December 2011

December was staying pretty warm but I still had my cold on and off. On the first Saturday of the month Jen and I had yet another voucher deal to take up - this time a make up class. It was OK, but my smokey eyes malfunctioned slightly....

The next weekend we had Secret Cinema booked in. Jen and her friend, also Jen, Rob and I went along. On the Saturday we went to Camden Market with Claire and Andrew and we looked for outfits for Secret Cinema. The theme that we had been given was soldiers, so we found some great khaki pencil skirts and little female soldier hats. I bought a leather trench coat for a tenner as well. When we got to the secret location, we were led in by some guys with dodgy Austrian accents. We had to pass a "checkpoint" manned by scary-looking "Russian" soldiers, then we were led into the location through some dark passageways.

The place was amazing - four levels, with areas divided into a Russian restaurant, military offices, and a drug laboratory...










We got caught up in various conspiratories, with some "police" trying to recruit us to be communists, others making people get into formation and march, and various incidents going on around us. Finally two men started arguing on a balcony, a shot rang out, and a funeral was held. We were led into a big hall where the movie started - it turned out to be The Third Man, which Rob ended up guessing but I'd never heard of it. It was a good movie, although it was utterly freezing in the hall.

After the movie, Rob and I had to rush away because we had tickets to see Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw at the Southbank centre talking about Quantum Physics. They do really well at talking science to the masses.
I had some terrible news that week when I found out my workmate Yusef was killed on his way to work.  We had already organised dinner with Claire and Andrew in Beckenham on Friday night at a little Mexican place. Rob and I and my workmates went to Yusef's funeral on Saturday night. It was held in the mosque, so the genders were segregated. It was a very intense experience.
The next week was the last week of work before Christmas. We had our work Christmas dinner and Secret Santa at Giraffe at Southbank. I was sick again, only a couple of weeks since I got over the mammoth cold, so it was a very quiet one.
On Christmas Eve Eve we finished work early, and I came home and slept all afternoon.

Saturday, Christmas Eve, we left for Yorkshire. We took the train to Thirsk, then picked up our rental car and drove to the B&B. It was too early to check in, so we drove into York and looked around the shops. It is a really nice city! I can see why so many people are in love with it. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant then did a great, cheesy Ghost tour. The guide pointed out interesting features like the black cats on the walls and roofs, and had lots of stories about where people had died and where ghosts had been spotted. 

We drove back to the B&B. The one we were staying in was a substitute for the one I had actually booked, but it turned out to be wonderful. It is called The Old Rectory, and was built in the 1700s. Our bedroom was massive, with a huge four poster bed. We had hired a rental car in Thirsk, so we decided to go for a drive into Thirsk and have a look around. My main aim for the trip, as well as relaxing, was to see the James Herriot Museum. It was closed, so I was hoping it would be open on the Tuesday before we left.

Christmas day we had a yummy breakfast and watched the kiddies that were staying at the B&B tear around being excited about Christmas. We opened our presents (amongst which there was a watch and tickets to Matilda for me from Rob, and Simon Amstell tickets and the Mad Men box set for Rob from me). After a nap, we went to have our Christmas dinner at the Golden Fleece in Thirsk. It was a four course roast with Christmas crackers and little wrapped presents. I had a melon bowl with fruit and sorbet as an entree, then Yorkshire Pudding as intermediate, then Roast Pheasant with stuffing wrapped in bacon with veges as main. I got lemon and blackcurrant posset for dessert, and Rob got Tiramasu. Then we spent a lazy afternoon watching telly, as we found it difficult to move after that.

On Boxing day we went for a drive. It started out as a beautiful day, but it was very windy and it got cold and started raining later. We went for a walk up by the White Horse of Kilburn. and drove around the dales stopping at various little villages. We stopped at an old Abbey that provided a beautiful photo opportunity. Then adter working up a healthy appetite we had a lovely dinner at an Indian restaurant in Thirsk.

On Tuesday we went back to York after checking out of the B&B (reluctantly). It was a beautiful day. We drunk in the history, walking along the City Walls, being awed by Yorkminster, and wandering the cobbled streets. The buildings overhang the streets so much they almost touch - very charming. I got sucked into the post-Christmas sales and bought some boots.

We drove back to Thirsk to do the James Herriot museum before dropping the car off and catching the train back. It was as good as I thought it was going to be - a pilgrimage that every vet should take.
It was a good short week at work, and I finally felt well and rested for the first time in ages.





Saturday was New Years Eve. Jen came home from Canada for the Secret Agents Ball. Our expectations were too high though, and it was much more fun getting ready than the actual party. They actually took our toy guns away at the door! It was going to be a hard call beating Iceland though, to be fair.