Christmas and New Year Round-up

Happy new year everyone!  

I totally meant to write throughout December but I was too busy blowing my nose, sucking Strepsils and celebrating Christmas.  We had a lovely time; ate well, slept well and played well too.  

Getting into a happy tangle with the fairy lights

Still love fairy lights.  Every year I leave an extra string of fairy lights up in the house after Christmas.  By the time I'm 60 my house will be visible from space!  

Prettying up the house both inside and out.

A few carol singers would have made this photo perfect.  I'm planning on rounding up a group to go carolling next year.  I'm not kidding.  Yes, Claireybelle, I'm looking at you! 

Feeling hopeful. 

I was massively spoilt this year.  I now have a whopping supply of L'Occitane goodies, some Penhaligon's perfume, a new overnight bag and a gorgeous set of stacking silver rings.  The chocolates and sweets I was given can now be evidenced in the spare tyre around my middle.  It was a delicious Christmas! 

Lots of long winter walks in my big new puffer coat.

I quite like that I look a bit manic in this photo.  We were just heading out to fetch our Christmas trees so I was very excited.

Baking lots of gifts. 

You have to make gingerbread at Christmas.  It's the law.

Making and eating lots of peppermint bark.

Ditto peppermint bark.  Man, I ate way too much of this stuff.  Am now addicted and wondering how I can make this festive treat year-round.  Suggestions for things I can bash up and throw on top of melted dark chocolate would be very much appreciated.  

Wearing my party frock (slightly tipsy shot)

This is me (obviously) in one of my Poppy Children dresses.  It has a very floaty skirt and I felt amazing in it.  I never feel amazing in anything so this was an unusual, but happy, feeling.  I took this photograph when I'd just got home from an champagne afternoon tea with the WI.  Fab day.

Niece wearing the party frock (and petticoat) I bought for her.

I bought my Niece, Izzie, a Poppy Children dress and she wore it on Christmas day.  We were both wearing red Poppy Children dresses with big white petticoats underneath.  She had stripy tights and sparkly flat pumps; I wore fishnets and massive red patent heels.  She asked me if she could have a pair of 'tight with squares on' too.  Ha!  She's four this month.  

Massive family card game on Christmas day.  Noisy and lots of fun.

We always play cards on Christmas night.  Everyone joins in, including my 80-something grandmother (we call her Slick B for this event and she is the Rulebook Hitler).  It's immense fun.  We save our pennies up all year to gamble with.  Jake is becoming a bit of a card shark and cleared up this time - hope we aren't teaching him bad habits. 

Curled up watching a bit of TV.

Bought the cosiest new bedding ever.

New PJ bottoms and a bit of crochet.

We went out lots but we also managed a few snuggly nights at home.  There was plenty of crochet, knitting and stitching.  A bit of TV-watching too.

Festive perfection! 

*****

It was my birthday on New Year's Eve and, as is tradition, we headed for the West End to see a show.  This year it was We Will Rock You and whilst I found the storyline a bit odd, the music was amazing.  

I did a bit of wooping, a lot of toe tapping, some teen-style head nodding and, at one point, totally forgot where I was and started to play air guitar.  (I promptly stopped.  Bit embarrassing.)   I felt a bit sorry for Drew.  He had me on one side and a die-hard Queen fan on his other who was without doubt the loudest person in the whole theatre.  She was very entertaining but I did cringe for her a bit when the man behind gave her an ear-bashing for spoiling it for everyone else.  (Pleased to report that she spouted a few blue words at him and sat down.  I do love a mini-drama when I'm out.)

And now here we are.  A new year and a new start.  

Learning to embroider.

I always make lots of resolutions at the beginning of each year.  Some I keep, some I don't, but still I enjoy the process of thinking about the small improvements I'd make to my life and the things I'd like to achieve.  

I won't bore you with my resolutions this year, but I can tell you that I plan to worry less, craft more and I will make time to be thankful every single day. 

Happy new year, again, to my lovely bloggy friends.  Thanks for visiting.

Nicki 

x