Our Festivities 2021..........

 
The last coffee morning before Christmas saw all the usuals outside with blankets and hot water bottles. Hubby and I wore our Santa hats. NeighbourAB brought out warm sausage rolls she'd made and mince pies. Plus we had an old friend drop by with our card and a quick chat. 

Our cancelled past-workmates meal was replaced with a zoom gathering of all nine of us. We were on Hubby's laptop and neither of us could remember how to get a screenshot before our 40mins was up and zoom chucked us off. Really don't enjoy multi-people zoom calls but better than not seeing them at all. 

Christmas eve M, R, O and the dog arrived with their veg box and between the five of us (that's with me and Hubby and not the dog of course) all the veg was pealed chopped and washed within an hour! 

Before bed I brought all the nibbles into the lounge and the dining room table was laid ready. Actually I added party poppers after I took this photo. 

We had a lovely Christmas day. They had all covid tested before they came (crazy times eh?) and the dog was suitably attired. 

Kettle on first of course, present unwrapping, 3-course dinner for carnivores, vegetarians and a vegan that's gluten free! We had to make sure all leftover food, too hot for the fridge, was put straight into the office with the door shut so the dog didn't sneak back for extras. A little game playing, this one was fun Just One. One toy broken after about 10 mins that I need to contact the seller about. Nobody wanted any supper food but most happy to eat the snacks and chocolates that were out, have to say I was still too full for anything other than more mugs of tea. 

E and her boyfriend left first as they had more evening celebrations back in Norwich, we waved them off with a carrier bag of vegan food. Then we all settled down for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, another cuppa then the others went home. Daughter taking another bag of food with them. 

Boxing day we realised Daughter had forgotten the rest of her veg box, so she invited us to bring it over and stay for lunch. 

Hubby's present to me was a circulation reviving machine

as I do suffer with restless legs, swollen feet and ankles and very cold knees and ankles. Hopefully after some daily use I'll be able to report back if it has helped. In fact we are both using it. 

Eight of us braved the in-between-Monday for coffee morning. Everyone reported having had a lovely Christmas time but also a couple of hiccups. NeighbourC had to take her mum to A&E boxing day, treated and home again quite quickly. NeighbourAB had a mishap with a knife going through the foil roasting dish and she was still struggling to de-grease her kitchen floor. 

On the 27th backache was caused by sorting what we can't eat now and chopping and boxing all the rest of the leftovers for the freezer. Amused me there were only two leftover brussels sprouts and no stuffing balls at all. 

A couple of days of normal stuff like two machine loads of washing done and Hubby having to fix Daughter's loft ladder and Daughter and R here for lunch then we blinked and it was new years eve! 

As we've done for quite a few years, friend and next door neighbourA joined Hubby and I for our at home Chinese takeaway to see in the New Year. 

Obviously it was far too much food for three of us, so I've dinner for tomorrow sorted. 

Hubby was on call for SERVSC overnight and into 2022 and had decided that after nearly 10 years he's done enough so that was his last shift. He was called out, leaving home just after 9pm so friendA went with to keep him company. Three boxes of blood to collect and deliver to Ipswich Hospital. They were back about 10:45pm as the roads were empty. Hubby checked he was unlikely to be called again so he relaxed and had a pint to see in the new year. Midnight hugs and good wishes between the three of us, and lots of fireworks going on around us, so a few minutes of running from window to window out the front door and out into the garden to watch a few. FriendA went home, we cleared away the few nibbles still out, switched off all the Christmas lights and went to bed. 

And now all that's left for this post is to wish you all