Tumbleweed...

Well. So that was that. It's only January 2 but I feel Christmas and New Year are pretty well over.

It was all very nice indeed. On the night of the ruby wedding party there were ten of us sleeping in the house, which was a bit of a squeeze. We have four bedrooms and two bathrooms (two bathrooms are not quite enough for ten, we've concluded, though better than one) - and a new fancy-pants blow up bed for the sitting room. This fell to the lot of Son and Daughter-in-Law since they were only staying for two nights at that point. By the time they returned for New Year, Niece and Nephew had departed so there was a bedroom available again.

Much food has been consumed. Various silly games have been played. There has been considerable cuddling of Grandson and Granddaughter (who continues to sleep through the night, hurray hurray, despite having a flowing cold now).

My brother and sister-in-law brought Grandson this tent, which is pointed and looks rather like something that Henry V might have slept in before the Battle of Agincourt. Or possibly it's supposed to be a Big Top. Anyway, he was delighted. "A castle for me!" he exclaimed, and took some of his traffic jams inside. The sitting room, which had a sofa brought from the living room for extra seating as well as its normal furniture, a Christmas tree, many toys on the floor and rather a lot of family members sitting around, didn't perhaps quite need a tent in it as well. Daughter 1 and Son-in-Law 1 have kindly decided that they don't have room for it so it can stay here. Hmm. However, it folds up and he really likes it so that's fine. Yesterday, we had his other grandparents with us so though we missed Niece and Nephew, there were 11 of us plus the two littles at dinner, which was lovely.

Today, however, alas... . They've all gone. Daughter 2, who's been with us since before Christmas, departed before dawn this morning. Brother and Sister-in-Law went away at 10 and Son and DIL at about 2pm. The house is very quiet. The washing machine has been much in use. I bless the inventor of the automatic washing machine. I trust he's in heaven, waited on by angels. (Unless he's still alive, of course.)

Daughter 2 and her husband are about to move from their rented flat in London to a flat that they've bought. They get the keys tomorrow and move in on Saturday. She's very excited but it's a busy time and I'm sure they'll be exhausted. Fingers crossed that they still like their new flat when they see it again. The rented one is damp and their neighbour plays very loud rock music, so we're hoping that this one is at least quiet and dry. It's also bigger, with an extra bedroom, and looks more stylish in the pictures, though is further out of the centre of town. Thinking of you, D2, and missing you as always.

I'm off to take down bits of tinsel and baubles and things. I want to get the house straight again and do some dusting. Bah humbug.

I hope all bloggy friends and lurkers had a good time over the festive season.