December 2025

 

December 2025

 

December started in India staying with my sister-in-law, Bhonti her son Ankur and her mother. We had travelled to Delhi for a memorial of Gita’s brother who had passed away in May. Having just got back in April we were unable to go again for the funeral in May. Our visas had expired. Our son Amit was also with us on this trip. He was going on a spiritual experience in Coimbatore.

 At the beginning of the visit Chinmoy and Lakhu from Assam joined us in Delhi making it a very special time. It was a bit like having an early Christmas but being away I missed the December Observed Sunday and the subsequent move from Cobham Village Hall to Normandy Village Hall for the January Observed Sunday. The roads have fewer restrictions and less traffic that should make getting out into the countryside easier and quicker for tuition sessions.

I was back in time for the Thames Tortoises Christmas meal on the club night, third Monday of the month. Only three of us to enjoy the evening, Richard, Peter and myself. I have been given a challenge to take some photos of the modifications made to the El Cid for the Sahara Challenge I did in 2004. This was having installed protection plates for the sump and the petrol tank. I had been warned by the experts that there should be no space for stones to get into. The best thing is to have foam to ensure this. It gives room for impacts from rocks and stones room for the plate to move to and not damage what you to protect. The sponge also stops small stones from getting into that space and causing damage.

The next night was the LE club night and also there was a Christmas meal. Earlier in the evening and not at our usual pub. When we finished we continued at our usual venue, with Chris. Antony, Phil and myself in attendance. It was a very social evening exchanging Christmas cards and knowledge. Another festive night out.

Christmas was a family affair made most enjoyable by having the grandchildren present with all the chaos that surrounds them when they have too much energy that cannot be dissipated in a small house. There were frequent walk to parks and excursions to any activity that kept them busy. The highlight was going ten pin bowling with the kids doing better than the adults at Westfield. What a place and I found the place difficult to get to with the volume of traffic, parking and finding the bowling alley an unpleasant experience. It is just too big with too many people. It annoys me you have to pay a tenner just to park! I can go to Uxbridge, pay £2 for parking and no hassle and still go bowling.

Before that experience it was another French Car Day at Blackbushe airport with another gathering of Citroen friends. It was so cold that retiring to the cafe for a hot drink was essential. We all had a pleasant hour staying out of the cold before it was time to head for home.