Strings attached!

Mini has given us yet another marvellous, hand-crafted New Year's card. "Beautiful sunshine and warm wind bring you Spring," it proclaims, in Japanese and English; and "generous mind brings you happiness." The man himself looks far from happy though! Why? Perhaps it's because strands of cotton are affixed to the his shoulders and taped to the back of the card. Is he a prisoner? A drone? A kite?

Happy New Year!

...from a rainy Cheltenham: we are supposed to be on our way to watch Bristol Rovers v. Cheltenham Town at the ground which overlooks Agnes' house in Bristol; but for the second year running, it's been rained off. So, a lazy time at home is in prospect, with the grandchildren slow to get out of their pyjamas, and the youngest, Laurie (6) much enjoying his new camera.

Daisy's tea party

A full-blown birthday tea took place this afternoon in our kitchen: Ida's new bear was its focus, though assistance was needed to blow out the candle. I am (with Caroline) just about to abandon our domesticity for the first time in a week, donning black tie for a grown up dinner with friends near Tetbury. Often, we are happy at home, failing to see in the New Year, but for tonight we have had no less than three invitations.

Fukuwarai

Our dear daughter-in-law tells us that her beautiful New Year card recalls a traditional Japanese game played on New Year's Day. Players take turns to be blindfolded, and then to arrange the features of a human face on a board. Very Cubist!

Mini has hand-drawn more than 40 of her cards this year, all different. (She was not wearing a blindfold during this exercise!)