Boxing Day lunch

Christmas 2006

Jude got home from her night shift about 7am - she walked into the house to smell the wonderful aroma of slow cooked turkey - it had been baking all through the night - yummo!! Ray and Jude toasted their first Christmas as husband and wife with bucks fizz and opened some wonderful presents - we were so spoilt by our family and friends, thankyou!
Jude then went to bed and Ray prepared the rest of the lunch before heading off to collect Carol. There were phone calls from America and Australia as well as a number of text messages from Australia. We sat down to the most wonderful christmas dinner and the three of us chatted away like there was no tomorrow and we laughed and laughed!
After lunch we went up to the hospital to see Edie - we are pleased to report she is looking much much better. The doctor wants her to go to a nursing home for a couple of weeks respite care before going back home to Brighton. The three of us then went to see Becci and Kia where we exchanged pressies and had another lovely time. Check out the two sets of pics below.

My wonderful dishwasher

Christmas Day 2006

A tale of two mums........

Jude's mum Ess was supposed to be having her heart surgery today but lo and behold at the 11th hour she received a phone call to say an emergency had taken precedence and therefore her operation is postponed to 22nd January. Well we ask is her situation not an emergency?!! Ess and Ray are very upset at this news and struggling to come to terms with a further wait. Ess is feeling very tired and anxious so please remember to keep her and Ray in your prayers.

On the other side of the world (Brighton UK) the news is that Ray's mum, Edie, was rushed into hospital in the early hours of last Wednesday morning. She collapsed at home and fortunately was able to press her red carelink button - the neighbours were contacted and went in to find her on the floor - an ambulance was called as were Ray and Carol. The news was not good at first - a build up of carbon dioxide in the blood saw her fighting for breath. However her condition has stabilised and she is on the chest ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. She is very weak and tired and it is doubtful she will be out for Christmas. Please keep her in your prayers as well.

London visit

This weekend Ray and Jude went to London - stayed at the London Guards Hotel which was lovely. We went to the West End where we saw the show STOMP which was absolutely amazing - go and see it if you have the chance. Saturday morning the weather was absolutely glorious and we walked through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Jude then met up with Gill (Majorca) and Lynda and Diana for their annual Christmas lunch at Tuttons Bar & Brasserie Covent Garden London - great food and wonderful company! We then headed back to Brighton to see Edie at the hospital and then back home. Ray's son Ben came down yesterday and we took him to see his Nan - this made her very happy.

The pics show a fair in Leicester Square and a monument in Hyde Park.

Christmas Tree

DECEMBER ALREADY!!!!!!

Can you believe it is 5th December already!! Only 21 days til Christmas, we haven't got any decorations up yet but there are certainly a lot of houses in the area that have. By the way can we just say for today Dec 5th a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Heather - hope it was a good one and no we won't embarrass you by telling the world it was your **th birthday!!!

The other fantastic news from today is that Australia defeated, slaughtered, annihilated, trounced,decimated, demolished, destroyed and devastated the English cricket team!! Please keep Ray in your thoughts as he is feeling very low and dejected by his countries loss.

We had a lovely trip to Newcastle last weekend where we spent time with Karen and Neil and family. Becky and Kia came too and we stayed at a travelodge which was very comfortable. Congratulations to Debbie on turning 21 and to the fantastic news that she and Rob are now engaged!! This pic shows Karen and Lilly on the couch with Kia.