I was dreaming of a white Christmas.....

Now back at home in wintry Rome, the only reminder we have of a few wonderful days staying with Andrew and Lisa are the photos.  It was the first time Vito and I had spent Christmas in the UK since 2006 and only the second time in fifteen years, so was lovely to be back with the familiar traditions, sounds and scents of my childhood.  I have NEVER in my life been in the snow at Christmas and have always wanted to have a white Christmas. So can’t say like “I used to know” as the old song goes, but oh, how wish I did! Travelling to the north of the UK I actually hoped my wish might come true, but no such luck L  However, there were compensations.  For instance the 24^th, dawned bright and beautiful and saw the four of us, accompanied by Lisa’s parents and our “grand-puppy” - we don’t have grandchildren ;) - on a walk through the beautiful Golden Acre Park. 

Yorkshire has some magnificent countryside, as you can get an idea from these photos of the park. 

The scenery sparkled in the winter sun

Although terribly muddy from recent rain, the scenery sparkled in the winter sun. 

Meanwhile Vito and I snuggled together to keep warm, because although bright and beautiful it was also rather on the “crisp and chilly side”. 

Vito and I snuggled together

Well that’s my excuse anyway and I’m sticking to it J   

The puppy had a whale of a time and thoroughly enjoyed herself racing after a ball that Andrew and Lisa threw for her. The kids were all for walking to a nearby countryside pub but we “oldies” preferred a lazier way, and so we went back to the car and drove to the very traditional little pub

Traditional countryside pub

that Andrew and Lisa had in mind, which is in the middle of nowhere.  The pub was small, but had a warm log fire,

and of course a friendly Christmas tree and welcoming bar.

Welcoming bar

Warm log fire

It also had an enormous car park around the back, so it is evidently a popular watering post, but when I said in the middle of nowhere I wasn’t joking.  Take a look at this.

In the middle of nowhere

 This was the view from the front door of the pub!