The Opera House, Budapest

Well first things first- 'We are once more a grandmother', having heard last night that Ewan had arrived 10 days early in Glasgow.
All is well, and both he and Glasgow daughter are now back home in time for Christmas, a case of done and dusted!

We felt very Christmassy ourselves today when we went to the Opera House to see the matinée production of the Nutcracker Ballet. The inside of the building is a gilded extravaganza, very grand and imposing, and the ballet was superb with wonderful costumes and eye watering leaps and splits.

After a restorative coffee, we had a wander around the emptying streets as people made their way home to their families for Christmas Eve celebrations, shops and the Christmas Market stalls shut, leaving only the tourists like us trying to find somewhere to eat.

After last evening's gargantuan feast with David and his girlfriend, Luca, which she prepared, we were hardly hungry, but still happy to nibble what was on offer in our hotel and sample their beer and whisky, before saying an 'Au Revoir' to the young couple and retiring to our room to draw breath and catch up with the news of our newest family member.

His Lordship and I still have Christmas Day and a dinner with David and Luca to look forward to.