All's well that ends well

Yes, we're back - and so, therefore, is this rubbish blog (sorry).

As for what's happened since we last "spoke," the answer is quite a lot in a very short space of time.

When we left each other on Christmas morning, the Whites were about to head across to Vanessa's brother Jonathan and our sister-in-law Helen's house for Christmas dinner. We're always grateful for any invitation, but for the two of them to invite us in at less than 24 hours notice following our Christmas Eve mishap was particularly kind. And it was a terrific day (pictured above) which we'll long appreciate.

Jamie ate his dinner like a horse (which was quite ironic, as Christmas hats tend to make his daddy's head look like that of a horse).

And then Cousin Jack generously gave him a significant share of his personal Christmas chocolate stash.

The only downside was that that monotonous old twonk Dagenham Dave also turned up (although, mercifully, only half of him).

So that was Christmas Day. The plan was then for Vanessa's mum Judy and stepdad Mike to very kindly drop us off at Manchester Airport on Boxing Morning before they then resumed their own plans and headed for Leicester. And that plan was going well for at least 10 minutes - until Jamie barfed up his entire bowl of breakfast porridge, all over himself and his car seat.

The poor boy was minging and, understandably, none too pleased. And we were left with no alternative but to swiftly get him out of his smeggy clothes and into some clean ones. By the side of a busy road. On top of a suitcase. Dignified it was not.

But then guess what? Nope, even worse I'm afraid. In the midst of all the trauma of the previous 36 hours, we discovered that Vanessa had forgotten to pack any clean trousers for him and we were forced to insert him into his pyjamas (still by the side of a busy road, on top of a suitcase). Thankfully, no-one at Manchester Airport seemed too bothered when we finally got there - and neither did he.

Next was lunch on the plane...

...before being picked up by his Granny White and Grandad Derek and, a short time later, deposited in the arms of Granda White.

Daddy then took Granda White to the Railway Arms where they met famed local Guinness drinker "President" (Mervyn) Kennedy (below right).

What happened during the remainder of Saturday evening is something of a mystery to your blogger.

But, on Sunday, I distinctly remember Grandad Derek very kindly taking Granny White, Auntie Sarah, Jamie and I to Portstewart Golf Club for tea (and a "cure")...

...before, back home, Grandad Derek flashed Jamie his tweety bird.

On Monday, it was "down the town" in Coleraine for me before going off to do something very special indeed - I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

And, finally, it was time for "Cottage Pie Double Surprise" at Granda Whites...

...the "Double Surprise" being that I made it and no-one was ill (at the time of writing).

The dessert was later served up by Jamie's lovely little (although growing by the day) Cousin Katie.

One especially welcome guest at Monday night's gathering was Mr John Gordon (below), a very good friend who wasn't supposed to see Christmas this year after an intensive battle with life-threatening cancer. Thankfully it was a battle he won hands down.

And that, my friends, is the moral of the Whites' Christmas 2009. Yes, we had our problems but, in short, our flight was delayed by 36 hours, we were spoilt throughout and no-one died. John's presence on Monday evening brought that home to me very graphically indeed - and served as yet another reason why I (and everyone else) was so pleased to see him.

I hope you also had an enjoyable and memorable few days.