Maulden Wood - reflecting on 2014

Today was a first, we visited a Faith Woodlands Communities forest. The leaflet was great, we followed the Faith Walk path, to get to the Labryinth, a circular clearing to walk around, reflect and meditate, then you get to the centre and think about what is good in life. What better could we do on New Years, we walked through the woodland, reflecting on 2014 and what an amazing year it has been. Although, it still start with a picture of both of us in a horrible article in the newspaper, but luckily it got better. Some highlights:

• Walking a marathon
• Trooping the colour, getting tickets to watch
• Walking down the Mall to see the royal family on the balcony
• Watching a football match for the first time
• Going on a speed boat on the Thames
• Many amazing afternoon teas
• Watching the London marathon
• Watching London Pride
• Camping with doggies!
• Canoeing with Windband
• Watching Laurence and Jerome get married in Paris
• Visiting the set of Bad Girls
• Windsor Castle
• Scotland tour
• Visited the Tower of London poppies
• Started a Brownie Pack
• Attended the Cenotaph Remembrance Day Service.
• The Women's Network winning a Civil Service Diversity and Equality Award
• The Women's Network winning a Breaking the Mould Award
• Hunting Paddingtons in London
• Christmas in Essex
• An Ice based anniversary to the Ice Bar.

Hunting for Paddingtons

After watching Paddington at the cinema, we just had to go hunting for the 50 paddingtons in London. Alas, it was the last day they were insitu, they have been there over a month! So, we were on a mission, and it definitly was a mission, Oxford Street between Christmas and New Year was not fun! We did manage to nab 13 Paddingtons though.

Boxing Day - Coggeshall wreaths

Coggeshall has the most amazing Christmas wreaths, everyone of them was different. I did look like a right weirdo though, especially when a family came out of their door when I was taking a picture of their wreath!

Christmas Day - British Christmas

I love celebrating French and British Christmas. It's every childs dream to open their presents on Christmas Eve and that's my favourite French tradition, then stockings on Christmas Day. Morning started by finishing our courses from last night, so we had cheese and chocolate log for breakfast. We then travelled to Ali's Dad to celebrate our British Christmas, turkey and all the trimmings and custard and ice cream.

Christmas Eve - 2.5 courses out of 7!

I do love working over Christmas, it's so quiet and I get to catch up. Penny loves going in the car, so you can imagine her excitement on the way to Essex to Ali's mum. We only managed to get through 2.5 of the 7 courses though! The main course started at 23:30, the whole camembert was amazing for starter. Ali loved her lobster thermodore and

St Neots Choral Society at Christmas

It's definitly Christmas now, the night of the St Neots CHoral Society Christmas concert. This year it included funny readings in between songs, including an Antarctic Christmas and Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas.

Ice themed Wedding Anniversary

This is the first time in 5 years that we aren't in Iceland and for the last 3 years, we have spent our anniversary at Hotel Ranga. Not this time, instead, I planned a day of ice. We started by filling our bellies at Choccywoccydoodah and eyes bigger than the belly happened again and we couldn't finish our lunch. We then went to the Ice Bar for Champagne in -5, then a dash to Winter Wonderland for the ice sculptures. Winter Wonderland was a huge funfair, so we quickly left as it was commercial hell, but we had an amazing Ice Day.

St Neots Christmas Lights

After living in St Neots for 3 years, we have finally seen the switching on of the Christmas Lights. The centre was closed, a fun fair descended, a stage erected on Market Square where my Brownies performed dances, the Mayor switched on the lights and then the fireworks. Feel like we are settling into St Neots life now.

End of Awards Season!

This month has been the most surreal of my entire career. I was over the moon to hear that the Women's Network was shortlisted for a Civil Service Diversity Award, when we won, I cried! Then two weeks after we won a Breaking the Mould Award, then two weeks after that, I was stood in Lancaster House, practically next door to Buckingham Palace, with a room full of very important Civil Servants, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. What a proud month.