Christmas Greeting and Noelle's update

Noelle and Tim would like to wish you a Very Happy Christmas. We are looking forward to a crisp Festive Season and recall the knee deep snow we were experiencing last year. We are enjoying the clear morning skies and this morning we have a good frost on the ground and in the trees. We have made a few lovely walks lately and have added one to the cottage blog with photos of the route. We hope to make a collection of walks that we have enjoyed so that visitors can have a good idea of what to look forward to. We had a really interesting visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park just outside Wakefield. It is very close to the motorway - a good hours drive away from here. More photos to be posted over the next days. We saw wonderful alabaster carved heads which were strangely unreal yet very beautiful. Hailstones and cold winds added to the experience and we were glad to find the excellent cafe, warm and open for business. After a brief pause we met friends and spent the evening at the Shed - an amazing tiny music venue that punches way above its weight. Hank Wangford and the Lost Cowboys amused us till late. We are busy putting trees in front of the Hall and preparing for Christmas. The cottages are slowly taking on a festive look and the Hall gradually looking as if it might be ready for the celebrations. If all works well we will have a traditional Christmas day with all the children except Eddie, who has returned to Patagonia. If you are not of a nervous disposition you can read about his amazing exploits and dramas along with some excellent photos. We are looking forward to our eldest - Alex - getting married in February. Eddie is enjoying his late gapyear finding freedom and excitement on a remote ranch in Argentina Kristina is now qualified and has enjoyed her first experiences working on a children's ward in London. The pace has increased as she now is busy with orthopaedics and the elderly. Ollie is becoming an expert in something esoteric in his consultancy work in London while Rachel thrives on her children's nursing course, also in London. They all live quite close to each other so we can visit them from time to time and enjoy a visit to the city. Tim has recently returned from a further visit to Namibia where he set up a small group of village health workers and is negotiating to return to extend the project in the Spring where he will continue taking far too many photos!. Noelle visited Namibia and enjoyed the sights and also sitting under a tree teaching about babies and nutrition. She visited Plum Village in France to a Buddhist retreat where the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh is based. Well into his 80's he remains thoughtful, youthful and inspiring. Millie our black lab benefitted from prolonged training when Eddie was home to recharge and gather up some money for the next adventure. Max the black and white cat is our only other pet, she loves to curl up on Millie's bed and the two of them sleep contentedly in the warmth of our kitchen. Our black and white wildlife at the top of the garden are very active and have made elaborate tunnel entrances, almost like flyovers. We seem to have fewer birds this year and butterflies are remarkable for their scarcity. We will plant plenty of buddleia in the paddock to tempt them back. The New Year has many challenges and excitements, the greatest of which is the prospect of becoming Bunia and Dziadzius (jadyush) thanks to Alex's Kasia, a lovely Polish girl who will bless us with a small person in the Summer. We hope you will have a Happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you again sometime. Noelle and Tim