Well That Was A Great Christmas

Monday 22 December 2008

Over to mum and dad's today for most of the day. Had a lovely lunch of roast beef and mum kept us entertained with some quizzes she had devised. Whilst we were there we managed to sort out some problems my parents were having with recording TV programmes so I earned good daughter points for that I hope. Mum and Dad got us a very practical present of a bookcase for Christmas which me much needed so that's great.

On the way home we called into our friends Wendy & Mick for drink and for Peter to see the garden illuminations. Wendy is employed in catering so whilst I get a luxury 10 days off work over Christmas she gets just Christmas day which is thoroughly rubbish.

Tuesday 23 December 2008

Travelled up to Norfolk today and checked into the Travelodge(for once we were booked into the same one for the whole duration of our stay which was great as it's a real pain to keep packing and moving like we usually do). I had a very bad right knee today which meant that when it was straight I had trouble bending it and when I managed to bend it, it was painful to straighten. Very uncomfortable in the car and when we stopped at a Service Area I think Peter thought he was walking along with peg leg!

Christmas Eve

After a nights rest my knee was pretty much back to normal so off we went to the
RSPB at Minsmere. Great place, lots of hides - some overlooking water and some in woodland. As we arrived quite late we only had time to do the water based hides. We made sure we made the most of the afternoon and made it back to the visitor Centre ten minutes before closing. We made a quick visit to the shop which I think was understandably a bit unpopular with the staff as they were trying to cash up. Anyway, I bought some half price Christmas cards for next year (don't be surprised if you get bird themed cards next year folks!)

Christmas Day

Opened our pressies today, lots of wonderful things - thank you everyone! I got a Nintendo DS from Peter with some much needed brain training games - it's very addictive and Peter and I, as always, are very competitive in who can get the best scores.

Then it was off to Peter's sisters for the day. Denise did a fabulous lunch and we played board games with the demon player, Hannah - aged 10, who thrashed us most of the time, followed by some Christmas telly. A lovely day, and evening, before we knew it, it was gone 11 O'clock.

Boxing Day

Had a nice leisurely morning this morning and took our time getting up and getting ready. This week we have discovered an excellent programme 'Wainwright Walks' presented by Julia Bradbury on BBC 2 which we have been trying to catch each morning. At lunch time we met Peter's sister at the Hotel Wroxham which is a waterfront hotel. The meal was a self service carvery and was delicious. Denise invited us back to her place and we did a bit of a detour to a local brewery (sadly closed as Peter wanted to buy some real ale) and several churches on the way. I'd taken down a homemade Christmas Cake for tea which tasted good (I was worried that I'd overfed it with brandy but it was fine). We left late again and were surprised to find the car iced up - it had been quite mild earlier in the day. Lovely and Christmassy though.

Saturday 27 December 2008

The long journey back home. Set off about 10-ish and hoped to be come within about 5hours - in the end it took 7.5 due to the car park that is the M25. The Road to Hell indeed. Even the magpies hoping around the hard shoulder were travelling faster! It is quite soul destroying inching along seeing everyone else in their cars having a crap time too - I wondered how many of them had to be somewhere to join friends and families for lunch - they certainly had no chance of making it. Peter did is best to come off the Hell Road from time to time to try and find a detour but most roads lead back on it - arhhhhh. Anyway, we finally made it to Fleet Services for a much needed loo break and a chicken dinner before making the last leg home.

We've had a truly lovely time but it's still nice to be home and back to familiar things.

Back from

Just got back from a brief trip to my brother's in Somerset - he has a lovely house next to the village school pictured. I finished work at 1 O'clock on Friday in order to drive there in daylight.To avoid the motorway I wound through lots of pretty villages and small towns - a very pleasent journey and there seems to be more a sense of community around the area with nearly every village having a village Christmas tree and lots of Christmas events going on. I passed Santa on a sit on lawn mower for example!

My brother and his wife run a fashion shop so obviously it's a peak time for them so I spent a lot of time with the children making snow flakes, drawing and watching Christmas movies. Today we also went out to the local garden centre and had a look round - strangely there was a Starbucks in the middle of the place - not that I'm complaining! The kids loved looking at the Xmas decs and particulalry a mad singing dog that raised it's ears in time to music.

I had a lovely time but it's still nice to be home.

Catch Up Blog

Monday

Saw two friends in the evening and had a nice festive time at friend number 1's house. Hi-lights were:-
The impressive garden lights - Blackpool eat your heart out!
Seeing my friend's two girls who are not always around when I visit cos teenagers are always out!

Tuesday

Night out with two different friends. Met friend number one's lovely cat 'Ebony', had a delicious meal and had my first attempt at playing a Nintendo Wii (for the record, I am rubbish at tennis but excellent at shooting - a bit worrying that!).

Wednesday
Got stuck at work later than intended and had to rush back home to be in for a courier at 5pm. A very stressful drive indeed with everyone doing their best to drive as slowly as possible. Managed to get two Christmas cakes marzipaned and get through some housework too.

Thursday
Up at about 5.30 - At 6.30 dropped Peter at station, then visited bank, put car through express car wash, collected two parcels from Post Office. Still made it to work early! Spotted a fox crossing the road which was nice.

Discovered that another parcel I need to collect from City Link are in flippin Segensworth so that's a 26 mile journey from work to collect that - internet shoppping convenient? Not always......

This evening will be the first night we've had together all week as P was out last night so hoping to whiz round doing some housework and then flop. I won't even have to cook any tea as P has his works Christmas do today.

Flooded Counties and Cakes

Up early this morning, six-thirty; can't seem to lie in these days even although I was very tired last night. At one point I was lying on the sofa watching a recording of the Hairy Bikers and felt Peter proding me as I'd nodded off and was gently snoring away. I did manage to revive myself to watch the outcome of the X Factor which was definitely the right result; the winner, Alexandra, was so overcome from winning she went into shock and missed some lines out of her final song, she managed to pull it together though - although I don't know how, how do you sing when your throat is all closed up with crying? Amazing and very much well deserved. Lovely song too - I think the single is out already. I hear there were some interesting goings on with the voting on Strictly last night - I look forward to hearing your comments on that Anne if you're reading.

As I am up so early today I thought I'd crack on with the things I need to get done today; I'm out on 3 nights next week so won't have my usual 'after work' time to get housework done. One of the things I was intending to do today was to marzipan the two Christmas cakes I've made (one for us and one for a relative) but I've made a bit of an error in that my 'genorous' feeding with brandy has meant that the cakes are quite damp so need drying out before I can marzipan them. I have been keeping them out the back in the cold part of the house which, in hindsight, was really stupid as it's meant they've been too cold to absorb the brandy and remain dry. Will have to squeeze this job in mid-week as they need to be iced next weekend. Oh well!

Sitting here watching BBC news and it appears that lots of places in the south had severe flash flooding yesterday, particularly parts of Dorset, West Sussex, Devon and Somerset, where people have actualy died. It was pretty heavy rain where we were yesterday but boy we got off lightly in comparison.

The rest of the day, after my cleaning frenzy, I will be getting in some reading. I'm still reading 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill which is a really short book so no excuses for not having finished reading it, I'm just not making enough time to read these days. I have so many books piled up on my 'must read next' pile I shall be in a real quandary about what to read next.

It's still dark outside but it looks like the predicted fog is here - a perfect excuse to batton the hatches and stay in I think.............

Birding Day Out

Today we went 'birding' with K and A down at Titchfield Haven. Despite the rain being heavy in the morning we were fine in the hides and saw a surprising amount of bird life. A December birding event is now our established method of meeting up before Christmas to 'spot' and exchange Christmas pressies - much healthier than just sitting indooors stuffing mince pies - oh whoops we still managed to stuff ourselves with mince pies and cookies (delicious, thanks A).

We just made it out of the reserve by 4 O'clock so thankfully didn't get locked in the hides for the night - now that would have been cold!.

Back home, Peter is busy updating his birding list and we are settling in to watch the X Factor.

Thanks for a lovely day both! For info here are the two places we were talking about which are also good for birding - both free to enter. Click on titles to view.

Langford Lakes

Blashford

A bus for dessert anyone?

I see some strange things driving into work some days. I had noticed, once before, that a red bus in the area had been driving around with ‘Fruit Pie’ displayed’ on the front of it where the destination should be and thought one of the drivers colleagues was messing about and the driver probably didn’t know what was displayed. However, this morning I saw a red double decker bus with ‘Apple Crumble’ displayed …….. what’s going on???

At work this morning the water company switched the supply off for a few hours to repair a leak so we either had to cross our legs or visit the loo and flush away with the strategically placed buckets that had very considerately been placed in there – bizarre or what? I noticed the buckets were brand new and a festive red in colour - gosh, we are treated well! Needless to say most people, including me, crossed their legs and avoided all drinks; working without a coffee was murder.

The weather today has been extremely wintery. A well frosted up car greeted me in the morning and the sky today is leaden – it looks very much like a ‘snow sky’ to me. It's ironic isn't it that this is the earliest and harshest start to winter the Country has had for 30 years and it's the year when heating costs have gone through the roof (excuse the pun!)

Oh and Christmas has truly arrived in our house now with the arrival of the bumper Christmas edition of the Radio Times through out letter box - the Radio Times is sort of a Christmas 'must have' I think.

This evening we watched two of our favourite shows Buzzcocks and Lead Balloon - fantastic both of them. Thursday and Friday night Comedy has got better on the box of late.

Father Ted & Pain in the Head

Have you seen that advert for a CD by 3 priests, eh, called 'The Priests'. When I first saw the ad all in soft focus with the three priests looking all serious and singing in the snow I thought it must be a trailer for Father Ted but no it's for real!! The funiest advert I've seen in ages ............

Hard day at work today and I've got a horrible headache. I think, on occasion, I suffer from mild migraines as with this particular type I feel naseuos, I get a sore neck and feel cold as well as the headache bit. I've only had one 'proper' migraine in my life and that was truly hideous and I actually lost my vision for a bit so god forbid I ever get the full blown thing again.

Anyway, another early night for me folks......



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A Wassailing We Will Go........

Today we met my parents in the village of Selborne Nr Alton. The purpose of the visit was to see Gilbert White's house (as pictured) which was having a 'free entry' day and to have a mooch around the village of Selborne. The village was very busy and we had a problem parking but it was worth it.

The house was beautiful with a fantastic view of the garden which stretches out across vegetable gardens, lawns, a ha ha wall, fields and the woods beyond. As it was such a cold day much of the grass was still covered in a harsh white frost which gave the place a really Christmassy feel. Some brave members of staff were wassailing (an ancient ritual dating back to the 1400's to grant good wishes to family and crops). One of the young lads was only dressed in a very thin shirt and trousers - brhhh.

After the house we had a look around the pretty church and then went into the village hall where a craft event was being held. We partook of the much needed warming cup of tea and a cake whilst we were in there.

On the way home we looked at the garden Christmas lights people have started to put up - how do people afford the electric? Anyway, I am extremely appreciative of householders who go to the time and expense of putting up their very entertaining lights each year.

I'm Sure You're 44!

Happy Birthday Peter!

To celebrate Peter's birthday we both took a days leave from work. Once Peter has opened his pressies (I will let him blog about what he received) we set off in the direction of Salisbury and had lunch at a pub called The Pelican. We both had steak and ale pie followed by banoffie pie - yum!

Afterwards we visited a birding haunt we haven't been to before 'Langford Lakes' which is owned by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. We were both impressed with the place - there is small visitors centre (although no coffee shop sadly), 3 lakes and 4 spacious and sturdy bird hides which are very close to the water. My hi-light was spotting a Kingfisher - I will let Peter blog about a 'first' he has spotted for his birding list.

All the hides contained diaries to log what you had seen and I put an entry about it being Peter's 44th birthday and listing the birds we had spotted. Peter spotted what I'd written and exclaimed "I'm only 43!" and quickly crossed out the number and corrected it. I had forgotten I'd bagged a toy boy (well by 20 months anyway!)It was almost dark when we left and getting really cold (4 degrees)so we headed back home.

This evening we shall be just having something snacky for tea and watching 'Have I Got News For You" and "Gavin & Stacey" - a good end to a happy day.

Busy Day

I really busy day today and I am pooped.

I had to minute a hearing today and it was a real challenge as I was basically acting as a stenographer and typing away like mad whilst the talking was happening - the hearing took about 2 hours with a couple of small breaks. Afterwards I had to type a two page letter in about 10 minutes whilst there was a break and I sort of went into robot mode and just about managed to do it in time. It was all quite stressful but it did give me a buzz to get it all down accurately and on time.

I had some good news this afternoon. I have been in dispute over a competition I had entered and today the company conceded that I was right and they would be sending me my prize. I'm delighted as I know I was in the right but it's nice to be told that and for things to be settled fairly.

As soon as I got home I put the telly, video, sky box and DVD player back together and onto the new unit. The dust around the old unit was quite shameful really. It took a while to get the jungle of leads back into order but luckily I had made a drawing of what lead went where the last time we had everything apart so after a bit of cursing everything came together.

This evening I've been doing some housework too as I have some friends coming over tomorrow after work and I can't bear a messy house if people are coming round - I wish I could be more relaxed but that's just me. It's now almost 9.00pm and time to chill out with 'Survivors' I think.

Birds in the Air and One on a Gate

I was mesmerised this morning watching the BBC news whilst I was getting ready for work. They were showing the flocks of starlings that have invaded Rome and their beautiful ballet of flight as they come in to roost. I can understand the city being less than enamoured with their new visitors though as they do create a lot of mess and I would imagine starling poo is very corrosive to the wonderful old building and monuments in Rome .

Still on a bird theme – as I had to go a different route to work this morning as I got petrol on the way, I came round the bend on a country lane and there was pheasant perched right in the middle of a five bar farm gate. He looked wonderful against the backdrop of the frosty field. Although I had my camera with me it was unfortunately too dangerous to stop.

I’ve been typing all day at work today and my hands still haven’t warmed up – I work in an old building and on Monday’s it’s never warm enough in winter as they switch the heating off over the weekend. It takes until Tuesday for the heat to flood through the building.

This evening I spent wrapping Christmas stuff upstairs whilst Peter grappled with putting together a TV corner unit downstairs. I never knew wrapping could take so long or maybe I had blotted out the memory from last year... Peter definitely had the harder job though.