Boxing Day...

It has been a family tradition for quite a few years now that Mum and Dad, John and I go for a walk on Boxing Day and have pasties that Dad has made.  Last year we did it in the snow at Montacute House with Vix, Trev and Tracey, Laura and Mark and their respective doggies.  Two years prior to that we dragged Mum and Dad to Burton Bradstock where we met up with Vix and Trev and Smudgie and did it on the beach!!!  Although the weather has been variable I dont think we have ever had rain in all the years that we have been doing this.  Today was not going to let us down whatever the weather...

This year's walk had been organised by John and I to take place up at our end of the island.  We were due to be joined by Janice and Ray, Nicky and Mark, Liz and Bill, Eileen and Gwyn and Hadyn.  Unfortunately Liz and Bill here unable to make it as Bill has a chest infection.

We assembled at To Karabani and although Yaya said she would be open she wasn't!!!  Still we all got there and John and Ray shot off with the cars and the food and the rest of us went down to the camp-site at Polis which was our starting point.  The journey there was a bit hairy as the torrential rain of the past few days had made the access nigh on impossible save for a 4x4!!

Anyway this was our initial happy group (less John, Ray and Dad) assembled at the starting point (Polis Campsite) ready for the off.  It was a shame really - if we had walked at 8.00am we might have had full sun as the day started so promisingly but by 11.30am the cloud had begun to mount up - still it wasn't raining and that is always a bonus and fresh air is always good - especially after a day of excess!

I might be biased but I think that this end of the island is beautiful even when it is cold and grey.

We all agreed that it was good to blow the cobwebs away and get some fresh air and what better place to do it?  Those of us who have walked together over the past I don't know how many years agreed that it was good to have a different venue.

It was only a matter of time before we were joined by Ray, John and Dad who had been down to the end point and deposited all our food, chairs, tables and one car.

It had been my intention, had the weather been a little better, to go for a swim and I had dressed accordingly but I was let down by my mucker Nicky who had whimped out at the last minute - all the talk of her physio and poorly hip didn't wash with me!!!

I did a finger test and the water actually felt quite warm so I might have been tempted if it wasn't for having to sit around in wet clothing afterwards!!!

Anyway this is the assembled motley crew enjoying mulled wine, hot pasties and Christmas cake at Latchi Marina.  No sign of sun at this point but when a group of us walked round the harbour to take a look at the boats we were actually blessed by some fleeting sunshine which was beautiful.

We did the ferrying back to the camp-site to collect all the cars (which had to negotiate the mud slicks once again) and said our goodbye's - although not blessed with sunshine it had been a lovely day.

Mum and Dad had to come back to Droushia to pick up all their stuff and so we asked Ray and Janice to join us and play a game of Mexican Trains (dominoes).  Whilst Dad snoozed we had a game full of friendly banter and a good time was had by all.

Now that they have gone the house is back to normal (except for the decorations).  Christmas is all but over but we have had a really really good time.

We have just heard from Trev and Vix that they kept the tradition up at their end and made pasties and walked at West Bay.  Maybe it wont be too many years before we are all doing it together once again.

Have a fantastic 2012 T&V and Murphy, Milo and Merlin xx