Judith Kelly bringing you @TottingtonLife: When I was, erm...38 (?), it was a very good year...

I could possibly have mentioned having a 'troubled' year once or twice. However, I also had an amazing year in 2010, and I didn't forget it no matter what else was thrown at me. This is for me to look back on and smile, and for others to be amazed at the fantastic things that sometimes went on behind the scenes.

January
January started with snow, and lots of it. The schools were delayed starting back after Christmas as people just couldn't get there. In January I signed up to do the Great Manchester Run in aid of the MS Society, and training started, very slowly at first. However, it wasn't all healthy stuff. We had a great time when 'the girls' went to The Hilton in Manchester for a champagne high tea, followed by a trip to see Les Mis. Even though it was January, we managed to get a clear day and could see for miles.

The trail behind our house

My mum(s) at The Hilton

February
At the beginning of February we had 'Priscilla' night, as Debbie had just returned from Australia and seen where the ping pong scene was set, and Andrew was over from Switzerland. Unfortunately the Priscilla Queen of the Desert DVD didn't arrive from Amazon in time, but we managed to get hold of a copy anyway. We also had the most needed holiday ever, and we got the most February sun we have seen in Cyprus. Apart from the slight hitch when my case didn't arrive that I didn't mention (much) it was sooo relaxing.

Andrew and Debbie

Paul and H at Limassol

March

Towards the end of March a great friend who I lived with in London and did voluntary work for years ago died. She lived near Portsmouth so we went down for the funeral. P and H went to see the ships while I was at the service, and we stayed overnight in Portsmouth.

The Spinnaker in Portsmouth

H on The Victory

April

After Portsmouth we stayed on and went to Stonehenge, where I'd never been. It was amazing. I loved it. Although you can see it from the main road it was well worth the entrance price to go and have a close look. We then went to Avebury to see the stone circles there, before going to Bath for the night. Even though the main purpose of the trip was to attend a funeral, we had a great time and I am certain that Val would have been pleased.

Stonehenge

Pulteney Bridge, Bath

May

We were busy in May. It started off bad with the election result, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I roped H in, and we had lots of production lines going in our house when we were on envelope stuffing duties. David Milliband and Tony Blair even paid us a visit. Paul and I went to see Peter Kay and got in the private bar beforehand so we could relax with champagne. We also had a last minute day out to Liverpool, where we got to see the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The highlight of the month though was The Great Manchester Run which I completed, raising over £600 for the MS Society.

H on election day

A visit from Tony Blair

The Three Graces, Liverpool

Lennon's house, Liverpool

Finishing The Great Manchester Run, and still smiling

Before Peter Kay

June

We managed a sneaky weekend away to Scotland to stay with my friend who runs a B&B in Kirkconnel. We really got away from it all. It is lovely around there, and rolling the car 'up' a hill at Electric Brae was weird. We went to Gardeners World Live at Birmingham NEC. I had got Paul tickets for Christmas as I thought he'd like it, but we all had such a good time that we are having a bigger family day out there this June! It was also the first Manchester Day Parade, which the city of Manchester was kind enough to arrange on Debbie's birthday. This is going to be an annual event.

Dunure, Scotland

Drumlanrig Castle, Scotland

Gardeners World

Manchester Day parade

July

July was a bit quieter! It was the X Factor auditions in Manchester, where The Chorladies came so close to fame. We didn't let a little rejection get in the way of a good day out though. We had time on 'the beach' that had been especially constructed for the World Cup, and as well as yet another trip to Cloud 23 we found a new bar, Taps, where you have beer pumps on your table so you can help yourselves. An iPod Touch attached to the pumps works out how much you have had an charges you at the end.

X Factor Auditions

Taps bar

Debbie on the beach in central Manchester

August

In August Paul got his first ever suit, for the wedding of a friend, and he looked ever so smart in it. We had a night in Hebden Bridge as a friend had just moved there. I was in charge of finding a B&B, and I don't think I'll be given that job again. We had a bad taxi experience, although the B&B was lovely, if a little too far into the country. Soon after we had our first all-inclusive holiday, to Turkey. The hotel was brilliant, the weather perfect, and we were close to Ephesus so we had a bit of history too.

Paul in his first suit

Hebden Bridge

P and H in Turkey

Ephesus

September

Probably the quietest month of the year. Debbie had her MacMillan Coffee Morning, with wine in the afternoon, and she raised a fortune. The wine in the afternoon soon turned into more wine at night, but it was all in a good cause. I also started a course, and it was strange writing essays again, being told what I had to write about. So far so good, and all the assignments have been passed so far.

Come Dine With Me following the ~~coffee morning~~ wine afternoon

Massages were given in exchange for donations

October

We did lots in October too. A tidy up was organised on the Kirklees Trail, which is just outside our back garden gate, so we went to help out. We also joined TWIGS (Tottington Wildlife Watch Group) - a local group for children that I'm becoming a leader for. I don't know much about wildlife but I'm guessing I just have to be responsible and one step ahead of the children! We had a couple of trips to Manchester, taking H on the Wheel that he's been asking to do for ages, and visiting the John Rylands Library. At the end of the month H and I went off to Switzerland, leaving Paul at home to 'do jobs'. We flew via Heathrow and flying low over central London was brilliant. We stayed in Basel a couple of nights, but we also had a couple of nights in the chalet in the mountains, swimming in the outdoor spa heated pool. I always feel better about everything when I've been to see The Swiss.

Our tidy trail

The view through the shutters in my bedroom in Inden

Over the rooftops in Basel

November
Things didn't slow down in November, when it was time to pick sloes after the first frost. Sloe gin is now maturing under the stairs and is a lovely colour. It will be ready in a couple of months. I was talked into having a 'fish pedicure' where you put your feet in a fish tank and let them eat the dead skin. I also had an interesting experience at a fondue night, that took me days to recover from. The night after I went to see Marc Almond for the first time. Although I was very subdued it was great.

Sloe gin day 33

Fish pedicure

Things got rowdy at the fondue night....

...and the night got worse after I left!

December
Finally the end of the year was in sight, but not before a big party for my dad's 70th birthday. He didn't really want any fuss, but I think he enjoyed it. We put together a book full of birthday messages as a momento for him. It snowed on the day I was having my Christmas Play Out in Manchester, but it all worked out well. We managed drinks, a meal at Sweet Mandarin (where I've never been but heard great things about - all true), and then went to see James at the MEN. It was a great day with great company. Paul had his hernia operation a few days before Christmas and the bruises are still there now, but it went well. Christmas was a bit deflated and we managed to get through it without hitches, although I have my thinking hat on to make next years better. FB wanted Pot Noodle for Xmas dinner so that is what she was given (Xmas dinner flavour, yuk). The year finished with a good curry, a scary film, and hundreds of Chinese lanterns in the sky.