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.