MonoMonday 203 Action and Adventure!

Today we went on our family outing to celebrate Mr MC's birthday (actually Friday) in one of our favourite ways: ice skating at Van Hage's (garden centre)!  Not all of us skate, myself included, and in the past couple of years I've reminded everyone that someone has to look after Violet...well not this year.  This little girl simply couldn't wait to try out the ice and my extra shows a shot of her with Mr MC in action. 
After the skating was finished and hot chocolate drunk by the skaters, we set off in search of Father Christmas' grotto.  Violet was rather anxious and not entirely sure that she wanted to go in but FC was very kind and we were all allowed to squeeze into his room.  We left through a curtain into the shop so that we could buy the usual souvenirs and while we did this, Violet plucked up the courage to peep round the curtain into the grotto.  I couldn't resist this image of her peeking.
Having driven to the rink in driving snow and sleet, the sky had started to clear when we left to enjoy a splendid dinner in Epping before returning  to the slight chill of our home where we are now day 4 without a properly functioning boiler.  Quite enough adventure and action for me in one day!