Our Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas.  Surrounded by family as always.  It begun on the 22nd when Simon collected Saskia from the station.  We had a lovely afternoon as Coralie came over with the boys and Lisa and Sam with the girlies and we made paper chains.  The children loved it.  They took some home and we hung some up.  We only had a tiny tree this year so the paper chains helped to make it look more festive.  We have taken them down today.

On Christmas eve Saskia and I had a bit of a sewing day.  She made 2 bum bags for presents for Evan and Flynn and a cushion for a friend.  I just pottered in my sewing room.  The evening was spent watching TV and relaxing.

Christmas day began at 8am as we had told Saskia that she had to go down and bring us coffee and biscuits. She was delighted to find the stocking that we had done for her hanging on her door.  She sat on our bed to open her gifts while we drank our coffee.  It wasn't quite the same as the days when all 5 of them would sit on our bed excitedly ripping open presents at 5am but it was still a lovely moment.

We had cooked the turkey on Christmas eve so we only had the gammon joint and veggies to prepare.  We got them ready and then went down to Sam and Lisa's house for an hour.  The girls were very excited and it was lovely to see them open their presents.

We received a house number plate from Sam and Lisa.  Lisa made it herself from mosaic tiles.

We were home by 11.30am and Verity and Steve arrived shortly after. We had a lovely relaxed time before dinner which went down really well. There were only the 5 of us which is the smallest number we have ever had. Verity had made a brownie cake which we had with raspberry coulis and cream for dessert.  None of us eat Christmas pudding.  She is one good cook.

After lunch we opened some presents.  I got a floor standing, day light lamp from Simon for my sewing room.  I also got 2 vouchers from him.  1 for a £100 shopping trip and 1 for me to get my hair done.  Do you think he is trying to tell me something?

Coralie, John and the boys arrived about 4pm shortly followed by Josh and Charlotte.   Sam and Lisa were not with us as they went to Lisa's parents for tea. We all had fun waiting to feel verity's baby moving.

We had a wonderful time opening presents.  The boys seemed to be very pleased with the bedtime buddies that I had made them.  We had a buffet tea as always around 6pm and then it was time for everyone to depart.  I mean every one as Saskia went back with Verity and Steve for a few days. It was the first Christmas night that we have ever been just the 2 of us.  It seemed a little odd not to have anyone staying but we enjoyed sitting and vegging out in front of the TV.

Boxing day we were totally alone as the rest of the family all went to Verity and Steve's in Cambridge.  we couldn't go as we cant leave Alfie for too long.  It was an odd day.  Just like a normal weekend day really.   We spent it relaxing and pottering as we did the following day.

This is me wearing my Christmas jammies that Saskia got me.  I was cold so I had them on over my dress. I hadn't brushed my hair!  Told you we were veging out!

Forgot to show you our present from Coralie, she made it herself and she drew around each grandchilds hand!  Isn't it lovely?

On the Friday Verity and Steve were bringing Saskia back and we were meeting them in Kiddicare in Peterborough to buy the pram/ pushchair for the  new  grandbaby.  Only 10 weeks to go!  We have sort of made a tradition that we buy the first grandchild's  travel system. We took Ellie with us as she wanted to help choose!  It took a long time even though they already sort of knew what they wanted.  In the end they chose a Quinny system.  They chose a french navy pram, black pushchair and sort of grey and purple car seat.  Baby will go in the pram for the first few months and of course the car seat and then they will convert it into the pushchair.  They were really pleased  with it all.

They had to try it out when they got home so here are some more views.  Won't be long until baby is in it.

The following day it was time for Saskia to go home so after dropping me at the dog rescue, Simon drove her back to Leicester.  I think she had a good Christmas but I think she was happy to be back at her own house and I know she was looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends the following day.  Happy Birthday Saskia!  27 years old!!!  How can that be possible?

With Saskia gone, we have been just relaxing and gradually getting the house back to normal.  Simon has been busy in his garage and I have done some sewing.  It was a different kind of Christmas.  Quieter. I do miss the old days when they were all young.  Those were magical times.  I am grateful though that we were able to spend time with all of our family.

Next year there will be one more person in our family.  I can't wait.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Well that went by in a flash didn't it. Can't quite believe that Christmas is all done and dusted for another year.  This time last year we had been in our new house just a couple of weeks.  We were looking forward to the year ahead, even though we pretty much knew that it wasn't going to be long before we received sad news. We had a lot of plans and we were excited. Where the heck did that year go?  It just flew by.  Must be all the wind we get here in the Lincolnshire Fens.

Actually I remember beginning 2012 hoping and longing for a good summer.  The week of sunshine and a temperature high enough to walk around in a T shirt in March was a good sign....or so I thought!  No such luck,  It was the worst summer that I can remember and there have been some rotten ones the last 10 or so.  Last year was the wettest on record. They are promising more of the same so I shall have no expectations for this summer.  A girl can hope though, yes?

It was a busy year. Probably my worst year.  The death of my Mum followed closely by the death of her sister, my Aunt Glad was very sad. Watching my Dad try to cope afterwards was even harder.  We have had several family members with health problems that are still ongoing.  Then there were the 3 IVF cycles that my daughter went through.  The entire family were with her every step and I can't begin to tell you of the crushing disappointment those first 2 times.  Then of course the sheer elation third time round.

Despite it not being the best year ever we did all survive the predicted end of the world and we have arrived safely in 2013.  Once again we are looking forward to the year ahead.  We have, as always many plans.  We have the excitement and joy of the new baby due in around 10 weeks.  We have the garden to get organised, weather permitting.  Hopefully this year we can grow our own veggies again.   so many things to do.

I just hope that we can get to this time next year and look back and say, "yes 2013 was a good year".

Happy New Year

OK, so about a week ago I promised to do a nice long Christmas blog.  It hasn't happened....yet!  What a surprise.  I have been busy as always.

I just wanted to quickly pop in on this the last day of 2012 to see out the old year and ring in the new.  I think I have said before that we don't really celebrate the new year.  Well not in the way that some do.  We don't party and we don't go out.  We spend it at home quietly just the 2 of us.  We will still be up at midnight so will see the dawn of 2013 but only because we tend to go to bed late, no other reason really.

Neither of us make new year resolutions.  I don't see the point.  Every day is a new start so if I want to make a resolution I can do it any time.  No need to wait a whole year.

I do however have hopes and dreams for the coming year as I am sure that most of us have.  For me personally I hope that this coming year is one of joyous moments.  I hope it does not have the sadness of the year just gone.  Simon and I have much to look forward to and we will be reminding ourselves regularly that whatever comes our way we will be grateful.

The last post that I did here was the poem "Enough".  That is my constant wish for every one of us.  I wish you a very happy New Year and every blessing for 2013 but above all I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

I wish you Enough

I wish you enough love in your heart, and enough communion with your soul.
I wish you enough light to illuminate your lessons, and enough dark to integrate your wisdom.
I wish you enough giving to open your heart, and enough receiving to bring you home.
I wish you enough activity to sharpen your mind and strengthen your body, and enough rest to bring you peace.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright, no matter how grey the day.
I wish you enough rain to nourish your garden and to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough gentle wind to lift your hair and your dreams
I wish you enough storms to clear away the old and make room for the new.
I wish you enough dirt to grow your herbs and flowers and to keep your feet firmly on the ground.
I wish you enough clouds in the sky to inspire you to reach beyond them.
I wish you enough birds in flight to delight your eyes and enough birdsong to serenade your ears.
I wish you enough kisses and cuddles with children and animals to bring you simple joy.
I wish you enough friendship to remind you that you are not alone.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and ever lasting.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough starlight to inspire your imagination and enough moonlight to stir your soul.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Happy Christmas.

Well another few days have rushed past in a whirlwind.  I had intended to do a nice long blog but it is nearly 11pm on Christmas Eve and we are tired.  Tomorrow will be a long day.  On boxing day (day after Christmas for my Merikan friends) Simon and I will be home alone so I shall do a blog then. 

I just wanted to quickly drop by here to wish all my friends and family the very best day tomorrow.  It doesn't matter to me if you celebrate it or not.  I don't care why you celebrate it either.  It is one more day of your life which I hope you will be spending with those that you love.  It is another day to be thankful for all that you have.

Simon and I and all of my family wish you all a very happy Christmas.  May peace be with you and may you have "Enough".  

Be thankful

I am having a lazy day.  I was up later than normal because Simon overslept. I have done a bit of housework and a show and tell blog.  While I was cleaning the kitchen floor I had the TV on.  It was Jeremy Kyle.  I have seen his show before but today's show was different.  It was Christmas surprises for some very special people and to raise money for some charities.

It has had me in tears.  The stories of those people are inspirational.  I cannot begin to imagine how those families have coped with the stuff life has thrown at them.   It is a very timely reminder at this time of year to think about my numerous blessings and to be thankful for them.

It is impossible to even begin to list the ways in which I have been blessed. I had a wonderful childhood with loving parents.  I have led a life of privilege surrounded by people that I love and who love me. I have my health.  I'm not sure what else there is.  If you have all of those things then you want for nothing.

Yes, I have problems and I get annoyed and upset regularly but nothing in my life is insurmountable.  Nothing is life threatening.

You know I have long maintained that money can't buy happiness and I truly believe that.  Yes it can buy comforts but that is all.  What really brings happiness is to be content with what you have and to be thankful for it every day of your life.

Always look for the good.

Over the coming months when you here me whinging and moaning perhaps you could remind me of this!

I wish each and every one of you  happiness over the holiday period and on into 2013.

The final show and tell of the year

I have a few bits and pieces to show you in this last show and tell for 2012.  The most exciting is the finished baby quilt.  The photo isn't great but hopefully you can see that it has turned out quite well.  It isn't perfect but I am proud of it and I don't suppose the baby will be too fussed.

I have also made another ribbon taggie square which is to go in our snowman for the baby.  Do you remember our snowman?  He comes out every year and he has a small gift inside him for every member of the family.  Simon gets them out and the grandchildren take them to each person in turn.  It is one of our traditions.  My Mum used to have a snowman  years ago.  Underneath the taggie is a photo of the snowman.  I made him a few years back from chicken wire covered in layers and layers of paper maiche and then cotton wool.

I made another bum bag which I am keeping for the craft show next year.  Remember that the Dog rescue do a dog show in the summer and my aim is to make enough stuff to be able to have a craft stall for them.  I already have about 50 little brooches, a make up pouch and a jewellery roll.  I have a whole list of things to get started on in the new year which will include, bum bags, shopping bags, aprons, cushions, brooches, cases for ipads and kindles, glasses cases, sock monkeys, peg bags, wall hangings maybe some teddies.  In fact anything that I can think of that won't cost too much to make and can be sold relatively cheaply.

This small Stanley dog is also for the craft show, not best happy with his ears.

This cat door stop was made from a design printed on fabric that I got for 69p ages ago.  I actually made it ages ago but only just sewed on the button eyes this week.  Not happy about his ears either.  It will also go for the craft show.

I have been attempting to make hair clips as I think they could be a good cheap seller along with head bands. This looks OK but the glue on the back shows.  I used a glue gun for good strong glue but I can't sell it as it is because of the glue showing on the underside.  It looks messy.  Need to work out a way of doing it so that doesn't happen.  I want to get some cheap head bands to see what I can do with them.  Did glue a small one of my flower brooches to a head band for Ellie last year and that worked quite well.   My idea is that I need to have lots of things that will appeal to children and only cost a pound or two and then the adults will buy them.

These are the birthday cards that I have made for the last few birthdays this year.

And then there are brooches.  Oh yes more brooches.  These have sold well on EBay but I shall be keeping them now for the craft stall.

I also made another gift this week but as it has yet to reach it's destination I can't show it to you.  Next time.  I  am now going to go and get a bit of house work done before starting work on my third bum bag.  This time made with owl fabric.

This is for one of my bloggy friends.  Eeevee, a special lady who has recently started to do volunteer work at a raptor centre near where she lives.

Thursday 20th December

OK so I have been bad at blogging again but you know it is nearly Christmas and I have been busy.  This is just a quick catch up on a few things.

Firstly my Alfie.  He is doing OK. We have had one week on the prescription diet and so far so good. He seems to like it and he isn't missing out on treats as I give him a few morsels of the food when he would normally have a treat.   He is managing to "wee" a bit better.  It is sort of spurts rather than drips.  So far we have not had any more trouble with leakage so I am only mopping the floor once a day. We have lots of waterproof bedding thingies now but so far they have not been needed.  Simon will collect more food, antibiotics and pain killers from the vet tomorrow to see us over Christmas.  I spoke to the vet today and she is pleased with progress so far and will see him after Christmas.

I am sitting typing this with half an eye on the news. They are predicting more rain and floods across the country.  It is appalling. It has rained here very heavily all day.  The garage is partially flooded again. It is coming in from the back corner and we think it is because the guttering which drains into a water butt simply cannot cope.  Thank goodness our house is safe.  It must be truly awful to have your house flood.

It has been another busy week here.  I have been sewing some last minute bits and pieces for Christmas.  I am really pleased that I have made about 95% of  our gifts this year.

On Tuesday Simon and I went to Stamford, a town about 15 miles away.  He was collecting some wood from a wood yard. We had a quick whizz around the shops there and I got lots of little bits and pieces for a stocking for Saskia.  We gave up doing the Christmas stockings a few years back but as Saskia will actually be here and waking up in our house on Christmas morning I thought it would be nice.  We won't tell her, we will just hang it on her door when she goes to bed so that she can find it in the morning.  We shall tell her that it is her job to get up and bring us coffee and biscuits in bed and then she can open it in our room just like they all used to when they were little. I miss those days.  I have made her a little stocking from Christmas fabric.

When we got home on Tuesday it was to a freezing cold house.  The heating was not on.  Simon checked the pilot light which was fine.  We both had a fiddle around with the timer and the thermostat....nothing.  It was freezing and I do not do cold. Simon phoned a plumber who came out on Wednesday and said we need a new pump.  Strangely, overnight on Tuesday the heating restarted but the plumber said it can do that.  It has been OK since but did go off for a while this morning.  I hope it doesn't give up all together as he can't do the work until the 8th of January.

Yesterday I  did a bit of the Christmas food shopping.  I went to Tesco in Bourne on the 4.50pm bus and Simon picked me up on his way home.  It meant that I didn't leave Alfie for too long.  It wasn't a bad idea but it was very cold waiting for the bus and I also got soaking wet as of course it was  raining.  I still have more to do which I will probably do either tomorrow afternoon once Simon gets home or possibly on Sunday.  Simon will be home early tomorrow as it is the last day of term and they finish an hour or so earlier than normal.

On Saturday I shall  be helping at the dog rescue kennels as normal. Simon is collecting Saskia from Stamford station at lunch time and they will come to pick me up and drop of her cat at the same time. She couldn't find anywhere in Leicester to take her cat so it is going in the cattery here.   Saturday afternoon we have all 4 grandchildren coming to make paper chains which should be fun.  Not sure yet what is happening on Sunday or Christmas eve.

Oh, just remembered something, I keep meaning to tell you all that Coralie raised £327 for the Three Counties dog rescue with her sponsored ride.  Here she is after it was over with her friend Les who also did the . Thanks to everyone who kindly sponsored her.  The doggies will be very grateful.

OK, I'm out of here now. Time to make some hot chocolate and snuggle in bed. I have some magazines waiting to be read.