Cousins

This is Christmas Eve at the farm - first time for about ten years that we've managed to catch Alice, Helen and Thomas on the same shot!

Thomas..........and Tara

Tara is still boarding with us during the week and when her owners are on holiday and is completely obsessed with Thomas - we thought originally it was because he fed her but now Steve does that and doesn't get anywhere near the devotion that Thomas does. And just to prove teenagers do actually leave their bedrooms and laptops once in while, here's Thomas and Tara in action. Tara has her own blog (dictated to Blogassistants # 1 & 2) which you can see on http://taradogblog.blogspot.com.

Some of us worked hard to get the garden and house sorted....

....but some spent most of the sunny days working hard in the hammock. Garden plans got delayed as all the autumn work had to postponed as K wasn't mobile enough to do digging etc but we made huge progress on the house - new kitchen, external doors, wooden flooring and staircase and even managed to start on the decorating (just) before Christmas. I think 2008 will be the year of the paint pot as we finish off!

Max's christening

Max was christened in April and here's some photos to prove:

* the Prices still 'scrub up okay' when the occasion demands

* Helen takes her auntie duties seriously

* Gabrielle doesn't change and Douglas can look serious when he wants to

* None of us managed to get a picture of Alice, Matt and Max!

Start with something spectacular

Not sure if this was a highlight or a lowlight of the year! The red papoose is Kathryn being airlifted off a mountain in the German alps having broken her ankle on day four of what was going to be a great holiday in Bavaria, including our first visit to Italy. Didn't get that far though - Kathryn spent the rest of the holiday in hospital in Garmisch Partenkirchen (care, food, facilities even views all excellent) getting fluent in German and learning to walk again whilst Thomas and Steve managed to do most of the day trips originally planned including 'men-things' such as visiting the Audi factory; that's all the German car manufacturers ticked off the list now so we'll have to start on Italy next. Well at least no-one now says 'have a good break' when K goes on holiday now!