What a Christmas

Well, it couldn't have been better. We saw all of our kids and grandkids on Christmas Day. We started off at Steph's house with a terrific present-opening extravaganza followed by a brunch that was really very good. We had Eggs Benedict and incredible lox from NYC brought by Al and Steph's annual Christmas Day brunch guest Susan. Oh, did I mention the bottles of fizz. Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin. Anyway,
The last post had pics etc but here's one of Al putting together a game for the twins.




We got to P'ville by 4:15 pm and had some more champagne with Emily, Jenn and Anth and his parents. Well, we needed more fizz after the 2 hrs+ drive.
Then Anth brought out 4 wines he'd been saving for 10 years or so and along with a great lamb dinner with all the trimmings- onions in vinegar, mint sauce, carrots and turnips, gravy, mushrooms, green beans, broccoli, ham, turkey, fingerling taters, oh we had it all..........
Jenn and Anna sang for us. ( I tried to mess it up by singing along but they ignored me, thanks to God)

Another one of Drummer Boy.

Christmas Morning

Here are some snaps and vids from earlier this morning...

Two Centuries, Merry Christmas

This is my 201st post. Oh you lucky people!


We had a terrific night tonight with a great dinner of prime tenderloin and Brunello di Montalcino.............

Then we all went Christmas caroling.( Evie and Patch too.)

I am a bit pressed for time ; it is late and we want to be back where the twins are early manana so we can see the presents opening.....So I am going to do little editing and just load it all up......












Here we are caroling.






After we have lunch we will be heading up to Pflugerville to see Anna and Colin for Christmas Day at The Martins. It's all go int it?

Evelyn and Patch.

This does not need narrative.............

Nor does this......

Cruise Stuff

I know I posted some of this before but editorial prudence prompted by Steph brought about a rewrite.

The nicest thing about this big ship was the Promenade. A five-storey open space street through the center of the boat which connected the 3 storey dining rooms in the aft area to the theater at the other end. Along the way was the Purser's Office, the casino entry and several bars and a number of shops and even a Pizza joint. Here's a vid from my cabin on the first day aboard.



And here's one from a few days later... with commentary about the lowering of my expectations of Royal Caribbean. A little elitism showing there..


And a video tour of the street made before I knew that Cleopatra's Needle was an 'event' place a little smaller than La Scala, the main theater.







If you're not fed up by now, here's a vid from the ski lift in Funchal.



It really is a splendid ride and once at the top you can take a toboggan ride back down which is a lot of fun.

Here is one of the ship from the pier in La Palma


Here is a side street in La Palma, Canary Islands.


And a pic of me in Cartagena............

Barcelona to Galveston to Austin to El Paso, Oy veh!

It's been a long time since I posted, I know.
I was unwilling to pay the 50 cents per minute that Royal Caribbean charges--with slow service too.
I saw Int.Cafes in Cartagena and Bahamas but they were uninviting and seedy looking so I opted out.
I woulda posted when I got home on Sunday but we drove straight to Austin from the pier in Galveston and got home to Houston late. I barely had time to check my e-mail before we left again for dental\dermatological appts in El Paso. So here I am on Bev's lap top in the hotel waiting on our flight in 3 hours.
I will try to post some pics tomorrow. I have several you might find interesting like the ice show on the ship and the Royal Promenade, a large street that runs through the centre of the boat with shops and eating places along the way.
My old friend Jim Enright and I had a nice time and met some really good people.
One of the interesting people was a lady who was on her first cruise and first time away from her husband. I have some pics of her and I will write more about her, perhaps, next blog.
We had a lovely day In P'ville and Anna's performance was worth the long trip. Colin was a gentleman and sat the entire performance between Nana and me. I was impressed by his behaviour and I hope it continues so we can have him overnight a few times in Houston soon.
Baby Ev had not forgotten me and I am thrilled she says Grandad almost clearly. I took a little vid of her and I'll post that soon too.