Christmas Eve in Yorkshire

We all arrived! Crys and Amelia got the last train out of London before they were cancelled. we all arrived at our cottage around 3pm yesterday. It is gorgeous - so full of character. Huge kitchen diner that will seat 10 easily. Lounge, plus another games room with pool table, darts, and lots of board games.
Upstairs (2 staircases) there are 4 bedrooms. Paul and I have a double + en suite, then through a tiny little door we enter Narnia and find Mel and Dave's room. Fortunately that's not their only access! Up the second staircase are 3 bedrooms - Mel and Dave's; Crys and Amelia's; and Ali's. Plus a family bathroom.
There are little stairs and nooks and crannies everywhere.  Crys (start effort) brought a projector so we have set that up in the lounge and last night watched Princess Bride after dinner and other games.
Today we all had a late start, Mel opened her birthday pressies and was suitably pleased. Her choice of activity was to go to Scarborough, so we headed off just before lunch.



Scarborough beach

What pretty villages we passed through! Parked and walked down to the beach - very windy, freezing cold, I was in heaven!

 Lots of fun. Then found a fish and chip shop with a fantastic view and had a light lunch. The toilets were so cute with what has to be the best view on the world!
Home for mulled wine. Played 'pass the parcel' which Mel had prepared. We each had a task when it was our turn. Paul had to make a Queen's speech, Ali had to dress us all and pose us as the nativity scene and then take a timed photo. So much fun. 

 Ali sang Mel a song he had written for her for her birthday.

I had put on a large pot of soup last night, Mel made bread, and we feasted on that. 
Then we headed out to attend the local Carol service in a little old church across the road. It was freezing and dark, but we found our way, to discover the church locked. So we walked up the village main street singing carols to anyone who could hear. It was such fun! After we had run out of all the carols we knew, we turned to come home and sang them again. Lots of harmonies, and the occasional percussion effects from Ali.
So good to get back to the central heating! We watched Pitch Perfect on our huge sheet/screen, then made up the stockings and played Trivial Pursuit till now - it's midnight, Happy Christmas all!