Bradgate Park, Leicerstershire

Stone walls stretched into the distance to Lady Jane Grey's abandoned Castle, that despite hordes of people, was a place of absolute beauty and loveliness.

The tumbling stream was a tad chilly for those who ended up dunking themselves in it.

Golden Pond, Malvern Hills

The hills were alive with the sound of squelching mud... really it was a comedy show getting up the slope and high above the serious amount of geese.

This is one of my all time favourite places.

Leintwardine, Shropshire

Who'd have thought we'd be back and walking down Paytoe Lane, after a precarious look over the parapet at the roaring Teme.

Willow Cottage is still there and The Lion is super smart and the children managed their own table!!!

Croome Court, Worcestershire

A second National Trust property in a week - this is the perfect trip! Detoured around the flooded Severn and across the M5 to Croome. Made it out to a giant puddle and then up the hill to the Rotunda, full of soft, leafy cream mouldings on grey plastered walls - so subtly lovely in the winter sunlight.

Christmas Day, Malvern

A priory, a hound, a mediation pillow, Katy Perry and jumping monkeys... the perfect day, except for the poor Calico Critter that got its arm gnawed - Miffy!

Malvern Link Common

The grass is still greener and the puddles are deeper...

Worcester Woods Country Park

The best positioned park ever - landscaped natural play within a few steps of the organic cafe that Santa frequents, dog walking woodland heaven, bird watching CCTV, summer pedal boats and the lovely NHS hospital, with a male voice choir on tap this festive visit.

Breakfast with Santa, Orchard Cafe, Worcester

There's nothing like an organic sausage and then Santa. A little bit of magic, even for the sceptic, and some awesome sticky putty you can bury plastic fairies in, as the gift of choice.

Pets, Nottinghamshire

There are some newcomers in the UK and for two of the cutest look no further - Flo the Vizsla and Gloria the pussy cat.

Backlit Studios, Sneinton

It was getting dark when we found the entrance amidst the old red brick factory buildings but got no answer on the doorbell or  the phone... eventually our presence registered and someone appeared, ear phones now out, and we climbed the stairs to a brilliant project space full of vibrating cardboard boxes and tiny threads of copper wire connecting them all along the floor.

We turned one upside down, sped between them, flicked the switch to off, waited for some to fall (they didn't) and J drew two boxes kissing. It was surreal with a post-office aesthetic and a sense of communal energy, like people shuffling in their own spaces and occasionally brushing up against each other - all industrious and equitable...

So thanks Zimoun for Rotations and the man in the space for letting us just roam.

Scooter Safari, Weston-on-Trent

The perfect complement to wild swimming in the James - a  high octane Scooter Safari to the allotments, over the canal and on to the swings... what more could you wish for on a Saturday afternoon? Perhaps an apple, strawberry and raspberry crumble with custard for pudding...

British Toys

There's nothing like other people's toys and this trip was full of some great characters.

Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire

Aaaah... The GREAT National Trust - now with adventure playgrounds in the grounds of impressive stately homes like this one, at Sudbury, plus plenty of geese.

Tea and Coffee, Barrowby & Nottingham

 
... and honey.

Super-sizing the best coffee spot in town was a brilliant move - Delilah - and in nearest Lincolnshire is still the best tea shop around - The Cakehole.

Not forgetting the un-photographed but joyous three venues of French Living, with Chante France on the radio.

Geoffrey Farmer, Nottingham Contemporary

We walked in, we went to the back, chatted abstractly and then we got it! A sun-lit glow fell upon us, a palm tree arced over and someone sang, 'Everyday is a holiday'...

'Lets make the water turn black' is a fab show of Zappaesque inspiration - unfamiliar territory to us - all controlled remotely from Canada with a crazy assortment of stage props and lights and audio oddities.

Orston, Nottinghamshire

Sunset at 3.50ish and the damp chill settles into your bones but it was still lovely in all it's greyness, with a glowing nativity and tea shop just around the corner...

M's Marvellous Medicine, Malvern

Panto season is here and we'd read the book, M had concocted the recipe and P hit Waitrose while we did the Coach House Theatre. It was a joyous production. Giant chickens behind you and ingredient memory loss - riotous.

Afterwards M got to go backstage and was entranced by the trap door and hidden computer control station and the exiting players.

Meanwhile J prayed for George's granny who she thinks went to heaven... Back home the medicine was brewed, the kiwi slime crushed and it all proved quite delicious.

Dulles International, DC

Heading home for Christmas...

Cakes for 8

Well one batch was pink swirled meringues with raspberries - Thank you Ottelengi! The second batch was the traditional family-favourite chocolate cake and not pictured was the wonderful party cake - a choc-cherry sponge filled with pomegranate seeds and citrus peel on top.

Plus I forget the due-date butterfly cupcakes for the dentist's office - Thank you J! I think the baking season is now over.

Pom Poms on Floyd

My vision of collaborative pom pom garland making was somewhat thwarted by the repetitive nature of the task. One pom pom is child-led.

The flower versions look fab - like Trufallo trees before the sneeds.

Freezing rain, The Fan

Our first with icicles on trees and car wheel arches and on the leaves - perfect ice-casts with veins and all. Nice to crunch on too, avoiding all thought of pollution.

James River Run ,Reedy Creek

The Young Buck medal winners.

Before and after shots... It was an arduous 3 miles of cross country excitement along the James River and over to Belle Isle (check out the topographical profile here), with a chest cold and little sleep for me. M fairly skipped along. I brought up the rear.

First Friday on Main

We were getting some nightcap brew for the drip at Rostov's and there was music... Feliz Navidad and the girls were hooked. Then during the lead singer's break M asked to go up and together with the guitarist, did a lovely version of Jingle Bells. So the festive season starts...

Hollywood Costume, VMFA

Sometimes the poster is the pull. We haven't actually done Hollywood Costume but Dorothy's sparkling red shoes intrigued us all.

They're paper discs that flutter in the breeze.

I've just spotted that it's actually a V&A show - now I feel bad we haven't been!

Forest Camp, BAPP

The buffalo hunter in the woods was my child!

A picnic, wild play, shelter deconstruction (!) and giant stump ascending - there was plenty to do and plenty of almost-disasters...