A Christmas Spectacular of a week!

Another busy week!

It's lovely going away in the lead up to Christmas but it also means that 'all' the jobs

 have to get done in a shorter pocket of time.

I hadn't wrapped a single present, so that was top of my 'to do' list before the kids came home!!

I LOVE wrapping presents but it's something I like to take my time over.

I've also had a lot of people to squeeze in for a coffee, catch up and pressie swaps before Christmas. On Monday I met up with Nicky and Sonia, on Tuesday, my lovely friend Sam, for a morning mooch around Frome. Possibly a new yearly tradition xx And on Wednesday I met my old Sainsbury's boss for a long overdue catch-up. There are still a few other people, where time has just not been on our side and will have to meet in the new year.

Frome was lovely. I've not been for years. In fact, the last time I think I went, at least with my friend Sam, was over 10 years ago when we still lived in Shepton. I must go back, as there are so many lovely independent shops. I think I stopped going because there was so much press about it being the new 'in' place to go and London/Celebrity peeps had started to decamp there. The Frome Independent Market, on the first Sunday of the month was lovely, but has just got too big and busy, and has become a victim of it's own success. It was lovely and quiet on the Tuesday we went, so maybe that's the way to do it.

Sophie came home on Tuesday, Sam returned on Thursday.

Wednesday evening we headed over to Bristol. 

We were lucky with the weather at first, the forecast had been for rain, but it more than made up for it later that evening as we were leaving. Absolutely torrential!! I don't think I've been so wet. We just had to throw our brollies and coats in the boot to sort out once we got home!! Made for fun drive home (not!!) Driving at night isn't a pleasant thing at the best of times but in utterly torrential rain, is was horrible. And typically, it stopped as we entered Street, nearly home!!

We started off the evening with a fabulous meal at Moltobuono. 

An independent Italian restaurant on Park Street. 

Delicious food!!

You could have easily have thought you were back in Italy xx

And then the main event.... the Christmas Spectacular at St. George's.

This is our fourth year going and is one of my favourite things to do at Christmas.

It is a bit of a trek over to Bristol, and it's always one of those evenings when the thought of having to go out is just too much of a hassle, but once there, you are so glad you ventured out and made the effort. It's just a fantastic mix of serious and fun instrumental pieces and the same for the choir, a mix of old and modern pieces. Mix them altogether and add in a little audience participation, and you have a fabulous evening.

Thursday was a catch-up day. I was greeted by the early arrival of Father Christmas out of the roof, whilst making my morning coffee. We live opposite a Primary School. Last year it was Elf on the Shelf, this year the main man!!

Jeff went and collected Sam from Bristol Temple Meads train station on Thursday evening. 

It was another evening of torrential rain. It has been so wet here. 

We have had in the mix, bursts of dry weather. I do love to go up to our bedroom at this time of year, to try and see the starlings fly past the Tor. I either luck out in a morning, as I open the shutters or time it just right around 4pm, to see them flying back to their roost over at Ham Wall.

Friday was a hair cut day for both Sophie and I over in Shepton. 

Then Saturday, a day of no plans!! Finally! I did a little baking. Not my favourite thing to do but the buns are yummy, so worth the effort and few are being gifted xx

I took myself off for a walk late afternoon, in a dry spell, to the top of Wearyall Hill. I had hoped to see the starlings out in the wild but it's been the case four times now, that when I go out to see them, they are flying in from a completely different direction!! Still the burst of fresh air did me the power of good.

Saturday night and Strictly Final time!
And the last series with Tess and Claudia at the helm. It will be interesting to see what happens next year. It's been a great series. I did have a soft spot for George and being a local Bristol boy, it would have been nice to see him win, but they were all good and deserved of the top spot.

Winter Solstice Tor view.

Today is the shortest day of the year, where the days start to get longer from this point forward. Definitely something to celebrate. I do not like the dark, wet, heavy days of winter.

We are headed South later. Today is the festive catch-up/gathering of my side of the family, down at Strawberry Fields in Devon. It's an hour drive for Mum and Dad, two for us, three for my sister. I used to always host it here, but now mum can't really travel far and needs disabled access, this is the best we can do! Tomorrow we do the same with Jeff's side of the family. And again, due to the need for disabled access, we are meeting in Wells Weatherspoon's!! Will do a round-up in a pre Christmas post xx

Best go and get ready!!