The blog has suffered from serious neglect since the new year, although there have been things to write about, I was on a fruitless quest attempting to use a different platform for presenting the blog, for the time being normal service is resumed.
The Christmas adventure to see our respective families for the festive season went well, there were no disasters and we didn't contract coronavirus.
We conducted the entire journey by public transport, first taking the train to Lisbon and flying to Heathrow, then via tube and train to Janet's mum's house where we spent a few days over Christmas. Then a lengthy train ride to Yorkshire to visit my family, whilst staying at a town centre hotel. Then a trip to Macclesfield to see our two daughters and our new(ish) granddaughter, again staying in a hotel in town.
It was a shame that we could not get to hold Lyla Paige for the first time but they were in quarantine after Emily had tested positive a few days earlier, so a view through the window was the best we could manage.
Through the window photography.
The only other unfortunate part of the trip was that our return flight was cancelled by the airline after we had booked a taxi and the covid tests at the airport on the morning of the flight. They actually sent a text message at 10:30 in the evening which was not seen until the morning of our departure.
Having already paid for the covid tests we had to go to the airport anyway, take the tests, return to Macclesfield and arrange an extra night at the hotel. Then spent the day lazing around waiting to see if the flight would be cancelled again.
The rescheduled flight went ahead but because it departed in the afternoon and would arrive in Lisbon too late for us to catch the last train home we had to arrange yet another unexpected hotel stay and associated expense. To get back home at a reasonable time meant that we had to catch the 06:39 intercity from Lisbon, yet another early start.
It was good to finally arrive home. I doubt that we will be making that trip again any time soon.