New Year's Day and goodbyes

We had a lovely dinner last night to celebrate New Years Eve - our friends with their children (who are our children's friends) and grandparents were at the next table and there was an additional celebration as the grandad was honoured with a OBE yesterday. The dinner was drawn out to last until midnight and by the time the church bells started ringing and we did the count down to new year, we were all very tired and ready for bed. In the past we would then walk from the restaurant to the centre of the village where they would have the most incredible and long lasting fireworks display. Fireworks has now been banned in this village due to the welfare of domestic, farm and wild animals here so that no longer happens. However as we left the restaurant some people were letting off fireworks and by the time we got home poor Xena was hiding in my bathroom, shaking with fear due to the fireworks. Luckily they finished quite quickly and she was fine again.

Today was beautifully sunny yet again, we have been blessed with such lovely weather on this visit. Luke did not ski as he is in a lot of pain with his dislocated shoulder so Luke, Gavin and I went for a walk up the valley while Adam and Anna went to the village ski run for some more practice for Anna. Before that Anna threw some chickpeas out the front door as is the Japanese custom for new year - its a custom called mamemaki (bean throwing) and it involves throwing fukumame (fortune beans) which are usually dried soya beans but in the absence of finding those she used dried chickpeas! (Anna is half Japanese)

Later we met at the Italian restaurant in town for a pizza lunch (I had GF pasta) before going back home to collect the suitcases and take them to the station. It was sad to say goodbye to them and today was the last day I will spend with Adam for some time. We do have a farewell dinner next week with him before he departs to the USA so at least I felt okay knowing I would see him again. We have also booked a trip to San Diego in May to see him so that has also made me feel better.

We also spoke to Tommy today, he has his last night in Tasmania tonight and then flies to Sydney for a couple of days before returning back to Munich. So a quiet evening for Gavin and I tonight, an empty house once again and Christmas and New Year are over for another year.