Holiday Fun

The UK Xmas/New year holiday is long and lazy for many. We began Christmas Eve with services am & pm focusing on the nativity and in between a turkey dinner, crackers and full trimmings for 11 family and friends.
First thing on the 25th we opened presents then headed to church. The congregation was swollen to 70 by 40 Koreans who are to use our building for their own services from next week. Strangely, lunch was pizza and chips for 7 as we then set off for Wales for 3 days with Eleri's parents and sisters – 16 all told. We enjoyed eating, talking, exchanging presents, more crackers, reading, music, games (pictionary, consequences, etc). There was a traditional session with silly string too [see pic].
We 7 then went south to my sister and dad's (just 13 there) for more presents and crackers (same jokes again!), games, chat. Old friends popped in. I had a weird experience speaking Welsh with one who's learning. He never spoke a word before! We dropped our three youngest off with Eleri's sister and headed home then. Her cousin and family were up to celebrate an 18th with Les Mis and the Eye (so 8 of us here Friday night).
Us 4 then went to church again and later to a get together at a deacon's home to welcome 2007. Today we head west again for a big family get-together in Wiltshire. Exhausting but fun!