Cigi and Cinderella

 The last few years my Christmas gift to Chris and Jason has been a night in a local hotel and taking care of Cigi. They have been to Eco Adventures (glamping) and The Arlington (Paris) and this year, The Dover George. So Cigi came to stay this weekend.

Friday evening she and Christine helped me to decorate the Christmas tree.

 

Saturday morning we made Chocolate Croissants (Pillsbury crescent rolls with chocolate chips inside). She had to taste test a chip from each spoonful, as any good chef would.

 

Saturday morning was spent playing with the wooden animals. They have been around for ever and still provide hours of fun. A newer toy, bought in a garage sale last year, is a train set. We also set that up, replaced the batteries in one of the engines and raced them on the track. I think this is also a toy that will have longevity.

Saturday afternoon Daniele had got us tickets for Cinderella, the pantomime, at the Lighthouse Theatre.

She was enthusiastic about the idea but a little apprehensive. The theatre provided booster seats to the many children in the audience. Cigi thought she might rather be on my lap but once things got rolling she was fine in her own seat, occasionally grabbing my shoulder for moral support.

There was lots of opportunity for audience participation and she enthusiastically joined in with booing the villain and ooing the prince, shouting that the ghost was behind them and singing along with the songs. Every time that Cinderella was offstage she would ask loudly "Where's Cinderella" much to the amusement of the people sat behind us.

She loved having the program and wanted to review which actors played which parts.

It was Jason's birthday on Friday so Cigi wanted to bake him a cake. We grocery shopped on Saturday morning (according to Cigi his favourite cake flavour is "sprinkles", with chocolate icing). She couldn't remember how old he had told her he was so she picked a candle with a 0 on it, seemed safe. She found the mixer too loud but was a great help cleaning up the mixing bowl and the beaters. Sunday morning we iced it. Again a great help with licking the container out.

When Chris and Jason arrived we were making Christmas Tree decorations

This was the trial run, they got better.

It was a busy, fun, tiring weekend and I hope the pantomime can become a Christmas tradition for us.

Guest Photographer: Christine Miller (Wales).

Last time I visited Chris and Chris, they had finished the main floor of the mill and I stayed in the unfinished second floor. They are hosting the whole family for Christmas, so getting the second floor finished now. I sent an email saying I hope they were safe from the flooding in Wales. Chris replied that they were fine and sent a couple of photos from this summer.

Front of the mill taken from the farm track, opposite.

Back of the mill, taken from the second terrace.