David and Luca

It pays to believe in Santa. He arrived late last night at the Dower House having apparently deemed that His Lordship and I had passed the good pensioner test.
I am now the proud owner of a box of coloured wax crayons and a drawing book of many coloured pages.

Breakfast was circumvented for His Lordship and me after some fine dining last night when too much champagne and wine proved a certain disinclination to eat.

Instead, we went out for a cold damp walk to clear our heads while the oven was heating up to receive Terence.

The young adults came in time for the Queen's Speech at 3pm, and yet more champagne was quaffed.

There was a certain logistical exercise in juggling oven space and the number of items requiring to be cooked, but eventually everything did get cooked, although the pigs in blankets were almost forgotten, until on the point of incineration, they were rescued by Budapest Boy and the eating frenzy commenced.

The young ones have now departed clutching a bag of turkey and stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, while His Lordship and I sit like beached whales watching 'Call the Midwife'.
It is just as well Christmas meals only come once a year.

As an added point of interest, Budapest Boy was able to purchase a Cadbury's Easter egg today- the world has gone mad!