getting to the new year

we said goodbye to our xmas guests on the tuesday, and then opened our doors to friends on the wednesday for games to celebrate the new year. quite a few board games were played. Merry and girls came over for the afternoon, which was lovely as do not see anything like enough of them any more. we had a good chat, the girls all played together and bene adored our set of duplo bob the builder things She stayed longer than planned and managed to meet quite a few others of the gang

we got some gaming going, and there was also minecrafting/terraria by the computer fixated younglings. i used a body double playing quelf to do the tricky hiding under the table bits. SB and her friend B did an over skype game with E, who had felt too unwell to come. There was a good spread of food t eat, things to drink and the conviviality of the weds4ed group and sibs/husbands as well as le ciel rouge and their german exchange duaghter – lovely to see them too :).

all stayed up and celebrated in the new year and cheered with the tv countdown  [forgot the indoor fireworks this year!]

we then got to have a head start on a birthday, with a cunningly made in advance cake

the next day we all went skating together before coming back for some more games playing. we had a fabulous day a really lovely, relaxed time with friends.