I'm ALMOST at the end of the 2021 Shan clan photos which have been sitting in a folder on my PC for many long months! Four in this batch, then four more, then we're going to be swinging firmly into 2022 territory -- and not before time, I'm sure you'll all agree!!

The first three all date from last December, when we visited Bunratty Folk Park for their Christmas Lights extravaganza. In the first, I'm riding a beautiful old carousel with my daughter Gaia. She's not too fond of rides, and will only very rarely sit into a ride in a shopping mall if it's turned on -- she must be the only kid on the planet who, if she's being naughty, gets threatened with -- "Behave, or I'll put money into the toy car or boat or helicopter and sit you into it!!!"

In the second, she's sitting with Winnie The Pooh and Daisy Duck, who happened to be wandering around the place. She LOVES costume characters, which is odd, because her brother Dante used to HATE them when he was her age (and, indeed, is still very dubious around them).

In the third, all four Shans pause for a quick group photo in Santa's sleigh.

The fourth was taken a short while before our trip to Bunratty, when we went to Center Parcs Ireland for a pre-Christmas holiday. In this snap, a suitably attired Gaia is waiting in line to go and see Santa and tell him what she would like for Christmas. At least... I THINK it's Gaia... or is it an elf?!? :-)