Reflections on 2016

I get very excited about New Year and have deduced its because I’m an obsessive ‘finisher’. I love reflecting at the end of a year and then look forward to a new blank sheet of paper for the year ahead. I strangely prefer ‘even’ years too. So what did 2016 bring?

·         Sailor and Penny’s first time on a ferry when we visited Isle of Wight, cottage holiday in Cornwall which was beach filled, cottage holiday to Nortuumberland where Sailor and Penny visited Scotland for all of 30 seconds when we crossed the border, turned around and went South again. And then a first, Norwich cottage holiday for New Year.

·         Multiple afternoon teas – Fortnum and Mason has to be the best, then Betty Bumbles vintage tea rooms where we had fish finger sandwiches and Royal Horseguards hotel for Alex’s birthday.

·         Visiting our favourite country in the world for Ali’s birthday, Iceland.

·         More stalking the royals by visiting Kensington Palace, watching the Order of the Garter in Windsor Castle, Patrons Lunch and receiving one of the infamous picnic baskets where we ate in the rain, polo in Windsor and then the state opening of Parliament.

·         Seeing mum’s face when she found out that we were taking her on the Orient Express for her 60^th birthday.

·         Visiting Parliament twice, lunch in the Ivy, Duxford air museum and Scott Polar Research Centre.

·         Making every signature bake of the Great British Bake Off and entering my first and last cake competition. I can’t cope with the pressure.

·         I discovered my love of suffragettes and can’t stop reading about them.

·         Completed an Olympic Triathlon for my Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Challenge, and a starlight 10km raising money for a hospice.

·         Watching Cricket  at Lords and revisiting the Olympic Park for the first time since 2012 and watching the anniversary games.

·         Staging a street party for 100 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides to celebrate the Queen’s 90^th birthday. In return for sending cards, Her Majesty sent a letter to the Brownie Pack congratulating us on our 40^th birthday.

·         Mad’s and Erica had a wedding upgrade and we loved attending.

·         Brownie Wizard of Oz holiday, Christmas Brownie Holiday, Remembrance day parade, Christmas Craft day and Christingle.

·         And the most astonishing…Ellie and I winning the Civil Service Award for diversity and Inclusion. Something I will never ever forget and continues to be in shock.

A phenomenal 2016. Let’s see what 2017 brings.

A castle, flood alleviation scheme and Ali loses her phone/ cards

We haven’t used our English Heritage membership for a couple of months so Ali planned today, with castles and a beach walk. We drive for an hour and a half to Framlingham Castle, owned by an unfortunately named Bigot family. Free to park for English Heritage members and free audio guide, thank you very much. We walked through the portcullis entrance into the walled castle without keep. It has a poor house built into one side of it. You can walk around the top of the castle walls. I thought this was a good idea until I got up there and started walking. Gosh it’s high, hence no pictures from the top. I eventually found Ali, Penny and Sailor inside the moat! It wasn’t full.

Onwards to find some lunch but instead we ventured to Aldeburgh and got distracted on a walk of the flood alleviation scheme…on holiday. It was lovely walking through the reeds…until Ali realised she had lost her phone. Ali retraced her steps while I continued with Sailor and Penny. We avoided the pebble beach on the walk back as greyhound feed and pebbles don’t mix. Alas, Ali has not found her phone (having done the walk twice). We then cancelled all cards and for the twelth time, phoned Ali’s number and someone picked up!

It’s Ali’s lucky day, a gentleman had found it and took it home, 30 minutes south of Aldeburgh. So we had a surprise visit Wickham Market to meet the lovely John. So we missed our second castle but Ali was so relieved to have her phone and cards back. Now I’m going to ask her to buy a lottery ticket…just in case.

Back at the cottage, we sipped pink Moet Champagne and watched TV waiting for 2017. Ali has a nap for an hour which is turning into a tradition, she did the same last year. She woke up in time to watch the countdown, then the fireworks in London and then Auld Lang Syne, then bed.  

Off to the country

A bit of a last minute booking, but this year we decided to spend the New Year doing something we love best…staying in a cottage in the countryside. We keep telling ourselves that it’s a way to take the greyhounds away from the fireworks but I think it’s probably more for us. We arrived at Barn Owl Cottage in Horsford when it was already dark so not too much to report but the cottage. Our first stay in a purpose built cottage, it has been built just for this purpose. We are in the accessible cottage. It’s a little small for two greyhounds and 2 adults, but has everything we need for exploring Norfolk tomorrow.

Kinky Boots

I’ve wanted to see Kinky Boots for ages, so you can imagine my reaction when I found out that Ali got us tickets for our anniversary. Off we went to London to the Apollo Theatre. It’s got a very 1930’s style to the theatre. We had fabulous tickets in the stalls. What a show! I honestly can’t imagine how they dance in heels that high, I can’t even walk in heels. The atmosphere was amazing and at the finish, everyone was on their feel for a standing ovation. What a show. 

English Christmas day

It’s tradition to have an English Christmas day but we all got up so late, that the stockings had to wait until later. Mum, Dad, Ali and I had to be at breakfast church at 10. Then home to start a stocking marathon that had to be done in instalments between breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs which was meant to be in the morning but we eventually had breakfast at 1pm. We had traditional Christmas dinner in the evening with whistle crackers, where we formed a Shackell-Smith choir and tried to play tunes. In the evening we played Heads Up and we were in stiches.

French Christmas Eve

We celebrate French Christmas on Christmas Eve. Mum, Dad and Brigitte arrived mid afternoon and the festivities started with baked camembert, fish for main (or Indian for the Shackell side), then cheese course and Chocolate Log made by Brigitte. Absolutely stuffed, dinner lasted 6 hours..so a typical French Christmas Eve.

Fortnum and Mason’s savoury afternoon tea – oh my gosh

As a pre Christmas surprise for Ali, I booked us a table at Fortnum and Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon for afternoon tea. We visited at Christmas a couple of years ago and there is something quite magical about walking down Piccadilly and looking at the lights and window displays, then going into Fortnum and Mason’s. We opted for a savoury afternoon tea this time which was stunning and a must for all future visits. It’s not as sickly as the sweet version. We had repeats of all items, I especially liked the savoury scones, while Ali dug into the fish treats on the top plate. We have never had space for the cake cart, so they gave us a box to take some home. I really do love the Diamond Jubilee tea room, the service is impeccable and the food divine.

A Shackell girls tradition

A couple of years ago a tradition was started…for Sally, Olivia, Caitlin and Mum to visit the week before Christmas to watch the local panto, watch Ali sing in her Christmas choir concert and then on the Sunday we go to breakfast church. So that’s exactly what we did. The panto this time was Sinbad, by the St Neots Players. The quality of the performance is astonishing. I had 78 seats for the Brownies, Rainbow sand Guides in the district. We will definitely be back next year after seeing the girls faces and them getting into the show. Mid afternoon I treated them to lunch in Betty Bumbles vintage tea room. Ali’s Christmas Choir concert was as fabulous as always, especially the orchestra section where children are invited to play the percussion instruments. Olivia and Caitlin were waiting for that bit.

Anniversary at Aqua Sana

We adored Aqua Sana in Woburn Forest so much, that we decided to do the exact same thing all over again on the same day as last year. However this time it was Monday which we loved as we had many saunas to ourselves and never had to wait. Each room has a different atmosphere and smell and like last year, we had a bit of a nap in the salt inhalation room. Having a nap is quite commonplace in Aqua Sana and people don’t think anything of it. A lovely lunch with prosecco and then more saunas in the afternoon. A fabulous anniversary.

Christmas Brownie Holiday

What a surreal week. 24 hours after winning the Civil Service Award, I was dressed as a reindeer for Christmas Brownie Holiday and seeking in a bunk room. 24 Brownies loved a packed weekend of Christmas activities that started on the Friday (aka Christmas eve). They made stockings, wrote letters to Father Christmas and had hot chocolate and cookies before bed. A carrot, mince pie and drink was left out for Father Christmas.

Saturday (aka Christmas day) started with presents under the tree for all the girls. Then lots of crafts, Christmas dinner and running around in the woodland. In the evening we watched The Nativity to calm the girls before bed. Sunday (aka Boxing Day) was another packed day of crafts and running around the woods where some of the girls built a shelter, while others climbed trees and covered themselves in mud. A fabulous Christmas Brownie Holiday.

Brownie’s march in the St Neots Remembrance Parade

I’ve always felt that Brownies should attend Remembrance day services and it’s something I was brought up doing. Last year was the first year we marched through St Neots and this time we had three times the number of Rainbows, Brownies and Guides walking in the parade and laying a wreath at the memorial. A very moving day and makes me a proud leader to see the Brownie’s attending.

Cornwall - cliff climbing on the South West Coastal path

Today we visited a place I've not visited before, the Lizard, the most southernly point of the UK. We parked at the lighthouse (£3.50) and walked down to the café and beach for a fabulous view. I'm going to miss the sea when we leave. Sailor started limping so he had his boot on for is first walk with his all terrain footwear.

We wanted to do the mile walk from the beach but as usual, we went a little off piste and missed the footpath so found ourself on the edge of the cliffs leaping down rocks and climbing up the other side of hills. We were on the South West coastal path and didn't know it. The view was amazing but it was the last straw for poor sailors foot but he soldiered on. Penny and I were the scout to find our way back and luckily we found a path to Lizard village where we had a pitstop. What else but another Cornish pasty.

A limpey walk back to the car for a well earned rest.

Cornwall - Port Isaac and Boscastle

Our day started at Port Isaac, a place we visited just a few months ago and our inspiration for this trip. It's a must for all Doc Martin fans. We walked around the headland and down the hill, past Louisa's cottage, past the school which is actually a restuarant and the playground is a car park. Down to the beach for a walk, through sequeezy belly alley which is where the Doc lived when he separated from Louisa. Onto the chemist and up the hill to the Doc's surgery. It's so small and there is absolutely no way I would drive a Mercedes through those streets. TV is very deceptive.

We carried on up the hill and through daisies and flowers. It felt like a lovely summer's day with the sun shining and us walking through a flower garden...mid October. We walked up to the headland which is used in the filimg too. It has the most amazing view back to Port Isaac. We sat on the hill for a long time looking at the view around to Tintagel and looking down to Port Issac. It's up there with one of the most amazing views I have ever seen.

Our next stop was to Boscastle, which I've also visited a couple of times before and notorious for the devasting flooding. We walked to the harbour and up to the cliff edge for an amazing view back into Boscastle. All the while Penny and Sailor had a lot of attention. They were loving it. Ali and I had a lunch pitstop. A cream tea for Ali and a cheese scone cream tea for me. The best type of cream tea. Ali even put the cream and jam on the cornish way! 

Cornwall - our first floating bridge journey

Our days are staring later and later as the holiday goes on as we relax into the swing of things. Our day started in Charlestown, as recommended by Mum and Dad. It's home to the ship wreck museum and tall ships. £2.50 to park for a minimum of 4 hours was a bit steep. We had lunch of Cornish pasty (cheese and onion this time, my 2nd in 24 hours) and crab sandwich. We ate in a tiny dog friendly café. Every table had a dog by the side licking their lips and waiting for crumbs.

We drove on to St Mawes Castle, an English Heritage castle. On the opposite side of the estuary is Pendennis Castle. We had a free audio guide which proved impossible while trying to go up and down stairs with dogs and take pictures at the same time. No bother though because the views were amazing. A castle of Henry VIII's time and his coat of arms decorate the castle.

We had to cross the estuary but that would involve a 27 mile trip but instead we found King Harry floating bridge. It's a chain bridge that is pulled across the river. It only takes 10 minutes and cost £6. We loved it and it was the first floating bridge that the doggies have been on. It's the first floating bridge I've been on too.

Our next stop was to the English Heritage Pendennis which is completely different to St Mawes across the estuary. It started as a defence built in Henry VIII's time, but it was used as a garrison during both world wars. The main building has a video explaining the history of using Pendennis in World War One. We walked to the Half Moon battery through creepy tunnels. We saw guns, cannons, a moat, the tudor tower and admired stunning views across the estuary.

A day if history but a welcome grass day for Sailor and Penny. They even got to dress up in Pendennis Castle in Army hats.

Cornwall - a trip down memory lane at St Ives, Lands End and St Michaels Mount

Today was a trip down memory lane for me as I visited St Ives and Lands End with Vica 11 years ago and visited St Michaels Mount and Lands End with Janet and Rae 15 years ago. I strangely remembered them all so clearly. We started with St Ives and had a scarily narrow drive through the streets to the harbour car park (£2 for 2 hours parking). St Ives was packed with people and I think back to 15 years ago in the summer and how packed it was. We even got a pasty from the same shop and ate on the beach. I had a non-traditional Cornish pasty - thai chicken curry. Today was a gloriously sunny and sweaty day...in October! We even had a paddle. It must be a national greyhound in St Ives Day because we saw 5 and 4 whippets in the space of 2 hours so had lots of pit stops to say hello to the Greyhounds. Owning a greyhound is like being a coach driver, we all wave to each other.

Next we ventured around the coast road to Lands End and Ali and I had low expectations. £5 to park is a bit steep and must be worth a fortune in summer. Ali often worked from Lands End and I remember the Disney-esque look of Lands End but we were both super surprised. It was gloriously quiet and peaceful. October is the time to visit Lands End. We walked through the commercial bit to the sign and the first and last shop. On route we decided upon our next visit - Scotland to take a picture of Penny and Sailor in front of the John O;Groats sign.

On we ventured to Marazion (£2 to park) and walked along the beach to join the causeway to St Michaels Mount but alas it was still under water. So we waited until we could cross with dry feet. However, it meant that Sailor and Penny had lots of cuddles with tourists which they like. We walked around the harbour and memories flooded back from 15 years ago and sitting on the wall with Janet and Rae. I also remember legging it back through the water because the tide was coming in.

What a beautiful day of sunshine and warmth, without the crowds of a Cornish summer.