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A white and happy New Year…

 

After four busy and enjoyable days spent exploring Salzburg and the surrounds, we were due to head back to the UK on this first day of the year. Much to the delight of us all, we awoke this morning to find Salzburg had turned white overnight. Snowing at last-such a memorable start to our New Year!

   

We had taken the girls two days before to top of Untersberg mountain to see snow for the first time – this was their first experience of snow actually falling. The girls were too excited to eat breakfast knowing that it was snowing outside, so we rugged up and headed out to play. After that, it was off to the airport and our new home away from home. Now we are back in Old Windsor again, I am looking forward to settling into some sort of everyday routine. Our shipped household goods are due to arrive at the end of January – it will be quite a comfort to be surrounded by our own furniture and odds and ends again. Once all of the unpacking is complete, I will have time to get back to a few creative things again – there are quite a few half completed projects that I am keen to finish up. Then there are all of the new ones that I am itching to get started on…. 2009 looks to be a year filled with new experiences – it will be exciting and I’m sure at times daunting. Whatever happens, it is certain to be a challenging and fulfilling one. I haven’t really had time to make any resolutions – maybe once I have caught up on a bit of sleep I can give it a bit more thought! Here are a few holiday snapshots…

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year ...

4 degrees and dropping…

It was a brisk three degrees by the time Gracie and I reached our destination this afternoon: the

Savill

Gardens

which is just up the road from where we live.

A perfect temperature for a quick stroll around the gardens.

After all, the sky was clear and I was determined to make the most of the pale afternoon sunshine. Grace was bundled up in her pram and all that was visible were her big dark eyes. She soon fell asleep so obviously the cold was not bothering her. I realized after the first minute of pushing the pram that forgetting my full gloves was a bit of a problem. All I had in my bag were fingerless mittens- very stylish hand knit ones but which offered little protection from the bitterly cold wind. I was determined however, to finish my walk. I had come to get fresh air and fresh air I would get even if my fingers turned blue and fell off getting it.

The winter trees were so beautiful in their stark bareness, that I made my numb fingers work to capture a picture. Then I hurried back inside to where all the sane people were sitting and bought the most expensive hot chocolate I have ever had. I didn’t really care as it did double duty defrosting my hands and face- well worth every last cent( or rather pence) indeed.

Tomorrow we are all off to

Salzburg

where it is forecast to be minus 2 degrees.

And yes, my gloves are already packed.

(Back in a few days….)

 

 

 

baby,it's cold outside...

Christmas morning, crisp and clear with pale blue skies. There was even a little bit of sunshine thrown in to make us feel at home. We had a relaxed morning opening presents (well, as relaxed as it can be with three excited girls!) and then a late breakfast of raspberry pancakes.    

Thought we’d head out for a brisk walk while Christmas lunch was cooking- none of us bothered with hats or gloves as it looked quite mild. However, it was much colder than we had expected( about 6 deg)  – we will definitely not step out without the woollies next time.

 

Grace was the only one with enough layers on and even she found it a little chilly! 

Thinking of heading into London tomorrow to do the tourist thing with the girls- ride on a red bus, look at Big Ben and perhaps the Christmas windows.

Whatever we decide to do, you can be sure that we’ll all be wearing our hats!

We are here...

 

at last, after a very long flight, we have finally arrived in our new home.

So exciting to explore our house and surroundings-we have had a warm welcome from our new neighbours and we are looking forward to making new friends.

Old Windsor is beautiful and we are lucky enough to live right next door to the Deer Sanctuary, which is part of the Great Park. The girls and I are looking forward to long walks in the Park and visits to the nearby Savill Gardens. We went for a wander in the Park on our first morning here- the grass was still crunchy with frost, a bit of a novelty for all of us.

 

Rose and Charlotte were thrilled to find real little Christmas trees growing right outside their front door, whilst Grace is a little puzzled by the many layers of clothing I dress her in. Her little head has outgrown the hat I knitted for her, during our winter, so at least I have an excuse to get out the needles and knit another!  (hmmm,since when did I need an excuse?). She has grown delightfully plump and round in the last month - that lovely roly poly stage and all smiles and giggles.

 

All would be perfect if I could click my fingers and have all of my family and treasured friends( you know who you are) close by ( and, yes Aunty Al, we are missing you as much as you are missing us,trust me). However as that cannot happen, we will content ourselves with a lot of phonecalls and the prospect of sending and receiving letters in the mail. I forgot to pack the webcam so Skype is sadly out of the question until the sea freight arrives at the end of January.  

So from our new small corner of the world, I wish you and your loved ones a most joyful Christmas. Thank you for your messages of support over the last month and indeed the past year, which has been a year of great change for our family. I am looking forward to sharing our adventures in the year ahead-it looks to be a challenging and exciting one.

May your year ahead be full of grace....