Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year to all family and friends scattered around the globe. Clive and I are having a quiet night in as we're packing for our week in Marrakech, but cheers to all, and may 2012 bring you happiness and health.

And a happy birthday to dear Elaine in Portugal as its her birthday today!

love Gem and Clive xx

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

nearly there.. unless you live in the future like Nic and Jen!!!

Happy New Year

For those in the east who's year begins in a hour!

Hi,Everybody - Happy New Year

Having a very restful time with Cathy, John,Edmund and Thomas, not forgetting Kate whose 16th Birthday it was on Tuesday (27th) She had five sleep over friends creating havoc and Cath took them all to Swansea to the new open-air ice rink.(not ice, but the new ersatz surfacing). Yesterday Cath's frind Nicki with partner Mark and their young two year old De-an, paid a visit and wish to be remembered to those who spent a Jolly Christmas on the Isls of Wight a few years ago. Probably only Steve.
I tried to phone you Pete on Tuesday but you must have been out visiting. Sorry about the confsion re my plans, but I hope you all had a lovely time. I will try to get over to see you before your girls depart
As the weather is quite good, I will be staying here for a few more days as Cathy has some days leave saved up. New Year's Eve on Saturday and John's birthday on 4th Jan will decide how long I stay, but Cathy aays my holiday time is open,so I will let the weather decide. I don't fancy a long drive in the snow!!
Lovely to hear that Steve and family,plus dogs spent Christmas in Sussex and that Nic and family enjoyed their Europe trip in the Snow and in Gay Paree. Lovely Photos, Nic
I hope Julian, Ruth and Louis enjoyed their Christmas. I will Skype you all when I get back. At the moment I am using Cathy's tiny computer, so forgive any mistakes.
Well, that's about it for now,so lovyou all from Wales. LOVE FROM DAD

Christmas Day Walkies

That must have been the warmest Christmas for years, t-shirts on and heating off for most of the day.
Biggles Ginger and Cinders had their Christmas lunch early (9.30 am) to give us time to prepare ours after a lovely walk in the woods.
Our Norfolk Bronze 15lb'er had been in the Aga from 01:00 hrs so was happily resting when we went out and G&C were quite content with an old-fashioned Grandma style Christmas dinner in contrast to last year in Sydney when Martin decided he had to pop out for ramekins on Christmas Morning; well why not when every-thing is open down-town.
I must admit that to me, the appeal of a Northern European Christmas is the gloom, and having to have everything in:- logs booze pressies and all the trimmings and a bit of ol'Morecambe and Wise on the telly ...loverly!

Washing up done now feet up and the wood fire on as the temperature begins to drop back to a seasonal normal.

Will Gemma and Clive have headed back to Oxford after a trip to Brighton.

Love to you all and a Happy New Year one and all

Merry Christmas

Hello Fellow Merrows,

Our christmas day celebrations are coming to an end and we have had an uncharacteristically quiet christmas day, not even getting up until late morning. Spag bol for lunch too, as we had the turkey night. We had cold cuts with champagne, cheeses, mince pies and other yule tide fare for dinner at the Sng residence. It's all very relaxed after a rather hectic year.

So we are wishing you all a lovely christmas and holiday over the next week, without incidence such as getting snowed in and the like.

Take care and my skype is on if you are able to skype me in Wales, France or England.

Love Nic, Jen, Claire and Daniel.

half an hour to go!

Then it's Christmas!
I still have to do the stockings!
Happy Christmas everybody.
Lots of Love from us all in Wales xxxxxx

Is it Christmas yet Daddy?

Is it Christmas yet Daddy?
No not yet!
Is it nearly Christmas?

Well it's not quite nearly Christmas!

Long long ago, before mobiles phones

Long long ago, before mobiles phones, flat screen tv, cars that started every time and pubs that stay open all day, when having central heating meant just one warm radiator, and buying a woman a pint was an insult. Back then would you believe, kids had to ask to have the tv on, and only grand-parents had the time to explain to them all the reasons why things happened the way they do.

It wasn't all bad - we did have Bugs Bunny tho innit

Happy Christmas-Eve-EVE where-ever you may be..mwah mwah

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

France Winter Photos

Some more pics;

France Winter Photos

Here we go hopefully;

Back from France

Dear All,
we are back, and very tired but very satisfied with our first winter experience as a family. Paris was a nice surprise with so many small shops and such a variety of goods to choose from. I dragged team Merrow around the Pompidou Centre and I said a prayer for Mum and you all in Notre Dame on Tuesday. We had a nice walk around Saint-Germain on Wednesday. We did a bit of shopping but didn't bump into julian on our travels. The fondest memory will always be knowing that Claire, Jen and Daniel were upon the mountain on the first day when the weather was so clear and you could see for miles across the snow caps.

K/B ancien on his way.

Woken up by the early morning MOON so, as I could not sleep any more got up had a shower, packed the stuff in the car and am off. Must buy some petrol on the way. Better empty my bladder as I am not too sure at this early hour. Think of me. Love to all, Dad.

John le taci!

Cardiff boy home! Swansea boy on his way!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PETER ON WEDNESDAY/ LOVE FROM US ALL. DAD

Whose idea was it to bring you into the world at CHRISTMAS.

Hope you have a lovely BIRTHDAY On Wednesday. MWA MWA MWA DAD

IS IT STILL OK FOR MY TO COME ON TUESDAY

I am so sorry to read your blog. First of all I was worried for you all, then for me - Am I still Welcome??? I will start off probably on Wednesday as the weather forecast is quite good. I don't want to get stuck in the SNOW. Ring me if it is NOT OK. Love from Dad

All's well that ends well!

What a nightmare all Sunday with our wonderful electican; searching for the cause of our electicity failure. Pulling out cupboards and wardrobes, contents of kitchen cabinets, bookcases, fridges, feezers, washing machine, and dishwasher; moving the piles of stuff in my workroom, exploring the attic, the boiler room, everywhere, every socket had to be taken apart to check for the fault. But at last the fault is found; there will be a Christmas and John's worst fear(having to replace the boiler)is not to be realised. Hurrah! Tomorrow will be spent putting the house back together,Boo:-)

TO ALL MERROWS AND FRIENDS

AS TIMMY CRATCHETT SAYS MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. Much love from Hugh

Wintertime in the Alps

Here we are, day 4 in Peisey Vallandry, France. It's been snowing and snowing. I renewed my acquaintance with crisp mountain air, stunning views, fairy tale moments and of course burning thighs. Unfortunately Jen took a tumble on the first day resulting in a ligament strain so her skiing experience was curtailed early. Claire is battling on, Daniel is in a club which looks after the under 12 and skiing two sessions a day. Anyway, not to bore you, it's magical.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DANIEL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU DANIEL> I am very pleased with your school report. Daddy tells me that you passed your Chinese lessons - Well Done.
I hope you have a lovely holiday skiing in France
HAPPY CHRISTMAS also. Love from Grand Dad

A Ritual burning at les Couguieux..

...of almost two hundred canvases unfinished...

Paris dates 2

We'll be in Paris from the 18th lunchtime till the 20th mid afternoon, staying near Bastille so we'll see you there - start booking those resto's - we will of course mostly shopping for household items, having put all ours on a bonfire

Paris dates

We are in Paris 18th December to the 21st December. Staying at:
Citadines Prestige St. Germain des Pres
53ter Quai Des Grands Augustins
Paris
TeL: +33 1 4407 7000


Arriving at 5 pm from Bourg St Maurice. Leaving on the 21st at 9 am for Singapore.