Christmas 2012

I've slipped up somewhat this Christmas as I neglected to take many photos. Partly due to Mr G and I waking up with colds on Christmas Eve and thus we didn't really feel 100% - I was very glad my Mum had offered to host Christmas dinner and I didn't have all of the prep that it usually entails.

This meant we had a quiet Christmas Eve, of pottering about, nipping up to the horses, watching movies and drinking festive hot chocolate (made with real chocolate, double cream and whole milk - delicious!!)

I was excited to open my Instagram Christmas swap - we had all decided to open them Christmas Eve:

How beautifully are they wrapped?

I got such a lovely selection of goodies - my IG friend Claire really spoiled me!!

I was pleased on Christmas Eve when W (aged 12) humoured me enough to put out cider, mince pies and a parsnip (we had no carrots!!) for Father Christmas and Rudolph.

H (aged 14) was having none of it however and I find it sad that he'd rather be on his own in his room than with us :0( - releasing those apron strings is hard....

Come Christmas morning W was raring to go at 7.00am and so we trooped downstairs, all be it sleepily, to see if the big man had been.

W was delighted to receive an iPad:

H got a new graphics card and big new monitor for his PC and Nannie got him a fancy headset:

As part of our bid to prevent H becoming a hermit we have his PC downstairs in a hideaway cupboard so he is at least with us. He chats all the time to his friends whilst playing and so it's not quite as insular as it may sound. I think we have had to realise that teenagers socialise in a different way to how we did when we were kids and a lot of it is via technology.

Mr G spoiled me with an AirPrint printer so I can print from my iPad without having to bother him (I've been having to email whatever I want printing to him and then usually wait an age for him to get around to it!!)

It's white so blends in with my sewing room:

He also got me a big hardback sketch pad; a bottle of Cosmopolitan; some lovely fancy soap and a deer head!! Yep, after all his objections he gave in and got me a little one!!:

Mr G and I repaired back to bed for a couple of hours before it was time to leave to go to my Mum's.

My sister and I had all brought some components of the meal and it all came together to make a delicious dinner after which it was time to open presents:

I got some lovely gifts including:

Kirstie Allsopp houses - the big one (from my Mum) is a biscuit jar and the little one (from MIL) has a notepad inside....

Gorgeous electric kettle (yep, electric!!) from my Mum....

Cath Kidston enamel canisters (also my Mum!!)....

Beautiful table runner handstitched with my favourite lilies by my Mum - gosh showing all these shows just how much she spoiled me....

My sister got me a lovely Pip Studio purse (no picture of that), a CK voucher and this:

Isn't it just fab? So retro!!

MIL also got me some CK goodies, my favourite Badedas bubble bath (she buys me a big one every Christmas and it lasts until about September) and some cash which I have spent on a vintage Art Deco dressing table mirror from eBay - will show it off when it arrives.

So, I was thoroughly spoiled.

Boxing Day Mr G and I spent the whole day in bed, alas not in a good way but in a we-feel-rough-and-the-weather-is-vile kinda way.

Christmas is over once again. I'm looking at the deccies and can't wait to take them down - I usually do it New Years Day and just leave the cards up until Twelfth Night. Not because I'm sick of them per se, but because I think when it's over it's over!!

I must confess that I detest the period from Boxing Day to about March and just can't wait for spring. I wouldn't mind if we had clear, crisp, frozen winters but all this rain is just yuck.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas....

Hugs,

S x

 

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We're All Still Here Then!!

Hello, my lovelies!! I'm delighted to see that we are all still here!! My inner cave woman was a teensy bit apprehensive about the 21st and one little 12 year old had to sleep in Mummy and Daddy's room:

Are you all ready for Christmas? We are more or less there, we need to pop to the local retail park for one more thing and then I fully intend not to leave the house until at least the 27th!!

Except for Christmas Day of course, which we are spending at my Mums, along with my Sis and family and Mr G's mum and dad.

Have you been socialising lots? I'm afraid my fear of winter bugs has put me in hibernation mode, but my Sis, BIL, nephew and niece did come over for some dinner last night, they brought a bottle of fizz which lasted all of five minutes and the most delicious banoffee pie:

We did a silly selfie:

Some people think we look alike but I can't see it!!

I'm currently awaiting the delivery of our Tesco order, I'm hoping it all turns up or else we'll be rather like Margo and Gerry in The Good Life (love that show!!) when their Christmas isn't delivered!!

Hugs,

S x

 

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The GIFTS!!

Hello my sweeties!!

Well I have managed to drag out the story of my birthday for a good couple of weeks now, so congratulations if you are still with me!!

My actual birthday was on a Monday, so Mr G got up and took the boys to school before bringing me tea, cards and presents.

My main gift from Mr G was a vintage (1890) gold watch:

I absolutely love it, of course being over 120 years old (that blows my mind a bit!!) it has to be wound, and it makes the loveliest tick-tocking. It also keeps very good time, being exactly in synch with Mr G's modern designer watch.

Mr G also got me some winter boots. I chickened out of the DM's in the end having tried them on in a shoe shop - they were a wee bit chunky for me and it took literally 10 minutes to lace them after which I needed a lay down!! These boots have a zip as well as laces (which I shall swap for ribbons) and so are much easier:

H and W bought me two metres of fabric which they chose themselves, very sweet!!

My sister and brother-in-law also spoiled me with something that has been on my wanties list ever since I saw Nicki's from Homebird's some months ago:

Swoon!! It's a red polka dot Zatchel and I love it!! Sis had not only chose the exact size I wanted but also added the grab handle to the top (which is optional) so she got it spot on!!

MIL & FIL also got me a Pressie I had wanted for ages - it was probably a couple of years ago that Nigella Lawson did a show and in the titles you saw her switching on a bunny lamp:

He gives off a lovely relaxing glow and I just love him!! He is by Heico and from Petit Home.

My Stepmum gave me a lovely canvas with vintage teacups on that goes perfectly in the kitchen - very me!! Haven't got a piccie to show you of that though.

After present opening I got ready leisurely and we headed to Chichester - there is a Feather and Black outlet store and as we needed a new bed I thought we could pop in there, which (coincidentally) is just along from The Eternal Maker - a lovely quilting shop.

There was nothing to tempt us in the bed shop but of course purchases were made in the fabric shop:

After mooching round the shops we headed back homewards to our favourite pub which is very near to where I keep my horses. It was all candlelit inside as it was a gloomy day and we got a nice spot by the wood burner:

The pub has the most fantastic pies and we both enjoyed a sausage and chorizo pie with thick cut crispy chips - I was too greedy to take a picture!!

I did take one of my new bag on its maiden outing:

After we finished our meal an chap left his old Mum near to where we were sat so he could fetch the car - she began to chat to us and told she was 101!! I told her it was my 40th birthday and she said "Let me give you some advice, my dear. Spend your money. Don't save it. Spend it and enjoy. Don't save it like I did. It's no use to me now." I found that very poignant....

After all the excitement (and expense!!) of the weekend we had a quiet night in - we were both stuffed until quite late when we shared baked Camembert, roasted tomatoes and crusty bread in front of the telly.

I had been thoroughly spoiled - I am very lucky to have such a lovely family that did all they could to make my 40th birthday very special indeed - thank you I love you all....

Hugs,

S x











 

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The Big 4-0 Part Three....

I've been a bit slack on posting of late and it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't tell you about the rest of my birthday weekend.

On Sunday we had sort of planned to see if we could find a couple of flea markets in London - however, whilst doing a bit of Googling I realised that Sunday was the day of The Festival of Vintage at Epsom which was kind of on the way home.

We awoke Sunday to a grey day and soon it began to rain so the prospect of an indoor vintage festival was a lot more attractive than traipsing round the capital in the hopes of finding a good market.

So it was we bid farewell to London and headed back south.

By the time we arrived at the racecourse it was bucketing it down, and there were several beautifully clad, victory rolled ladies trying to remain immaculate as they dashed to the entrance.

Inside was an Aladdins cave of all things vintage:

Close up of the lovely dress:

I want a frock like this and I shall wear it to Asda....

Lots of people were dressed the part and looked splendid:

Naturally I couldn't resist buying some of the lovely vintage fabric that was on offer:

I also joined in a little workshop to make a cute pincushion:

After a lovely couple of hours we headed home and had a snooze (which we really needed after the wonderful but hectic weekend); Grandma and Granddad brought the boys back and soon it was time to head to my Mum's for a birthday tea.

Now this was meant to be a surprise but unfortunately Mr G's Mum let it slip the week before *rollseyes* - so along with sister-in-law letting slip London was our destination Mr G says he is not telling his family any secrets in future!!

Mum had done an amazing spread - you can always rely on a northern woman to over cater:

My sister had made a fabulous cake, complete with icing Cath Kidston tag:

Although it was the day before my birthday Mum insisted I open at least her presents as she wanted to be there when I did.

My first present was a gorgeous bangle:

I love it....

A cute little sparkly mirror compact which Mum had had engraved on the back:

And then the gift that made me cry - a beautiful Irish linen tablecloth Mum had handmade and covered in hand embroidered motifs - it had taken her two years:

It was the signature and date that made me blub most!!

Mum had been embroidering napkins on our holiday in Zakynthos this summer, telling me they were for a friend when all the time they were for me!!

So, all these treats and we still haven't come to my actual birthday yet!! I have been so spoilt by my lovely family.

I was going to squeeze it all in this post but I think I've gone on enough for now so will have to do the final installment another day....

Thanks for reading!!

Hugs,

S x

 

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Life Begins At 40?

This week is my last week as a 30 something as next Monday I turn 40!! I really don't know how it has happened as I feel no different to how I did when I was 16.

I have been struggling with it a little bit - of course in the grand scheme of things it's a trifling matter and much better by far than the alternative - I am reminded of a quote I once saw: "Do not regret growing older as it is a privilege denied to many"....

I guess age is just a number and (despite Mr G saying that only 40 year olds say it!!) I really believe that 40 is the new 30 - a 40 year old a generation or two ago were a lot older in their outlook and ways than a 40 year old in the noughties.

I wibbled over turning 30 too and have really enjoyed my thirties - even to the point of feeling a wee bit superior (in a Sex And The City kinda way!!) to some twenty somethings *blush*. In your thirties you feel more comfortable in your skin, are less worried about what other people think and are starting to have a good deal of life experience. Maybe this'll continue into my forties?!!

I've found too that my health anxiety gets worse as I get older, I guess as the chances of becoming ill increase with age. The happier I am the more I worry about my health!! *rollseyes*

The other issue is broodiness!! Part of me is craving another baby, Mr G says its my hormones/body clock playing tricks on me and he's probably right but the older H and W become, and the less they need me the worse the hankering becomes!! I need to feel needed!!

On Friday Mr G is taking me away for the weekend, I'm not sure why it's not on my actual birthday but I have an inkling maybe something else is going on. Mr G won't divulge where we are going, but my Mum says "The boy done good" and my mother-in-law says she said to a friend "I'm jealous of my daughter-in-law, for what my son has arranged for her"!! - so all that sounds very intriguing and exciting!!

Maybe it'll take the sting right out of being the big 4-0?!!

I'll leave you with a photo of my best boys taken yesterday at MIL & FIL's golden wedding anniversary lunch - proper pics to follow when I've taken them off the fancy camera!!

As always, thanks for reading....

Hugs,




S x

 

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Bath And Bad Teeth!!

Hello my lovelies!!

The menfolk of the house are in engrossed in "Battleship" which is very definitely a Boys Movie and so I thought I would sneak in a blog post.

How's your week been? We had the third thing break (remember the toilet flush broke and then the fridge freezer) when on Tuesday while eating dinner I managed to crack my tooth in half!!

It's needed re-filling for years and I've been ignoring the dentist as I didn't like the thought of her having to dig the old filling out, so I was a bit sheepish when I had to phone her for an emergency appointment.

I took my Mum for moral support as I am a wuss and my dentist (who is just lovely) gave me lots of anaesthetic and managed to repair the tooth. Of course I was then numb for hours, hence a slightly lopsided smile:

Yesterday, Mum and I went to Bath for the day. Mum and her friend M go on lots of trips out and they had booked a coach trip to Bath as M had never been, unfortunately she couldn't make it and so Mum asked me to go with her.

I must confess, though I really fancied a day in Bath I didn't much fancy the coach part - I don't really do coaches as if anyone became travel sick I would go mental!! But with Mum's assurances that if that should happen she would stand on the side of the road with me while we rang Mr G to collect us off we set.

The weather was pretty grim as we arrived but we decided to do the truly British thing and Make The Best Of It.

And that is how we found ourselves on the top deck of an open top bus, in the rain, under a (very flimsy, Poundland) umbrella:

The bus motored round the town and we took in the beautiful buildings:

Afterwards the weather brightened up and we pottered round the shops for awhile and then stopped to have something to eat in The Pump Rooms:

Now my Mum clearly remembers a lovely day she had with my Dad years ago when he surprised her with lunch out at The Pump Room's (you'll remember my Mum and Dad were divorced, but of course that doesnt mean Mum doesnt still have very fond memories) and she became tearful.

And I was overcome with how beautiful it was, how English and how lucky I was to be there with my lovely Mum that I joined her and also burst into tears - much to the bemusement of the maitre'd!!

We sat there for a moment while we waited to be seated at our table and Mum told me about how Dad had surprised her when the pianist began playing a very familiar melody - the aria from "Madame Butterfly" which had been one of Dad's favourites and it almost felt like he was there....

We were soon guided to our table and giggled about how we should have been dressed in empire line gowns in the manner of Jane Austen (who of course lived in Bath):

Love this photo of my Mum!!

Naturally, as it was mid-afternoon we ordered afternoon tea:

I admired the beautiful chandelier:

Afterwards we had a peep at the Roman Baths (but didn't pay to look around properly as everything was so expensive!!):

Soon it was time to meet the coach but not before I picked my way through the streets barefoot because my shoes were rubbing and my Mum managed to fall over!!

The coach was a bit of a drag on the way back as the seats were so uncomfortable but we returned home tired, happy and with lots of new memories of Bath....

Hugs,

S x

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