Post Christmas

Christmas is over for another year. After all the build up, it goes in a flash! We had a quiet Christmas Day, just me, hubby, our son and my mum. We normally go out for lunch on Christmas Day, but our daughter had to work, so I cooked and she came to us later to have her Christmas meal.

On Boxing Day morning, I took Mum over to my daughter’s new house, so she could give her Grandma a tour of the place. My Mum was surprised how big the house was, being a new build. Exeter City were playing in the afternoon, so Mum went over to my elderly neighbour for a right old chinwag while I was at the game.

On Friday Mum and I went out for breakfast to Greendale farm shop and had a browse. I had Blue Cross, as normal, and Mum came with me, as my volunteer apprentice, haha! She enjoyed herself but found it quite tiring, after all she is 81! But it gave her an insight as to what goes on day to day in animal rescue.

Saturday, it was time to take her home to Plymouth. But before we hit the M5, I took her to Ikea, as she mentioned she hadn’t been to one before. Breakfast and a wander around the showroom, then down to Plymouth. I unpacked her bags from the car, made sure everything was ok and made my way  back up the A38/M5.

We have Mum for Christmas every other year (she’ll be with my brother next year) and it’s lovely having Mum up with us, but I was shattered when I got home! So I curled up on the settee and watched the horse racing.

Yesterday and today have been very quiet, just a bit of shopping and feeding the washing machine. Whilst out at Morrison’s today, I noticed this beautiful tree, just as you come out of the store. Absolutely laden with berries, the birds will be grateful for it when the cold weather comes.....

Tomorrow, I will pop into town to get a few bits and pieces. No sales shopping for me, as I don’t need anything. Hubby is dog sitting at my daughter’s house and waiting for her washing machine to be delivered. Things are coming together in her house now.

In the evening, we will be going to our friends’ house in Topsham to see the New Year in. Shortly after midnight, we will go home, as hubby has to leave for work in the morning at 6.30!

I’ll be glad to see the back of this year if I’m honest. One of my best friends passed away in January, hubby’s 4 prolapsed discs started in February ( various treatments throughout the year), hubby’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer and my daughter’s relationship broke up. But the positives are hubby’s back is almost better ( a bit of discomfort at times),and after a huge op,  hubby’s best friend is doing very well, my daughter has bought a house of her own (shared ownership) and adopted a dog.

Whatever you have planned for tomorrow evening, I hope you have a lovely time. See you in the New Year, cheerio for now, Ann x

Merry Christmas!

Every Christmas Eve, we have a cheese night. It started many years ago when the kids were young. Hubby and I packed the kids off to bed, hubby baked the Brie with a topping of cranberry sauce and we’d settle down with a glass (or two!) of Port and watch Vicar of Dibley. These days it’s a table full of cheeses and antipasti and this evening six sat around the table. It’s become a tradition and a lovely one at that!

So I wish all of you a very happy and peaceful Christmas, whether you opt for a quiet one or a raucous one filled with fun and games! xx

I’m back and fully functioning!

......well in terms of being able to comments on my own and other blogs! The problem was rectified, on my iPad, by a software update. I still have to sort out my iPhone, but there’s no rush. 

So what have I been up to? Well, Christmas can happen now, as presents are all wrapped and some delivered to Plymouth relatives and some picked up by my brother (destination Swanage).

My friend and I visited the National Trust’s Knightshayes house. It was so much better than Castle Drogo. It’s a Victorian Gothic house and as soon as you step into the Great Hall,  smell the woodsmoke of the fire and take in the wonderful Christmas decorations, it feels welcoming and homely, even though it is so big! There were a lot of dolls houses dotted around the place, all of different eras. My favourite was the Art Deco dolls house (one of my favourite eras). The upstairs of Knightshayes was closed, as they ‘rest’ various rooms for restoration, so we’re looking forward to going there again once they’re open and when the weather is dryer to enjoy the wonderful gardens. 

My Christmas cake has been marzipanned and iced. I had all good intentions of making my marzipan and had bought all the ingredients but time was not on my side, so ready rolled it was. The same with my royal icing, it came out of a pot. I had a deadline, as last night we hosted a family Christmas get together and I only managed to ice it the day before!

My daughter completed on her house on Monday, which is a huge positive in her life at the moment (she has recently become single). So we have been helping putting together IKEA furniture etc. while she’s been at work. The other momentous event for her is that she has adopted her foster dog. My daughter works in animal rescue, and has waited a long time for this, but it is bitter/sweet thing. Her dog, who is adorable and a real softie, had to have a kidney removed, due to cysts. She’s recovering well, but the vets have confirmed that her other kidney is going that way too and she has cancer. Although she is no discomfort at the moment, she only has months to live. So my daughter is giving her her best life and any palliative care, once it is needed. 

Yesterday we had my husband’s side of the family over for an early Christmas get together, along with my stepmum, 11 of us in total. It became a regular thing years ago, as my Dad and stepmum always spent Christmas at a hotel on the Isle of Wight. Now my Dad is no longer with us, we still continue the tradition......a vat of chilli with rice or a vegetable/ sausage stew with crusty bread, followed by various desserts. There was chocolate and fresh cream Yule log or sherry trifle this year. After the food, there was bingo, a ‘pub quiz’ and hoopla on the reindeer’s antlers (my father in law was the reindeer which caused great hilarity!) all winners had prizes. This get together takes a lot of prep and I’m always exhausted afterwards, but there are so many happy memories made each year. 

 

So that’s me and my recent activities. A few quieter days, with Blue Cross and watching Exeter City, before preparations for the big day. Now I can comment on blogs again, I shall enjoy a few evenings of catching up on all your blogs! Thanks for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

Commenting problems

Hi everyone, I’m not ignoring your blogs. But all of a sudden, I’m unable to comment as me! When I do try to comment and press publish, it disappears! I’m looking into what I can do to resolve it. In the meantime, I am reading your blogs and enjoying as usual. Ann x

The tree is up and Eric.

A week has passed and no posts from me! Mainly,  I’ve been chasing my tail. Some Christmas presents have been bought, non-family Christmas cards have been posted, some family cards have been made, all in between normal chores.

I made Oatie biscuits dipped in chocolate to take to the Blue Cross on Friday. This was the first time I had made them and although they spread a bit on the baking trays, making for some unusual shapes, they tasted fine. I will make them again, but perhaps tweak the recipe slightly.

It was a chilly afternoon at Exeter City on Saturday, but we got the result we wanted. All was fine until I got to my car, to find someone had clipped my wing mirror. The cracked mirror was placed under my car. I may be able to reconnect the electrics from the casing (which thankfully was unscathed) to the mirror and clip mirror into place for the time being. I haven’t really got time to take it into the garage before Christmas and don’t want the expense either.

Sunday, we all went to Greendale farm shop and met up with hubby’s dad and his other half for breakfast. It is his birthday next week and as he’s jetting off to warmer climbs, we gave him his pressies early. After breakfast, we chose our Christmas tree, quite quickly this year too! My son and I illuminated and decorated the tree with glass baubles and a few other personalised decorations. Unfortunately, it’s an oasis of calm amongst bags of presents waiting to be wrapped and delivered........

Hubby saw to the mantelpiece garland and hung the stockings that I made when our daughter and son were born.....

There’s a big thing about Elf on the Shelf these days. There’s a huge pressure on parents to think of ‘capers’ for the elf to get up to. When my two were little, we had Eric. He is a 1950/60s elf and quite scary, if you ask me! Anyway, he used to pop up in different parts of the house and listen. He had to just listen because his eyes were closed, haha! As far as our children were concerned, he was reporting to Father Christmas on how they were behaving. Eric still lives with us, but he’s retired these days and still sitting there apparently snoozing....

Tonight I’m feeling a bit sore after being worked on by my chiropractor. I’ve a bad neck at the moment which is squeezing a nerve. So I’m sitting quietly, making some more Christmas cards for family, whilst watching Midsomer Murders. Tomorrow I’ll be getting to grips with wrapping the presents I’ve got and making a list of the remaining ones to get. Hubby and I are going to the Christmas market on Wednesday, which I’m really looking forward to. It’s on the Cathedral green and has loads of independent local stalls. Let’s hope the weather is good for us!

Enjoy the rest of the evening, cheerio for now, Ann x

A visit to Castle Drogo

I had quite a busy weekend with a Christmas bazaar and a FA Cup game to watch amongst other things. Exeter City only managed a draw, so not really the result I wanted, but they live to fight another in the replay. But at the Christmas bazaar I picked up a jigsaw for £1, bargain! Just need to find some time to do it!....

Today, I met up with my friend and we visited another Nat Trust property, Castle Drogo. As castles go, it is a very young castle, building being finished in 1930. For the last 8 years, the castle has been covered in scaffolding and nearly all the rooms closed, due to complete renovation and roof repairs.

Julius Drewe, the gentleman who instructed the building of the castle, was very forward thinking. The castle was built with electric lighting and central heating, as well as the obligatory huge fireplaces that we expect in such places. A lot of the rooms had telephones, with a switchboard downstairs with the servants quarters. Even a phone in the boudoir!

Whilst we had a reasonably enjoyable time there, we were a bit disappointed. The castle was open for Christmas, but after visiting Killerton last week, Castle Drogo seemed very lacklustre. Apparently the  rest of the rooms will be open some time next year, so we will go back then and see the castle in full glory. But we did see some lovely things, including two Venetian glass light fittings from the 30s in the dining room and a gorgeous, rather large dolls house....

 We had a stroll around the formal gardens and then retreated to the Nat Trust cafe for a nice hot drink, as it was freezing outside! So while I’ve had a good day, it’s been tinged with sadness too. Three years ago today, I lost my beloved Dad, my DIY buddy who was always in my corner. I do so miss him!

Tonight I have skittles, so I’ll raise a glass to him and hopefully I’ll do well too. Tomorrow I’ve got the hairdressers and then giving blood, amongst other things. Thanks for popping by, cheerio for now, Ann x

A road trip and a Christmas Killerton

Well, it’s been a good week so far. I’ve still got a few ‘Christmas planning’ stresses at the back of my mind, but with the help of various lists (I like a list!) things are looking a lot better!

Monday was just a very normal day and I needed a normal Monday! Lots of ordinary household chores, washing , ironing, food shopping etc. but just what I needed to get things straight. Then in the evening, I was off out for a girls’ catch up with ladies I used to work with over 20 years ago. We meet up twice a year normally and have a right old chinwag! Numbers vary each time, there were 12 of us this time. When I got home, I caught up with hubby on the phone, as he was away until Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday, my son and I went on a little road trip to Bristol. He likes to do something on his days off, especially if it’s a mid week one. Our first choice was the Christmas market at Bath, but unfortunately it didn’t open until yesterday! So we decided on the Bristol one, which was near Cabot Circus shopping mall. We had a good drive up (I was chauffeured!). First stop was for coffee and cake. This chocolate and cherry muffin was delicious!....

Next was indoor crazy golf. Now, my son plays golf, so thought his chances were good. It all came down to the last hole.......Mum was the champion! I haven’t let him forget to yet, haha. We wandered around the Christmas market stall, which I have to say were a little disappointing. But I did buy an alpaca scarf for myself and some truckles of different cheeses for December. Then it was more eating, this time lunch in Frankie and Benny’s. I was relatively good though and had a buttermilk chicken burger (without the bun) and a bowl of salad. After lunch, it was my son’s turn to make some purchases, before returning to the car and making the home run back down the M5. A lovely day!

On Wednesday I decided I needed to get out in the garden, no matter what the weather and cut back the plants that needed it. Just generally get the garden winter ready. I started with our small front garden and the bit between us/next door. All nicely trimmed back, then I lugged two bags of bark around as a thick mulch. It always looks so much nicer once that has been done.......

The back garden is a bigger job. However, I did cut back the ones which needed it the most and decided to dig up the remaining carrots and a couple of parsnip now we’ve had a couple of frosts. Being in a raised bed, I didn’t think it would be too difficult. But I got more hot and bothered getting the parsnips out than the rest of the gardening put together. This is why, they were enormous!.....

The rest of the day was spent quietly ironing, whilst watching Midsomer Murders and waiting for gardening aches to appear!

Yesterday, my friend and I went to Killerton House to see this year's Christmas display which was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' They always do it brilliantly and this year is no exception. Lots of photos were taken, particularly the fireplaces. I do love a fireplace! It was tinged with sadness this year, as our other very good friend is no longer with us. She did make it last year, albeit not without pain, but she was determined. So this year we lunched in the restaurant there and raised a glass to her.  I felt she was with us.

So here are the photos from the visit. I particularly like the one of Santa, who has kicked his boots off after his busy night,  attacked the sherry and has a ticket to Florida on his table. If you look closely and zoom in, you'll see an elf crashed out on the cushions by the fireplace.

Today is Blue Cross day and Madeira cake for the peeps there. Have a good day, cheerio for now, Ann x