Unsworth Family Day

On December 27th Dan drove us up to the Lake District again to go to the Unsworth family day. We had a lovely meal at the Derby Arms Hotel followed by an exchange of presents for the kids. it was lovely to catch up with the family again.

Bar at the Derby Arms

Tom (Dan's cousin) more interested in cousin Clare's blackberry than all the presents he just received (isn't that always the way!). Mal in the background looking on...

Also we were so organised, secret santa for the adults was even drawn for Christmas 2010 !

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was spent in Liverpool in the morning for Dan, where as I spent Christmas eve in the pub with Jac and Graham. Christmas lunch was round my parent's, it was great (especially the pigs in blankets).

Dan's Christmas tree

Dan's living room fire

Christmas with my family, mum, dad, Laura & Gary

Laura and Gary

Swansea

The next leg of our journey took us to Swansea for the night to see Sarah, Al and Connor. Sarah and Al have been back in the UK for over a year now, and it was lovely to see them all settled and set up in their own place. Sarah cooked us a lovely chicken cassorole for dinner and the next day we went down to Swansea's winter wonderland to the fair (complete with big wheel which Connor loved looking at!). We then drove round the bay to the Mumbles and have lunch over looking the water. We only got to catch up for the one night, but Dan and I are definately looking forward to going back in September and having a bit more time together - pencil in going down to the local for a few while the grandparents babysit Connor!

Connor wanting to go closer to the big wheel

Al and Sarah, Amy and Connor (looking slightly worried by Dan the Cameraman!)

30 Years Young

For my 30th we had a rather impromptu dinner celebration at Sono at Portside, Hamilton. We ate fabulous japanese food, had some good wine and great company....thanks guys for making it a special birthday celebration!

London and down South!

After the wedding venue visit in Leeds, I caught up with my best friend Jac and Dan went off on his travels down to London. His travels took much longer than he thought (8 hours!!) and he has quite a funny story about that, I'll let him comment on that one!

Dan caught up with his uni mate also called Dan, but we'll always remember him as long haired Dan (LHD) as when he was in uni, he had a fantastic pony tail!. LHD has stepped out into the big world of parenthood since we last were in the UK, and here he is below with his new son, John Issac. Him and his partner El, are also getting married next year in September, so we're seeing if we can make it to four weddings on our 2010 trip!

After catching up with LHD, Dan also visited Kwan in London (should be some tagged pics of Dan on FB for that!), and then Dan drove down to Surrey to see his cheeky little bro Josh and sis Bethany (below), and catch up with Dave, Rachel and not forgetting Henry the dog too!.

I caught the train to London on the Sunday night, by this time the start of the mini-ice age that the UK has been in for most of December and January had started. It was certainly an interesting drive for Dan coming to pick me up from Guildford train station!

Thanks very much to Dave and Rachel for looking after us (and Dave's cooking). I have a real craving for that white stilton and cranberry cheese too, that was delicious :)

Also special thanks to Bethany for lending us her room to stay in. I hope you're still keeping those fishes fed!

Here's a few pics from the next few days we spent catching up with the Treble - Hunts: Good Times.

Winter wonderland - walk round farmers' fields behind Dave and Rachel's place

Three generations of Treble men: Dan with Grandad Bill and Dave....at least we can predict that Dan won't be losing his hair!

The wedding venue

Having booked the wedding venue on line, it seemed like a good idea to verify that we had not made a terrible (and expensive) misstake by visiting Oulton Hall near Leeds, and catching up with our wedding co-ordinator at the hotel Helen.



We were blown away by how lovely the venue was and by all the attention to detail from the wedding planner (e.g. wedding planner: 'so when you come into the reception room, how would you like to be announced, Mr and Mrs Treble?' Me: (snigger) Mrs Treble that seems really weird!)


For those coming to the wedding there are other alternatives available for accommodation an Express by Holiday Inn only 5 mins down the road- click here for latest pricing.

More from Cumbria

The Lake District is full of market towns and shops like this, very old and quaint and hiding some fabulous treasures inside. We spent a few hours wondering around these shops and enjoying tea in between!

Lovely olde tea shoppe in Kendal.

At the cottage, as well as the brilliant red squirrel we managed to encounter, we were treated to some beautiful British birds (including many types of tits, and even a Woodpecker!) Unfortunately they were all a bit too quick for us to take photos of most of the time...here is a coal tit enjoying some peanuts on bird table.


One morning we took a short drive out to one of the largest stone circles in Northern England, Long Meg and her Daughters. The legend is true, all four of us counted the stones and no one agreed on how many there were!

Louise and Mal at Long Meg and her daughters
Dan and I next to Long Meg

In the afternoon, we drove a little further to see one of the highest waterfalls in the UK, High Force. We also saw a couple of smaller (though no less impressive) falls to complete a fantastic day.

High Force falls, County Durham

Before the drive home on the Wednesday, we looked in on Dan's Grandma Unsworth. She's lived in Grange-over-Sands for over 20 years and has a lot of great friends there to keep her company. It was lovely to take her out for lunch at The Cavendish Arms in Cartmel and catch up on the family happenings.