Xmas day

We had beers and a massive vegetarian roast dinner, watched stick man on TV and I got my arse kicked at scrabble.

Pre xmas xmas dinner

On Sunday My mum, Dad, Aunt ,uncle, sister and I travelled to see my Nan and to have our traditional pre xmas dinner together.

It was really lovely to see everyone, it's a bit sad really as since my parents moved house to somewhere smaller and further away we haven't had a family christmas because no-one has the space for everyone to fit in any more- let alone stay over or eat a sit down meal!

In a way it's nicer, no-one has the pressure of having house guests for days at a time or the responsibility for cooking (Which always sucks because you don't get to enjoy christmas because you're dealing with a series of small pan fires- or at least that is always what happened in our household). it's much more relaxed, and some one else will do the washing up. I do get the impression that my Nan doesn't entirely approve, but I can't see her being delighted with sleeping on our living room floor either so hopefully she's weighed it up as the lesser of the evils.

I really enjoyed catching up with everyone- I write to my Nan most weeks so I'm usually up to date with her news, but writing to someone isn't the same as actually speaking to them. I especially enjoyed catching up with my Aunt who I haven't seen for ages- Her team at work won a nobel prize for their work on neutrino physics so she had loads of cool things to tell me about- and hopefully some handy stuff for work too! My uncle was giving me handy tips for my telescope (Traff got me a telescope for xmas- obviously I didn't look or anything I'm just psychic) and I had a good catch up with Ray too.

All in all, we established that my life is very mundane! 

Panto

My parents got tickets for us to go to the pantomime in Bath. We started our evening in Las Iguanas where it was happy hour. Even dad had cocktails!

After a few drinks, we headed for a mooch around bath and then on to the theatre.

The panto in Bath is extremely good, but very very rude. Well worth a watch but I'd leave the kids at home!

Xmas greetings

I have a reputation at work for being obsessed with power stations.  This is my xmas catd and tree ornament from my parents.  They're just as crazy as me!

New xmas jumper

Thos was reduced £3.50 in morrisons.  I couldn't resist although it is supposed to be a boys 11-12. I'm going to assume it's designed to be baggy. ..
It's genius!

Crochet stars from Tina

Goodies from work

German xmas greetings

Soooo much post!

I bet these are all xmas cards- and 2 from Germany too! (Thanks randi & stu and Katie &Josh! ) we've never had so much post that it was all elastic banded together before!
Eeeek!
I love getting things in the post.  It's so exciting.  Christmas is worth it just for the letters!

Phil made mince pies!

One thing I really miss about not having a family christmas with my parents is that for the last 2 years I haven't had a single home made mince pie!
My mum's are awesome and she always used to make enough to feed the entire street twice over- Whenever anyone came over to drop something off they'd have a coffee and a mince pie (and probably a bag to take home) As a kid it's just something I really too for granted, but as an adult I really miss them in a nostalgic way.

It's not worth making mince pies really for just me (Traff doesn't eat them) and we're so busy in the xmas run up that we're never here to have visitors- we're always visiting, so my home made mince pie cravings have been ignored... until now!
These are Phil's first ever attempt at mince pies and he did brilliantly- puff pasty, not shortcrust which was a nice change and lots of currants!
:D
It's officially christmas now!
Phil is the mince pie king!

The Xmas party

Ice skating

The Kitsch Christmas tree

Le tree is now up! :)

Usualy we have a colour theme- last year we had pink and black decorations and flamingo lights.

This year I'm just feeling retro. I've used lots of my Granny's old Xmas decorations, some from my parents house, and some which were given to me as a child for my own little tree in my room- as well as some of my charity shop finds from last year, my ugly decorations from Tesco and some bits and bobs people have give us as gifts.

I can't wait until we have a bigger tree!

I test these pictures to my mum and she was all excited talking about where some of the decorations came from and she spotted all my Granny's old ones too.

Pine cone xmas trees stage 2

So, once the paint has dried you can decorate your mini xmas tree.
If pinterest is anything to go by,  all other people must have the entire contents of a Hobbycraft lying around their homes as the 'odds and ends' to be used up are always extremely well coordinated.
I have decorated less impressively with gold plastic buttons for the star, sequin tinsel and glass beads as baubles.
It's still cute and it's still going on my desk at work.
I think some iridescent glitter as 'snow' would be a good addition but otherwise I am happy.

I glued on my decorations with pva as I was worried superglue might react with the spray paint.  Hot glue would work much better.

Pine cone xmas trees stage 1

I have to say that living in a nice area has it's perks. No-one batted an eyelid when I spent a whole say in the car park collecting these and not one person made a comment when I sat on the step and spray painted them green.
Maybe my neighbours just think I'm crazy. ..

Xmas lights switch on

Snowflake evolution

Initially I misread the pattern and made a mutant snowflake, The second go I got it right, but the pattern doesn't seem to scale up very well, so I have adapted it.
:D
I win! Although it loses it's snowflakey ness. Its more of an albino flower. ..

Xmas wrapping = Done

"Free spiritual reading"

Today I took a bit of a mooch into town as I was after some self adhesive labels and other exciting items. I am usually pretty oblivious to what is going on around me- I did see a number of sandwich boards offering "free spiritual readings" on them and a gazebo in the town centre with a queue, but it was freezing so I was on a mission.

On my way home I was ambushed by a woman who offered me a free "reading". I was so surprised that I agreed almost without realising. I half expected it to be some money making scam, however, it turned out to be being run by the Kings Arms Church.

The "reader" started by telling me that Jesus loved me and all people, she then said that she was waiting for Jesus to speak to her so that she could tell me more about why he was pleased with me.

She told me that she felt jesus was telling her that I was intelligent, hard working, diligent and had a career in something "maybe medical". I did tell her where I worked and she felt that it was a pretty close match.

She then told me that I had a maternal instinct and was a "mother earth" with a soft heart but a difficult to read exterior. She said that Jesus loved how much I cared for others.

And then they prayed for me. Which was different, as the last people who prayed for me were Luton Mosque when we dropped off the donations for the refugees in camps in Paris. I have to say that the Islamic version sounded far more impressive, but maybe that is because I don't speak Arabic.

Either way, It was a kind thought and I appreciated the gesture in both cases.

I was left feeling like it was a bit gimmicky, but it was also really positive and the women running the event clearly felt that they were being genuine and doing god's work.

Frankly with the current climate I'm prepared to go out on a bit of a limb here and say that anything that encouraged community integration, discussions between people who would not usually talk and positivity about both strangers and religion can only been seen in a good light. However odd the premise might be, this was something which got people talking and made religion feel like something which encourages positivity, love, kindness and friendship, rather than something which should inspire fear and hatred.

I just hope that we see more people from the religious community out there building bridges and breaking down misconceptions as much as possible in the coming weeks.

It was also quite reflective. A reminder that Kindness is a virtue in all faiths and that we should be thinking of how we can look after each other- not just in the run up to Christmas (Or the week following Divali, or the Month following Eid, Although it would be a good start) and to remember to think of those who will be spending christmas out in the cold (Many of hem quite literally).

Christmas isn't just about presents and food. It's about doing something nice for someone else.

(And if I was feeling really political, it's a story about refugees who needed somewhere to stay and no-one would help them, except that one inn keeper who let them sleep in the stable, and he was rewarded by witnessing the birth of christ. I'm not suggesting any Syrians are going to have a Prophetic birth in your garage, just saying that maybe we should remember to be objective and to think of others in an empathetic way, especially at this time of year).

Festive garden centre adventures

I decided to go for a drive in order to leave the house and not get rained on.
My drive ultimately took me to frosts garden centre where Christmas has well and truly landed.

They have reindeer and father Christmas already in situ. They are awaiting an ice rink towards the end of the month.
They also have  an impressive array or decorations I never knew I needed!

I love Christmas.  It cheers up an otherwise dark and gloomy portion of the year.
I truly believe that Christmas should be a bit tacky.  We should be able to enjoy it. 

I do think it's too commercial.  I think people spend too much money buying things for other people that they don't want or need. But that is not the point of the festival!

It's about family and friends and doing something nice for someone else (which shouldn't cost a fortune ir bankrupt you) and covering your house in cheerful shiny decorations to combat the long dark winter evenings.
It's a good excuse to see people.  And drink warm alcohol and the only time of the year fruit creme chocolates are in abundance.