A New Year 2026

As we step into a new year, we want to take a moment to wish all our family, friends, and wonderful visitors a happy and healthy New Year! May 2026 bring you joy, prosperity, and countless memories to cherish.

We are excited to celebrate our 26th year of blogging! It has been an incredible journey, and we look forward to sharing more stories, insights, and experiences with you in the coming year. Thank you for being a part of our community. Here's to new beginnings and a year filled with inspiration!

Boxing day

On Boxing Day, we woke to a beautifully cold and crisp morning, with clear blue skies and a bracing winter wind that made it feel unmistakably festive.

We met up with Lee, Cari, and Jude and headed off to the seaside town of Barry Island, wrapped up snugly in our winter coats as we wandered along the seafront. The funfair added to the holiday atmosphere, tempting Lisa and Cari to brave one of the rides despite the chill.

   

Soon it was time to warm up with a sausage roll and a hot drink before popping into the amusement arcade for some classic slot-machine fun.

We then took a gentle stroll down to the beach, where the kids ran freely, laughing as they drew pictures in the sand.

 Eventually, it was time to say our goodbyes — never easy, and just as emotional as ever.

In the evening, Angela and Chris pitched up for a drink and another lovely Boxing day meal.

Christmas Day 2025

Christmas Day kicked off perfectly with Chef Andrew cooking up delicious bacon rolls and pouring mugs of steaming hot coffee — the calm before a wonderfully festive day.

Lee arrived with Cari and Jude, who were bursting with excitement. Watching them tear into their presents under the Christmas tree was an absolute delight, their happy faces saying it all.

The grown-ups then swapped gifts including sets of amusing personalised socks and a unscheduled game of footsie took place on the coffee table.

We then all sat down to an incredible Christmas dinner prepared by Andrew.

The choice of food had to be seen to believed. 

The afternoon flew by with plenty of laughs, fun games, glasses of wine, and a few cheeky chocolate treats. It was a day filled with warmth, laughter, and pure Christmas joy.

5 Christmas eve

The day started with a trip into Central Cardiff to run a few errands, and who should we bump into, only "Pastie Pam" from Pissouri. We had taken the train into Cardiff and were impressed by the new "Tap &Go" they now use on Transport for Wales.

In the evening we joined. Lee and Auntie Pat for a Christmas drink at the Fairwater pub. The pub was busy but with a lovely atmosphere.

We returned home to enjoy a lovely Chinese takeaway .

Another Surprise and a Pantomime

We joined Lisa and Pat and set off for the town of Cwmbran, where we surprised Cari and Jude with our visit to South Wales. The surprise was a complete success, bringing plenty of excitement, hugs, and even the odd happy tear.

We headed into a cosy local café to warm up with coffee and hot chocolate before strolling over to the Congress Theatre to enjoy the pantomime Cinderella. Laughter filled the theatre as everyone cheered, booed, and clapped along while the cast delivered a wonderfully entertaining performance.

Afterwards, Cari declared it was time for a spontaneous “Secret Santa” trip to the local Poundshop. However, waiting until Christmas Day proved far too difficult, so the game was swiftly renamed CUSS – Cari’s Unwrapped Secret Santa. The biggest laugh of the evening came when Rob unwrapped… an Easter egg!

We then returned home for a lively quiz, where the girls’ team emerged victorious. To round off the celebrations, Andrew prepared a superb charcuterie board, which we all enjoyed together with a glass of chilled wine — the perfect ending to a joyful and festive day.

  

A Christmas wonderland Surprise

We woke to a brighter day weather wise in Cardiff, Mandy took the chance too do a bit of shopping and Rob hopped on a train to Fairwater to meet up with cousins Lisa and Lee and unpack a few parcels from Amazon.

In the evening we strolled along the Cardiff streets too admire the Christmas lights and some of the City's characters. 

We then joined Lisa and Andrew at Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland, set against the beautiful backdrop of City Hall. We had kept our visit a secret from Pat ever since booking the trip, so when she turned around and saw us, her reaction was pure astonishment.

The Wonderland was a magical sight, built from scratch each year and glowing with festive charm. A towering Ferris wheel dominated the scene, surrounded by a variety of rides and twinkling stalls. 

There was also a cosy covered area with a stage, a lively bar, and tempting eateries, along with plenty of tables where people could gather and soak up the atmosphere.

We spent a couple of cheerful hours there, warming our hands around cups of coffee and mulled wine, with the occasional beer added to the mix, all while enjoying the buzz of the season. 

Bristol to Cardiff

The next day we awoke to a cold and foggy morning at Bristol airport. We walked over to the new and impressive transport terminal just outside the airport terminal . 

We caught the National express coach over to Cardiff.  We noticed the volume of traffic and how overcast and gloomy it was and made us appreciate how fortunate we are to live in Cyprus 

Arriving in Rob's home town of Cardiff, we popped into The Prince of Wales pub for a bite to eat and a drink.

In the evening we planned to go into the city centre to see the Christmas lights, sadly the weather was against us as the heavens opened up and it poured down. We took refuge in the City's arcade which were just as colourful.