It may only be October 7th but I'm going away for 2 weeks and then it's November already.  I like to be organised, especially if I'm catering for 10+.

One of the best Christmases we ever had as a family, when my late husband was alive and the children were younger, was in Bavaria, where two very dear German  friends - formerly soloists with the Berlin Opera Ballet - have their "retreat".  It's a massive converted barn very high up a mountain near Dreisessel.  It's a small ski resort as well but known only to locals it seems.  There were just a few other properties scattered about and it was just like being in a beautiful Christmas card.  The snow was wonderful.  The whole of the top floor of their home is glass on one side and the view is breathtaking.  You can see the Dolomites on a clear day!   They had the most beautiful real Christmas tree in their first floor lounge and the whole experience was just magical.  They have invited us back - but I just couldn't go back there without my husband somehow....  

Anyway, Dreisessel is a point on the mountain where three borders meet!  There is a restaurant on the spot and you can actually sit in Germany, with one foot in Austria and the other in Czechoslovakia!!!  Amazing.  What happy memories.    The boys skied for the very first time at ages 15 and 13 - and after only a week's training they won the local cross-country race and came home with a bronze and silver medal each!  We didn't ski and our friends couldn't because of fear of injury but the boys loved it and had no fear. 

Maybe I'll consider taking little 'un next year after all.  He would really love it.  It would just be really weird doing it on my own.

Not too early for me, A,  as I have stayed up until what is 5am for me,  in the hope we might see some hope of saving these message-boards from self-destruction    Sadly, we haven't had any sign of that so far,  and it looks like all discussion has now petered-out - so I am going to bed.

Good morning to everyone - let's hope that a new day might bring some reconsideration of this matter,  that some friends may come back, that others will be persuaded to stay, and that an environment in which everyone feels comfortable and confident about posting their own views can be restored.

Squabbling? eh? Where?  I was really busy yesterday so didn't look at the boards much.  Who's been getting tetchy then?  Which thread?

Er...good morning everyone 

Good morning Ali.  Thank you for all the lovely things you say about me.  I really appreciate it. 

Hope you have a wonderful day !

Mill' 
xxx

Good morning happy people!

Why does dog no.2 think it must be morning and

• he needs to go out (it is 3.24am zulu)
• when he comes in, he can have breakfast?

Good grief! No one has said Good Morning since Milly on 15th October Does this mean that no one has had a good morning for a week?!!

Anyway, good morning all. Just

Mornin` all. Y - A - W - N.  So tired that I feel as though I`ve been up all night. And I haven`t. `snot fair. I wuz robbed ! 

It`s blustery, dark and I can`t see the garden for leaves. Time for another cuppa I think. Now if only I had some chocolate biscuits to go with it .....  Sigh

Good-ish morning. Putting the clocks back confuses me utterly. My body clock wakes me at the usual time. The extra hour of sleep, that everyone goes on about, just doesn't happen.