The official opening of the cottage and we were glad to welcome family, friends, neighbours, those who have encouraged us so much at Capital Region and Monmouthshire Tourism. Also our team of builders joiners and electricians who finally got to show off their work to their other halves. We sat by the woodburner with mince pies and then bought real flaming torches and joined the procession of hundreds of warmly wrapped carol singers snaking across from the Hotel next door to the ancient Abbey where the annual Carol service in aid of Barnados took place under a thankfully dry cold sky.It was picture perfect and those of us who were supposed to be washing up actually watched under the fairy lights and with candle lanterns from the front step ..hearing the carols echoing down the valley, muled wine in hand. Christmas has really begun.