Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let it Snow!

I realise that compared to the rest of the Northern Hemisphere it's not exactly blizzard conditions out there but it's good enough for us. We won't say no to more, though, so we can get the sledge out that's been sitting unused in the shed for years.

Why Don't They Work??

After changing the background to my blog a long time ago, I have often attempted to paste in another background to suit the season or time of year but it just doesn't seem to work anymore. Very frustrating and I'm stuck with one I really don't actually like now!

Christmas in Pictures

You wouldn't know but I have toned it down this year!

Penguins

After the Superlambananas last year, Liverpool now has hundreds of colourful penguins dotted around the city centre. I recently took the kids into town to go round them all, not realising just how cold and wet it was until we got there. We managed to see about 20 of them before we all agreed to head back to the car and get home and thaw out.







We also have a temporary Liverpool Wheel which I walk past on my way to the bus stop every night. I am definitely going on it before it goes in January, I'll be terrified but I'm determined to do it.

The Doog

Henry Hound is now almost 6 months old and about 4 times as heavy (if not more) than when I first picked him up to bring him home. I know - I've just had to lift him into the car to get him to the vets to be microchipped, out of the car at the vets, onto the table in the vets and back in the car again. That's some weight you have, Doogie.

I promised his breeder I would send a photograph of him when he is 6 months old but trying to get him to stay still is impossible. Even if I hold a treat up for him and get a perfect profile, the minute the camera clicks, his face shoots round to look at me and it's just a blur. I will also be sending the breeder some photos of the chewed up shoes, skirting board, kitchen chairs, and half-eaten Christmas ornaments.







We wouldn't be without him, though.

Remembering Penny

Today I went to a very sad funeral of one of my friends, Penny. She was only 43. Penny was diagnosed with breast cancer about 4 years ago and had all kinds of different treatment and medication which in itself made her very ill. We were in work the day she told me she needed to see a doctor. I told her it would be something and nothing. She said "Karen, I was born under a black cloud and I know this will be serious". It was devastating when she had it confirmed that it was an aggressive form of cancer.

She fought long and hard, eating the worst looking concoctions and taking medication that wasn't yet properly passed. In other words, she was prepared to be a guinea pig if something could cure her or prolong her life. And she never complained. Not once.

Penny leaves behind her husband, George, and two children, Jack who is 12 and Alice-May who is 7. She will be so sadly missed.

He Knows

Ben told us the other day that he knows Father Christmas isn't real; everyone in school says so. There was no point trying to pretend as it wasn't the first time he's questioned it. I asked him how he felt about it and he said "I feel really sad".

He then went to walk away, turned round and asked "Will the reindeer still leave my new pyjamas on Christmas Eve?". I could have cried.