I secretly love that bit between Christmas and New Year. Family visitor duties are over, prep for NYE party not yet started and there are a couple of gloriously delicious days where we are home alone. Sometimes we don't get dressed, binge watch movies in our PJs and gorge on eat ups (cue shameless plugs for our delectable Spaghetti Carbonara Cake and Turkey, Butternut Squash & Butterbean Chilli) and chocolate. Other days, we peel ourselves from the sofa, clean, dress and actually (gasp) head outside. It is becoming a bit of a tradition to catch up with our beautiful friends and head out for a walk to give the scamps an airing. This year saw us heading over to Shorne Woods Country Park.
We discovered this place towards the end of lockdown, cross that we hadn't found it before. Tucked up next to the A2, there are lot of trails and places to explore. We seemed to be hopping between the red, blue and heritage trails this time - a lovely mix which took in hills, woodland, trim trail, the site of Randell Manor, the surreal faerie circle of carved seats and, of course, the café! Our scamps are a bit big now, but there is also a big playground area with lots of picnic tables.
Covering 292 acres and historically part of the medieval Cobham Hall Estate, the area was used for clay extraction for the local cement industry from the 1920s to the 1970s, whilst also being used as an army base during WWII. Last time we were here excavations were being carried out at the site of Randell Manor - much to the delight of our budding archaeologist daughter.
However, today was all about friendship, topping up our souls with a good natter, fresh air and random (somewhat dry) festive sausage roll wreaths. The younger scamps ran off into the woods, giggling and shouting like they'd never been apart and full of gusto, the older scamps playing it cooler, circumnavigating each other and taking longer to warm up. The adults, hungryly devouring festive stories of recent days, making plans for the coming year and slowly becoming coat racks as the younger contingent sweatily removed their layers.
As we exchange tales of our festive adventures, it’s not just the stories that bring smiles but the familiarity of voices, the subtle changes in expressions, and the comforting cadence of shared history. In these moments, it’s not just catching up; it’s weaving the fabric of friendship tighter, adding new threads to the tapestry that time has woven.
Here's to a New Year with these glorious beasts, young and old(er), making more memories and generally 2024 kicking 2023's backside!
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