Lang's Syne, hugs and kisses and a sprinkle of that magic that heralds the start of a New Year . . .

So thanks Ben and Rachel for giving everyone such a fabulous, fantastic and fun night and here's wishing you buckets full of love for your life together.

What music clip to play - well of course it had to be the Conga . . .take it away Black Lace 

Catching up

Been too busy to blog this month - or maybe too cold and damp and spent too many evenings huddled by the fire catching up on Nordic Noir!!

And so this was Christmas . . . 

Meeting with friends old and new in Bakewell

 Where we sneak a shot of the original bakewell pudding recipe

 and learn that Jane Austen once stayed at the Rutland Arms back in the day

 Then the Christmas Eve arrivals dive straight into cake decorating

 and Apple Studel sculpting

 using our magic ingredient gift

 exhausted chefs

 Aperol Spritz's for Christmas morning (recipe here)

 crptic packaging to open

 There never was such a one . . .

 and all to quickly, back off to London to see in the New Year

so next we have a wedding to go to . . . . .