A couple of breaks from the house (Oct - Dec 2007)

In October George gave me a surprise weekend to Stockholm for my birthday.  It required a day off work, which George arranged for me with great difficulty because of my busy schedule. My whole team ended up being in on it, and concocted a 'team away day' to stop me booking meetings that day!  

Stockholm was lovely, but freezing!  A high of 6 degrees in mid October (cf. 18 degrees in London) put us off wanting to move there although it was very tempting.  On a boat tour of the Archipelago we spotted lots of wonderful summer houses, many of which were on their own island and only an hour's boat ride from the centre of town.  

The next welcome break was Christmas - just 3 days with George's family in Kirkham.  We met George's step-brother Matt's 14-week old daughter, Sofia, for the first time. Unfortunately she was going through a clingy patch and I got about a minute's cuddle before the screaming started! 

Matt and his wife Kate hosted a soiree on Boxing Day, while little Sofia slept soundly upstairs.   
Rich at the piano.  The magnificent spread featured local meats smoked by Matt & Kate's friend in his own smokehouse. 
Our Christmas present to each other was a new Apple Mac laptop.  We soon discovered some fun things you can do with the built-in webcam!