Update 8 - Hogmanay 2011 (January 31st for you Sassenachs!),

When Santa got stuck up the chimney he began to shout "you girls and boys won't get any toys unless you pull me out".  I am struck by the outrageous nature of this blatant piece of blackmail from a morbidly obese old man with a beard and a nasty acrylic red and white suit.  When one looks at the facts it is really quite shocking at the number of pieces of European and British legislation this contravenes.  Parking a sleigh on a roof (damaging the solar panels in the process), wedging himself into the confined space of a chimney, stamping soot throughout the house, creeping into little children's bedrooms with 'presents', Rudolf pooing on the front lawn .......frankly it is a disgrace.  However, Happy Christmas from all of us to all of you.  We do hope you have had a wonderful and happy time and that Santa did not get soot on his sack or become wedged in your wood burning stove.

Apologies once again for being rather slow off the mark.  I was rather overtaken by events leading up to Christmas and have just realised that I have not blogged since Emma's last 3 week chemo cycle (hooray) on Monday 19th December.  Emma then switches to weekly chemo and daily radiotherapy (Monday to Friday) starting on the 9th January for 5 weeks.  So basically the worst of the chemo is now over and Emma was firing on most cylinders by Christmas day and was pretty much on top form. This despite her husband suffering from multiple ailments (full blown manthrax, sore foot, deflating inflatable bed etc etc .....).  She has continued to stay well after Christmas and has found that a diet of constant grazing of canapes and sparkling wine seems to be the best way for her to avoid any tummy aches.  Marks and Spencer will be reporting increased profits after Christmas and I will be making Father Christmas look like an emaciated Dr Gillian Keith (skinny veggie food and diet expert for those beyond these shores).  We had a wonderful Christmas just up the road with Emma's brother James, his wife Michelle and their two little girls Rachael and Charlotte.  We were also joined by Emma's Mum and Dad which was lovely.  We now have my sister Belinda staying with the lovely Horace (spaniel!).  She is catering for us this evening and we are being rather spoilt which is lovely.

As you can see from the funny syrup photos below Emma's hair has now departed this parish, although the wig is so good you would struggle to know.  Rebecca is auditioning as the new lead singer for Bon Jovi and Hannah is delighted to be touring with Depeche Mode in the spring as a backing singer.

Predictably I just looked like a particularly scary bouncer (how come our actor friend and friend to the stars Mr Dinsmore looks so attractive with a wig on when in panto!!)

In true Emma fashion she was baking James a birthday cake on Boxing Day and the results are detailed below complete with the birthday boy freshly turned 7 on the 27th December.  

Anyway, I am going to fly now and I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a fantastic happy and healthy New Year (beginning to sound like the Queen's speech).  Love to you all and God Bless.  AK xx