Christmas Lurgy, Exploding Ovens and Thieving Seagulls

Ok, so I realise I am a little late in writing this post but with all the joys of Christmas and New Year, I really haven’t had chance to get around to it. Well, I say joys but in reality that consisted of snot (and the entire Kleenex factory), uncontrollable coughs, sleep deprivation and just to top it off an oven that blew up ‘mid Christmas dinner!!’

Luckily for us (not the turkey or the cow), the meats were cooked to perfection just as we heard the bang. I was not quite so lucky and although alcohol lubricated some parts and numbed others, it did nothing to cure my overall condition and I suspect may have helped to prolong my symptoms. I did keep trying though.

Having had enough of Christmas and the whole ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’ (I was feeding my cold for England), we decided that a trip to the coast to blow away the cobwebs was needed as was a long stroll to burn off the excesses. I say we decided…I decided!! I’m sure my other half would have preferred to be on the golf course. However with the promise of fish and chips he was converted…no trip to the English seaside is complete without eating fish and chips out of the paper outside in the cold and wind. It’s tradition.

So off we set on our road trip over North Yorkshire’s finest, The Fylingdales. It had snowed a couple of days before and the remnants still lingered over the moors. The scenery was stunning.

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We arrived at our destination, Whitby, a small coastal fishing village situated on the Yorkshire coast, North of Scarborough and Filey. From the old town of Whitby, 199 steps lead up to the parish church of St. Mary, whose churchyard on Whitby’s East Cliff gave Bram Stoker the inspiration to write his world famous book, Dracula. I have a bit of a fascination with Dracula and all things vampire but sadly we didn’t get around to visiting the Churchyard. I didn’t think that the OH would appreciate swapping the golf course for a churchyard and wasn’t sure my poorly body could manage 199 steps. Next time!!!

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Whitby’s skyline is dominated by the ruins of St. Hilda’s Abbey, high on Whitby’s East Cliff. Spreading below Whitby, a maze of alleyways and narrow streets run down to the busy quayside. And boy was it busy – everyone and their dog must have had the same idea.

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We strolled the quayside and braved the cold and the wind. It was a beautiful day if a tad on the chilly side. I was layered up for Antartica (and looked about 5 sizes larger than usual – although some of that could have been down to me feeding my cold).

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Although I don’t eat seafood, we did eventually work up enough appetite to visit the busiest chippy we could find (always a good sign of fab food). Paul took his takeaway box of Whitby’s finest fish and chips (thank you Magpie)while I tucked into sausage, chips and curry sauce (I was still feeding that bloody cold). We ventured outside into the cold to eat them…it has to be done. We also thought it would be a good idea to feed the seagulls (who knew they liked curry sauce?) Paul fed them, I took photos.

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This cheeky chappy actually swooped down and pinched Paul’s long awaited fish. He was far too quick for me to get a photo and I would have had to pick myself up off the floor from laughing!! Mr H was far from impressed. I was in hysterics…you had to be there!

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Fully fed, watered and exercised, we decided to head back home before the weather turned. We were treated to the most fabulous sunset over the moors, the phone photos don’t do it justice.

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So in between sneezing, family visits, eating, sneezing, consuming alcohol, more sneezing and repairing an oven, that was about it for Christmas. I did manage to drag myself out on NYE, if only to get wear out of my new Millie Mackintosh dress and to help my friend celebrate her 50th birthday.

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Belated it may be, but a very Happy New Year from me. Hope 2015 brings you all much health, wealth and luck and happiness….and anything else that you may have wished for. Cheers!!!

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All the best…Liz x

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