Festive Fun..........

 
Saturday was prep day, unfortunately I woke with a painful neck and Daughter was coughing so she didn't come round with O, so my hero Hubby did lots of prep too.

By bedtime the goodies are out, the table is set and we are ready! 

Sadly on Christmas day both M and Daughter couldn't come, M was getting over this awful flu like bug that's doing the rounds this winter and Daughter had a dreadful cough so wouldn't come in case it was something brewing and she had germs she didn't dare share. So eight of us here. Dinner all went to plan. Both dogs got on well together which meant we all relaxed and enjoyed the day. 

After our main course I plated and packed for E and boyfriendC to deliver two 3-course Christmas dinners with serviettes and crackers to Daughter and M, this gave us a needed gap before dessert. 

I received lots of lovely gifts, including these beautiful macrame stars that E made. They are now proudly hung on the tree. 

We all joined in when E and O suggested we play some games. This one is shown on the TV and we all have to interact with it using our mobile phones. There was no real skill and it caused lots of laughter. 

Boxing day and just the two of us. It included clearing up, cleaning up, sorting leftovers and watching TV. 

27th has always been traditionally our family day, as it was my dad's birthday. It used to bring together my siblings, my children and partners and their children, nieces, nephews and their spouses/ partners and their children, potentially about 35-40ish people! We couldn't do it through the pandemic of course and together with those that now can't travel the distance and those that were unwell and not wanting to spread germs this year's was relatively small, but still lovely (just 14). NephewE's detour to the Jewish bakery&deli on the way was perfect. I was paying so told him to buy loads, he did, and the leftovers made a bag for Daughter and a bag for Son (consolation for being unable to come) and some in the freezer for me too! Nobody took any pics as we were having fun noisily chatting away. 

Now we're clearing up again hahaha! 

Wednesday night just four of us out to eat. Glad we managed it as friendM has two trips planned for January so we may only get one more Wednesday meet up before February! We do, however, now have a Spain holiday booked for the six of us in April to look forward to. 

Hubby and I have both really enjoyed the new BBC series The Traitors, although Hubby does find all the long debates tiresome. I think Claudia Winkleman has been the perfect host. 

There is now lots of media speculation that the next series will be celebrity contestants, I hope not, we have pre-conceived ideas about celebs and it's good to get to know strangers and guess how they will react! 

Biggest challenge this week is making meals out of all the leftovers, plus I had to add quite a bit more to the freezer after I bought our new years eve meal which came in about 10 boxes! 

So from this final post of 2022 all that's left to do is pass on my very best wishes for the year ahead and may it be happy and healthy for you all. xx

Lots to Celebrate.......

 
Sunday was the first of the eight days of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light. So my best wishes to all who are celebrating it. 

We've had some beautiful sunrise skies, and some mornings I've actually been up in time to see them. 

This year I've made an even bigger effort towards less waste. I've only used the wrapping paper and gift bags I had here already (most of the gift bags were recycled pre-used ones anyway) and for others I've made gift bags from old no longer worn clothing. I'll suggest they can be reused or returned to me. 

Wednesday our new sofa bed was delivered (it should have been here Monday but I refuse to get grumpy this week).

Looks good doesn't it, and hopefully it will be comfy too. 

Thursday evening I finally went to see R performing in Red Rose Theatre's adaptation of Wind in the Willows. We went as a family plus my old friend, Hubby and I, Daughter and O, Son and fiancé and friendKK. 

Have to say none of these photos were mine, I've taken them all from their advertising. I was too busy enjoying the show to take photos. 

It was fantastic and hilarious! So so proud of R. I had to post this review to Facebook...

Wow Wow Wow  what a fantastic show that was tonight, I can't stop smiling 😁 Fantastic set that smoothly became everything they needed it to be. A perfect cast that so enjoy what they are doing it's contagious. Brilliant script delivered with brilliant timing. Wow !!!

Now here it's house cleaning and food prepping and cooking as much in advance as I can. So I'll get on with it and leave you with my wishes for you all to have a great weekend and a very......

Tinsel and Torment........

 
AAARRGGGHHHH!!! Well the week started with a panic. For Sunday night I'd booked a Christmas meal for my old work team. The department was closed down 13 years ago but we still meet for lunches and Christmas. I was office manager so they leave it to me to organise. I'd eventually got everyone to agree on a date and time and I'd booked for 7:30pm as agreed. I booked online, confirmed 7:30pm with my guests and recently gave in our menu choices to the restaurant with 7:30pm written at the top. I got an email reminder with our booking details and it said 17:30 !!! 

Totally my fault with the 24 hour clock format. 
I tried to amend online but no other times were available. I managed to get through on the phone early and obviously they were busy with breakfasts so kept waiting for ages..... but eventually the lovely Kate managed to juggle things around and change us to 19:30 PHEW!!!

Saturday night was the dinner and dance with the Wednesday gang. At The Orwell Hotel in Felixstowe

Have to say the room was cold but thankfully I'd worn sleeves, friendM hadn't and wore my scarf as her shawl all evening. Dinner was barely OK as was the band but not really worth the ticket price.

Sunday during the day Son came over and helped Hubby move the treadmill out into the bike shed waiting for when Son can move it to his home when his building work is finished. As Son was leaving his van here and taking his car, they loaded the dismantled multi-gym into the van and Hubby took that later over to M as it's his now. Another job done. 

Sunday evening and it was lovely having the old work team together. Unfortunately there were quite a few disappointments here too. We have had our Christmas meal here at The Oyster Reach Beefeater for 18+years but this year was not up to their usual standard. Our server was Harry and he was really attentive and helpful and very smiley. However, there were no crackers or anything festive on the table even though we had pre-booked their festive menu. Just nine of us but the bar couldn't provide an alcohol free beer just a larger, no ginger beer and no bottled sparkling water! Think all the starters were good but all the main courses were warm or cold when they should have been hot! Dessert had barely warm custard all round which was a problem when for one dessert it was supposed to melt the chocolaty dome. Two desserts didn't come out until the rest of us had nearly finished. One choice was the black forest cheese cake, which I'm told tasted nothing like black forest flavours it was more like a vanilla cheesecake with a small spoonful of cherry compote. Harry was happy to get something heated up when asked but shouldn't have needed to. When I paid the bill and told Harry of our woes he managed to approve a reasonable discount. However now at home the bill doesn't look right to me, so I'm sending an email to the manager. Wish me luck. 🤞

Tuesday as Hubby was itching to get his new sofa bed for the office now the space is clear, I said let's just go and see what's available (so hard to judge online). First stop DFS, we were served by Richard who showed us the only one they had in the showroom. It had the right measurements and a good thickness mattress and had been reduced in price...... and to tick the final box they can deliver it next Monday! Quickest we've ever bought and paid for a piece of furniture. I'll pop a photo on next week's post. 

Friday lunch we met friendsL&K in a favourite pub which is an hours drive away normally but we knew there was major roadworks on the A12 causing long slow traffic queues plus the further into Essex the deeper the remaining snow so we needed all the extra time we gave ourselves. Lovely seeing them both and we all enjoyed great food..... so that's made up for those others! 

Can't give you an update on the email I sent on Tuesday as I've not had a reply even though Friday morning I sent it again asking for an acknowledgment of receipt. I'll have to take it further. 

Enjoy your weekend and try not to panic about all that's left to do as there's still another week to go! (Also advice to myself).

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Baubles and Blankets.....

 
We don't have to sit outside distanced from each other anymore, so this week we had coffee morning back in our dining room, lovely and warm! Can't really go back to doing it monthly like pre-covid as we've met outside weekly for three years! So we'll be inside weekly from now till it's warm again. 

My lovely friendVS sent me and others the Jacquie Lawson online advent calender.  It has wonderful animation that's beautifully interactive, with a new animated story every day and lots of games to play. I'm really enjoying it. 

My first Christmas Dinner was Tuesday lunchtime with friendL and friendS. It's always quite a long gap between meetups so plenty to talk about. We went to the Belstead Brook Hotel which was so beautifully decorated up for Christmas, I regret not taking any photos. We all had the turkey and trimmings and it was lovely. 

Hubby has found homes for the fitness equipment we now rarely use so he is dismantling. M is taking the multi-gym and Son is having the treadmill. 

Daughter and O were here for a cuppa or three and to watch the football and to collect their dog who had been with us during the day. O was showing us his new clothes and while modelling decided to pose for Daughter to take photos. 

It's been really frosty and so cold these last few days. Do you think there will be a white Christmas this year? Made me laugh when Hubby turned on the TV for cricket from very warm Pakistan and Sky Sports had to put snow over the graphics to make it look Christmassy. Hahaha

Stay warm, have fun and see you next weekend.

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Countdown Begins........

 
Yes I know this blog week started when it was still November, but the grandchildren wanted to put up our decorations as they have for the last 17 years, however R is in the Christmas performance of Wind In the Willows at Red Rose's Avenue Theatre which runs almost every day in December plus she's rehearsing for two other performances, so last weekend was her only opportunity. 

R and O started by sorting and building the big tree. 

O and Hubby then did the lights. 

Then R dressed it beautifully. 

There's also sparkle and garlands around the lounge, hallway and dining room as well as our little tree in the bay window. And all this was magically created with Christmas music on all the time 🎅🤶🎄

Hubby and I were already married with two young-adult children when my great-nephewD was born. As a small boy he'd come for sleepovers like his mum used to many years before. This week together with his 'nearly'husbandK they invited us over to their home. Actually their second home together but my health issues and then covid kept getting in the way but we got there eventually.  Both so hospitable and D had prepared lunch and dinner and had cakes and biscuits ready and he was up making constant tea. D gives the very best hugs too. A really lovely day. 

Having helped daughter prepare and paint all her hallway, this week Hubby has been removing carpet and getting it to the tip, then laying laminate flooring. Looks really good. 

I've still some cards to write (as I ran out and needed to buy some more) and more gifts to buy and just a couple of weeks left, so best get a wriggle on! 

See you next week.

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