Happy New Year 2010!

We've had a lovely first day of 2010. This morning we had friends over for brunch which was relaxed and fun. It was potluck, so each family brought a dish (well two each actually, as they are so kind!), so it was low stress for me and we got to eat some delicious new foods. The spread was really tasty - one of my quiches (I am now becoming known for them), a couple of yummy rice, beans and ham dishes called Hoppin John and Lila's delicious hash brown casserole which was a fave for me. I also made some thing new - chocolate babka, which is a Jewish bread baked with chocolate inside. Served warm, it reminds me of a slightly heavy pain au chocolat from France. Other delights filled the table too. A treat was that dinner tonight was a mix of the leftovers. The photo shows the three children (Sylvia, Graham and Lucy) having brunch together at the little table and generally being goofy :) They all got along really well as always.

This afternoon the three of us went for a walk into West Chester to blow away some cobwebs. It is cold at the moment and the wind is bitter. The sprinkling of snow we got yesterday (about 2 inches) has almost6 gone already, despite the temperatures today. We haven't done nearly as much walking around as we did last Christmas as it feels so much colder, and the air is damp which isn't pleasant. Town was quiet with so many shops closed and even the restaurants looking hungover from last night.

No hangovers for us this morning. We celebrated the New Year in cosy style last night with a Joe-cooked meal - which was fabulous - and a very average movie called Primal Fear. We were in bed and asleep by 11.10. Even the retired neighbours were out partying later than us! We really celebrated New Year at 7pm listening to Big Ben chime midnight on BBC Radio 2. It was a fabulous show with dance tunes from our past that got us all three of us up and dancing.

No ground-breaking resolutions in this household really. I vow to continue trying to get some more 'me time' and get into my hobbies more...my Christmas presents will definitely help with these! And in achieving this goal, I hope to rediscover the Charlotte that is still a bit lost in 24 hour toddler duty and a long career break! Joe wants to read more...again, something he will be able to do easily with the stack of great books he got for Christmas. A good range of novels, historical memoirs and professional development books (currently he is learning to negotiate even better than he already does).

Happy New Year to everyone, I hope this year is a happy and healthy one for all!

Lucy enjoying some telly tonight