Great nephew Jack Wroe in his Sheffield Steelers' ice hockey strip

Jack's swapped his Minnesota Wild for the Sheffield Steelers....for training only I think!

Dancing Queen ..again

Mid Week Break to llangollen

Had a good few days last week traipsing around Denbighshire in Mid Wales, with a trip to the N Wales coast (Llandudno) as well. Weather was changeable, from heavy snow in the evening to very mild during the days! The walk along the aquaduct (spelt acquEduct in Wales apparently) was pretty challenging in the high winds!

Winding down Horseshoe pass

River Dee -running past Llangollen steam railway

Marg and Sue -all dressed for dinner!

Llandudno

Horeshoe Pass

We have arctic conditions here "up north" but it makes the tree in the courtyard look pretty!

We have a smaller tree this year inside the barn but we love all the decorations that we've either collected or been bought over the years

Lat Sunday, whilst outside the blizzard reined down, we were in a local hotel enjoying (oh yes we were) a panto with Jack and Emily..Aladdin. getting back home was a bit of an ordeal -my car doesn't do snow and ice very well!!

Prague Xmas Markets 2009

The Hotel Josef where we stayed for 4 nights. Very contemporary in the old market town area just off the Jewish Quarter

This is what it's all about -hand carved wooden nativity scenes

..and of course we took a carriage tour of the night scene

and here's the spectacular Xmas tree with the famous gothic church as the backdrop in the old town square

Wembley waits for Jack!

Great excitement last night as Jack's football team (Sheffield United -the Blades) beat Preston North End to reach the Championship play off final at Wembley, where they will contest promotion to the Premier league (worth £40m) against Burnley...Dan and Jack are both season ticket holders so will definitely be going, and hopefully Sally will be able to get hold of a ticket through her Dad's membership as he'll be vacationing in Canada.

Jack went to the match last night and rang me on the way home; really excited by it all. I think the atmosphere at night games is always enriched.

The play off final will take place next Bank Holiday Monday...fingers crossed for Jack's Blades!

"Flowers in the rain, making the garden grow"...etc.

I promised to let you see the climbing yellow rose to the side of the barn door; so here's a few pics as it comes into full bloom. Lovely little multi headed blooms.

Speaking of blooms here's Emily peering through the galleried landing at me,

and here's the two of them tucking into "breakfast at Grandma's" whilst watching Kids' TV!!