It's beginning to......

.......look a lot like Christmas!!

Monday was December the first! 

And that marks the start of Christmas here.

From the first of December, we start to drip in a little bit of Christmas every day.

I have a Christmas cupboard, which is full of Christmas memories and all my favourite things from years gone by. Each day a few more bits get taken out of the cupboard and gets dotted around the house. Remembering where they went, and finding a space for them at the end of Christmas is a challenge, but somehow everything manages to squeeze in and find a home.

The dresser is always the start...

...the Christmas chocolate tin comes out, a few candles, some festive foliage, the snowflakes I've had for years. A few new additions, this year my handmade toadstools, a couple of new baubles. The old favourite Christmas cards adorn the shelf, the lights go on and that sets the scene xx

This year I have decided to repurpose an old CD storage box I used to use as a point of sale card display, when I had my stationery company. I have some lovely Christmas mugs that end up staying in the cupboard, as I've nowhere to put them. (Shhhhh! there are more!!)

My all time favourite mug is my hand painted Italian holly mug. I have 6, bought 30 years ago now from a shop (which is long gone) called 'Stone the Crows' in Bath. And the little holly plates are a new find this year, from SoStrene Grene in Cardiff.

The advent calendar comes out, always a paper one for me and Sophie.

Sam has a Biscoff one this year and Jeff just has a choc from the tin!

The wreath goes on the door.

The Christmas jumpers come out!

Sam has a new addition this the year....

...the SPRITE Christmas tree!!

How many cans in his bedroom??!!

The pud cards are up!

A few swaps and new additions this year.

Those of you who have followed me over the years will know, that I keep really special Christmas cards from years past, and display them every year.

I have my pud collection, a few from our travels, trees, Robins, Father Christmas & Ho Ho Ho etc.

I blame, or rather thank, my mother-in-law. I remember thinking she got sent the loveliest Christmas cards and then realised as the years went by, that they were the same cards she brought out every year. She sadly passed away far too soon, but every year, as I display my cards, I think of her fondly xx

The same goes for the decorations. We get out the same decorations each year. 

The odd new addition creeps in but mostly, the same 'old favourites' come out every year.

These baubles belonged to my Granny. 

We found them when we were clearing out her attic. But I have such strong memories attached to them from childhood Christmases, when we would go to Cornwall. My sister and I sleeping on blow up airbeds on the dining room floor. Our pillow cases left under the tree. Always a big tin of Quality Street, real nuts to be cracked, Papa roasting chestnuts on the fire. Good times xx

The tree is up! 

It gets earlier every year. Mainly due to us going away once Jeff breaks up for Christmas. It would all feel far too rushed if I left it all to do once we got home. I don't mind, as it's the build up to Christmas that I enjoy the most.

I have bought a new Christmas tree topper this year. Our old sequin star has been on it's last legs for a good few years but I hadn't found anything I liked to replace it, until this year.

All the Christmas cards have been posted.

The odd present has been wrapped (for posting)

And a few new things, I couldn't resist buying!

I mean at £2.81 a plate, I'd be silly not to buy them!

The weather hasn't been great, but the cloud moved just in time to see the last super moon of the year by the Tor. It really is a magical view,

And we have the odd colourful start to the day.

Other than getting the house decorated, I have managed to squeeze in a few coffee dates with friends this week. Had both a dentist and health check up this week. Both okay.!! Good job as I stupidly booked my health check up for after my school Christmas lunch!! That was lovely, I've not been before. I went with the Art/gallery girls. Sam served me my turkey!! I will say the food was excellent but I was conscious of my appointment straight after. It meant I was good, resisted eating too much but it was really good quality and plenty of it.

So both Jeff and Sam have now broken up for Christmas. 

Sam will house sit whilst we are away, then head up to Carlisle with Poppy for a few days. It will be the first Christmas 'ever' that he won't have any work to do, be it Uni essays or actual work!! So I keep telling him to make the most of it and enjoy it, as it'll probably be the only time he gets it!!

I spent most of yesterday decorating the sitting room and the hallway. 

Finished just in time for Strictly!

Today is all about cleaning, sorting and packing for our little Italian trip.

We fly out to Pisa tomorrow for a few days, staying in Lucca. We hope to venture over to Florence for a day to see it at Christmas time and have a day earmarked for somewhere new! The weather has been very changeable in the lead up but it looks like we may get a dry spell whilst we are there, which will be very welcome. Whatever the weather, it will be a lovely break. Time together, a chance to slow down and take time to just sit, drink coffee, eat a little Italian treat, chat and just watch the world go by. I will give you a round up of our trip next weekend xx

Cardiff with my girl x

Another busy, busy week!

Spent the first two days in school, chaperoning the vaccination nurses.

I took my Christmas cards in with me and a few other bits and bobs to do, but I ended up doing crowd control and got to see a few people for a chat (whilst being paid!!)

Missed taking advantage of a wonderfully frosty morning on Wednesday. Was fighting off the beginnings of 'something' so sensibly listened to my body and rested up, instead of getting up and out early for a walk. 

It's only 4 weeks until Christmas, so everything now moves up a gear.

Late Wednesday morning, I met up with someone I've met through Instagram for a coffee and then caught up with jobs at home and packed for a few days away.

On Thursday, I headed up the M5 to Cribbs. I'd bought a pair of DM's back in May, ready in waiting to replace my old faithful's. I did crack open the box this week, but they made the most embarrassing squeaking noise when I walked. So, I had to go to a store to prove the squeak was not acceptable and got them changed!! Had a mooch whilst I was there, before heading on up to Cardiff.

Sophie was working until 4pm, so I headed over to Rhiwbina, a lovely, 'village feel' area of Cardiff. It's where she had hoped to be living! The lady who works at the Estate Agents, is actually someone I've been friends with, through Instagram for the past 12 years. We've never met, so I dropped in, with some mince pies, to say hello and meet in person!! Popped into the lovely Snail's Deli for a coffee and to kill a little more time. It is a lovely area, shame she had to pull out of the property she was hoping to buy.

I stay at Sophie's in her one bed flat. It's in a great location, it's just small, and four floors up!! so lots of stairs! As her sale has fallen through, we are looking to make a few adjustments to a few areas of her flat, make them more appealing and functional. When she moved in, she didn't have much money and I guess, we thought she wouldn't been there too long. So we spent Friday morning in Ikea, getting inspiration and measuring and costing out a few possible ideas, ready for my next visit in January.

We then headed into town late afternoon, to watch WICKED for good! 

We watched WICKED Part One this time last year, and re-watched it Thursday night, so we could seamlessly go into part two!

Saturday morning, we were up and out early, in town before the crowds built. 

There was a Rugby game on at the stadium, so we wanted to be in and out!

It's so easy from Sophie's to get into the centre of Cardiff, by bus or train.

We then spent the afternoon decorating Sophie's Christmas tree.

Every year I gift her a new decoration, so she can build up her collection.

She has a few basic bits, a few from our tree and then new additions each year.

And it looks lovely.

It does feel early but she'll take it all down in a couple of weeks, to bring it all back with her when she comes home for Christmas. 

And it has become a tradition. We have, for the past four years, spent this weekend together decorating her tree and spending a few festive days together.

I'm home now. I left mid morning, was back home to make Jeff lunch. 

He was up a ladder, putting up the Christmas lights, ready for December the first tomorrow! 

I feel a bit behind with my own preparations, but am too tired to do anything today. 

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain and be generally miserable, so I am going to make a start and set my Advent scene in the morning, clean the kitchen, and if time, maybe, put up my tree, even if I just manage to get the lights on. It does feel early but because we are going away for 5 days, I feel I need to get the main bit done before we go. Sam is in the thick of it, having to work through all the Christmas parties. Jeff is as busy as ever but on the homeward stretch! It is a slog for them both, but they will  finish on Friday and have four weeks off.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is December the first!!

First frost and Christmas cards!

We've had our first proper frost of the year. 

Good job I went out in the garden before and picked the last of the figs. 

They weren't squidgy and jammy but they were edible

It's been a very good year for my little fig tree.

I've had this week off. 

I got the all important hair cut and colour done on Monday.

Had a couple of coffee and catch-up dates on Tuesday. 

A check-in with the HRT nurse on Wednesday morning 

And then a trip to our local cinema in Wells in the afternoon.

They do a 3pm matinee screening for £5 with a free coffee and biscuit!
We are so lucky to have it and I do believe it's the classic case of  'if you don't use it, you lose it', so I do try and go when something vaguely of interest is on, particularly when it's grey and cold out!

I have also made the most of the dry couple of days we've had, to get out and walk!

It's been beautifully cold, dry and frosty, perfect walking weather.

I went out to Ham Wall on Thursday morning.

As always, the robins were being super friendly. They have signs up now, asking you not to feed the birds, so I think they come close, in the hope you may have something for them.

On Friday, it was more of the same.

I instructed Jeff to wake me up if it was frosty!

I decided not to de-ice the car, and instead, walked down the hill....

...along the main road....

....up to the top of Wearyall Hill.

A bench with a view!!

We are so lucky living here, with so many lovely walks near by. 

They weather changed for the weekend. I am not a rainy day walker!! So I decided to start on my Christmas cards. I LOVE cards!! I can't resist buying a nice card. Sometimes it'll be with a person in mind, other times just because I like it!! I have a box for Christmas cards, that I add to. A mix of some left over from the previous year, some I will have bought in the sales, and new ones from this season.

Taking advantage of the fact Jeff and Sam were working, I then took over the kitchen table. Laying out everything I had squirreled away and then working out which card was suited to each person. I still send about 70 cards, which does work out expensive, if you choose nice cards and then add on the postage. But, I like to send cards, keep in touch with people, particularly who I don't follow on social media and it's the only time I get to check in with them and catch up on their news. 

I know some people say they aren't buying cards this year and giving to charity. I personally think some people will do that but that the vast majority use that as an excuse not to bother and don't actually give anything. Shoot me now, but that's what I think!

It does take time and effort, to buy a card in the first place, select a card for each person with thought and consideration. Find time to sit and write each card, adding a personal message, or I will admit to printing off a round robin type catch up note, to pop in with a card too. I would like to think people appreciate that, when a card gets posted through their door. If not, no worries, I get pleasure from doing it anyway. And on that note, I must get back to it and finish off some more cards. I have a really busy week ahead and will need to get my airmail cards in the post early December. Best get cracking!!