New Year's Day on the banks of the River Severn and at home, Worcester, January 1st, 2016.

A Very Happy New Year from Vicky and Dave.

The River's up but the flooding is either to the north of here in the Bewdley area or the south around Upton. Worcester's flood defences appear to be shooting the water along nicely. The level has risen a couple of inches since yesterday, and it's still rising, so no-one should be complacent.

The morning was cold and murky dismal but now, come the afternoon, it is milder but raining again.
Perfect time to do some baking. Vicky's Turkey Sausage Rolls come out of the oven whilst her Bread and Butter Pudding waits to go in.
In the meantime, she is making a meringue nest, whilst David uploads our latest Blurb book - it's a happy domestic scene!
6:30 and Emlyn is back in the bedroom asleep on the bed having just consumed a tin of turkey pate. Doubt if he'll re-emerge much before 7.

The Bread and Butter Pudding made with left-over Pandoro Cake is ready to consume.
It is very juicy 'cos Vicky has made it with full-cream milk.
A rarity in our home 'cos the Food Police banned it a few years ago. Gits.

Emlyn supplements his turkey pate with a thorough licking of a Bread and Butter Pudding bowl.

New Year's Eve at Carluccio's, Worcester, 31st December, 2015.

It's 1:45pm and, no, we're not sat in a cafe opposite The Camponile in Florence today, we've merely walked along the river into Worcester for a keenly anticipated New Year's Eve afternoon meal at Carluccio's. The place is packed and the atmosphere is great so bring on the starters!

Mushroom and bacon soup with foccacia. Yummeeeee!

Vicky has chosen facaccia with olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip. Nice.

I can't finish me faccacia. You eat it Dave.

OK Vic.

Thus fortified by our starters we await the arrival of the mains.

Risotto for David and Chicken Salad with barley for Vicky.

Vicky putting a brave face on being told that, sorry, your choice of Plum Tart for dessert is all sold out and then, for good measure, her second choice of Lemon Tart being all sold out an' all.

Never mind, she'll make do with sharing David's Fresh Raspberry with Passion Fruit cream meringue washed down with Italian Chocolate. 

It's gone 4:00pm by the time we leave. It has p*ss*d down with rain for most of the time we've been indoors but our walk home, via one or two shops that are still open, is all nice and dry.

The Law stating 'Thou shalt always carry a big umbrella when there is the slightest hint of rain' has worked yet again (it is a pain carrying it for 3.75 miles tho').

See you in 2016. 

Christmas Day, 2015.

What a lazy morning. It's gone 9 and we've only just got around to the present opening.

Emlyn is indifferent to King Crimson but he knows he's had some Fishy Biscuits for Christmas and that they're around here somewhere.

Ha! I knew the swine had got my fishy biscuits somewhere.

Emlyn has a bright idea:

Wear a silly Christmas Hat and they'll reward me with a fishy biscuit. Never fails.

Merry Christmas from Emlyn and Vicky.

It's now 1:30-ish and we've arrived at Mollart Towers.

George is now 6 months old.

4pm-ish and Pat's Christmas dinner has been consumed.

John and George await the grand present opening ceremony with eager anticipation.

Ellie, John and George.

Graham, Pat, Sue and Ken get down to opening stuff.

From centre bottom: 

Graham, Pat, Ken, Sue, Vicky, Ellie, Millie, Phoebe and John - 

(George asleep and Dave behind the camera).

Millie and John.

Approaching 6 and we're back home safe and sound.

'Deigned to come back have we? Good job, I'm on my last legs here. Now get in the kitchen and give me some more Chicken Liver, I'm starving'.

Christmas Eve, 2015.

We've had our dinner and now it's time for dessert. Pandoro from Carluccio's.

I'd like some dessert too but I'd prefer some Ocean Fish if it's all the same to you.

He may not have any teeth but Emlyn can still give his food a hell of a licking.

The Pandoro, with added strawberries and cream, is ready.

Yay!

Christmas Eve eve (well, if it's good enough for the BBC), December, 2015.

No prizes for guessing where we've driven to this morning.

It's now 11:15 and we've been here about 35 mins having had a breakfast in the cafe.

Right, jams and chutneys, here we come.

Mmmmmmmm, gooey.

The queue for the checkouts.

Kerching!

Worcester Cathedral at 5:50-ish.

We've walked into town and had a tea and cake at The Boston Tea Party and are here in good time.

The Christmas Carol Service doesn't start 'til 6:30 but, according to those in the know, people have been arriving since 5 o'clock. Let's hope we can still get a seat.

We've got seats right in the centre of The Cathedral. Right by the choir. 

Lucky we didn't have a second cup of tea then.

7:50-ish and we're back outside.

Is that a full moon?

This is the one time of year that Worcester's appalling 1960's shopping precinct architecture looks tolerable thanks to the Christmas Tree and lights.

Right, that's it, time to walk back home now.

Going crackers, Birmingham, Saturday, 5th December, 2015.

 Gas Street Basin.

The Birmingham and Worcester Canal.

Worcester is about 25 miles down that way.

Christmas decs in The Cube.

Outside 'The Birmingham Hip' and ready for the matinee performance.

The view from the 'cheap' seats at the back of The Stalls.

4:45pm and we're back outside in China Town.

New Street Station bright lights.

Centenary Square and we're almost back at the car park.

We've had a lovely time and The Nutcracker was excellent.

Here we go, first flood of winter, Pitchcroft, Worcester, Friday, 4th December, 2015.

Just past the Grandstand and the drop down to the lower path is flooded.

It's not our water that causes this - 

it's those pesky Welsh people (not to mention Shropshire) and all their rain. 

Nope. No way down here either.

Down by the boats for hire place and it's time for a diversion, methinks.

View from the 'dry' land of the racecourse.

View across to Gheluvelt Park.

At least the local dogs are enjoying things.