A post-Christmas catch-up

Hello everyone. Hope you all got through what for many of us was the first day back at work after the Christmas break.

I managed to have a pretty internet-free break. Partly due to a lack of reliable wi-fi/3G connection, but partly down to just enjoying being able to kick back and relax.

So what did I get up to? Well, Christmas Eve to Boxing Day was spent at Fiona's parents' in North Wales. For Christmas Day itself we broke with convention by having a curry lunch and then going out rollerskating in Llandudno. Boxing Day for us was like a postponed Christmas Day, with relatives invited over for a roast turkey dinner. The day after Boxing Day we were back out in cold outdoors with a brisk walk up Moel Famau.

Then we were soon back in Manchester for a New Years Eve spent cooking a meal at home, and then heading out to see the fireworks at midnight in the centre of town. The fireworks were set off just by the Manchester wheel in Exchange Square, which reminded me of all the new years eve fireworks I've been to in London in previous years. The Manchester version was on a bit of smaller scale, with only a few thousand spectators, and the council seemingly putting the display on quite reluctantly (it was apparently the first time since the Millennium that Manchester has had any sort of official NYE celebration). However, I was also home in under ten minutes afterwards, which was a lot quicker than the 2 and a half hour trek I had to do back to South London last year.

Finally, yesterday we spent the last day of the break walking around Edale in the Peak District, which was again freezing cold (literally - there was ice on the ground), but we survived by wrapping up in more layers than you'd think was possible.

So, that was my Christmas (or 'winter break', as I should more accurately call it). Back to business now.

Except that it's my 25th birthday on Wednesday, and so to celebrate, Fiona and I have booked a last-minute break (via lastminute.com and their 'top secret hotel' deals) up to Edinburgh next weekend. Which will be nice. If you have any recommendations for things to do/places to eat in Edinburgh, let me know!