Images from the New Year...

New Year at the farm.....

My Dad is well known for his champion fires...and we were so glad of them on those freezing, dark nights..

This little green, gold & red angel is one of my favourite things...I always look for her at Christmas..

                                                                   A cosy retreat...

                  My Dad's old dog, Ivy....Queen of the farm...oversaw all the festivities as usual...

                                                    while Alice made herself at home....

                                               Our youngest nephew kept us all entertained...

We made full use of the dining table...

                 The old grandfather clock stopped working years ago...but it still looks wonderful.
We had a lovely, old fashioned, family time. Champagne at midnight (& other times too, I'm pleased to say!) I cooked a Middle-Eastern inspired New Year's Day dinner and on New Year's Eve we ate appetisers all night! Then we watched the amazing firework display over London on the TV while we toasted 2011. The dogs all had plenty of walks...the weather alternated between foggy damp & bone chilling frost...but wrapped up well and with the promise of Christmas cake, copious cups of hot tea and that famous fire on our return, it wasn't too hard to prise ourselves out of the chairs...

And last night, after supper, with William safely tucked up and fast asleep, we all revelled in another showing of 'The Godfather'. We went to bed far too late, but couldn't tear ourselves away. So I blame the bags under my eyes on Michael Corleone!

To add to my joy, BBC Radio 3 are devoting the whole first 12 days of the new year to the entire works of my beloved Mozart...the radio is constantly on and I am bathing in his glory every minute. Sheer bliss!

This is just the beginning...2011 holds so much promise. I can't wait to get started!

And the view's looking good to Alice too! I hope that your New Year celebrations were wonderful....xoxo