Darn Good Christmas

One feels rather festive
Title says it all really but I must say I’ve really enjoyed Christmas this year. Cat and I decided earlier in the year that we’d spend it together in Bristol and I’m glad we did. It was lovely to spend a long weekend together doing very little other than enjoying each others company. Christmas mass at Bristol Cathedral was lovely and the Christmas day service at Frenchay wasn’t bad either. While I’m not the ‘Church every Sunday’ type I do quite enjoy Christmas mass, mainly for the choir as the acoustics inside the Cathedral are amazing; don’t build ’em like they used to!
Other than that we went on a short train ride on the Avon Valley Railway yesterday complete with sherry and mince pies (or juice and cookies if you fancied something else). It was quite nice and while not as extensive as say the North Yorks Steam railway it was very enjoyable. Staff were friendly and the carriage we were in was quite nice. However it was a shame to see, written on the path next to the tracks, messages against any expansion of the railway. I’m not saying they’re not entitled to their views but I don’t think messages on the pathway is the right way to go about things. Personally I’d like to see it expanded slightly as the ride either side of the station is short and both ways I was quite surprised at how short it was. However I can appreciate the views of someone who say has bought a house near where it used to be (and by expansion would) for it’s quiet countryside to be opposed to the idea. I guess my view is coloured by my years spent living in Pickering where steam trains were an everyday occurence.
Finally it was great to see England retain The Ashes last night. I was worried I’d be too tired to watch it all as Siddle batted defiantly but fortunately England managed to wrap it up before I fell asleep. Hopefully we can win the series outright by beating Australia again in Sydney. Either way it was a great belated Christmas present as it’s the first time England have retained The Ashes in 24 years!