Hectic has finally calmed down. As far as the decorating is concerned, all the painting and electric work has been finished, but the back door is still missing a dog-flap. We have finally begun the slow process of cleaning and tidying. Unfortunately our Christmas tree has suffered due to the large amounts of dust and paint fumes (and lack of water!) and was in such a state that on Monday Jemma and I chopped it down and Justin came home with a replacement. Luckily the old one burns quite well and smells rather nice in our open fire!
Since we last wrote not much has happened. On Sunday 12th we went to the Neonatal Unit Christmas Party. There were so many people there! We saw Alfie and Kim, Kirsty, Robbie and Ned and Serena and Wilf – the usual suspects photographed at the NNU party last year! Of course all the children have grown up quite considerably but we forgot the camera so no pictures this year.
On Monday we had a quiet day at home and in the evening Justin’s Uncle John came for dinner. On Tuesday we ventured out to Wimbledon Centre Court Shopping Centre to meet Michelle and little George. We didn’t get any shopping done but we did have a good chin wag over lunch and coffee! The experience getting the four of us out and somewhere on time was something we failed at completely, but Michelle was very patient. On top of us just being late we found that actually finding the disabled spots in the car park was quite difficult and finding a free one nigh on impossible. Then of course everywhere you go you need to find the disabled access. With a baby and a buggy you can, if you have to, go down a few steps but with Max in his wheelchair this isn’t possible, so getting somewhere is really very, very difficult! We were due to go to the Neonatal Christmas Carol service in the evening but Massimo was so tired that he was fast asleep in bed by 6.30 pm!
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were taken up with the usual looking after a small baby and Massimo. But on Thursday evening Justin’s father and Mal took Justin and I out for a lovely and most enjoyable dinner while Jemma babysat.
On Saturday, as Justin’s sister and nephew and niece were over for a short visit we went down to J’s mum’s for a Christmas celebration. We had turkey and the works and spent a lovely day eating, drinking and opening pressies. We have some lovely photos from the day which we will publish in due course.
Not much has happened this week except that today Massimo and I took Jemma (and a fast asleep Luca) on to the London Eye and then we popped into Justin’s office to say hello. Jemma has now gone home for the Christmas break and we will see her again in the new year.
In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has kindly sent us cards and gifts for Luca’s birth. I will attempt to write to you all individually in due course but please forgive me if it takes a while. Also thank you to all for your Christmas cards and apologies for the second year in a row that we haven’t sent any out!
Justin, Massimo, Luca and I (and Jasper and Horace of course) wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and we hope that 2005 brings everyone good things.