Christmas round-up!!

Merry, merry Christmas!

I finished my last post with a get-together with Jeff's side of the family and then the following day, we met up with my side of the family! A little different this year. Instead of coming to me, as we've done previously, we met up at Strawberry Fields, Lifton. Mum and Dad are 78 now, and this is just an hour in the car for dad to travel and it's accessible for mum in her wheelchair, so a new tradition, maybe!?!

I opted for the Christmas dinner!!

It was good, even better not having to cook it!!

Before we met up, I did my final food shop, in Sainsbury's super early. It was actually really busy and I know I've said it before, but, I'm soooooo glad I don't work there anymore! Completed the annual fridge tetris, and as always, what we don't have now, we do without!! As it stands, we had more than enough!!

Christmas eve was a relaxed day, plenty of coffee and treats.

My lovely gift from Poppy x

We spent an hour in the afternoon, trying to decorate a gingerbread house. Not sure this will become an annual event. We each took a side, trying to add a little creativity into the mix but it was very faffy and no one is really a fan of gingerbread!! 

Veg prep, always a family affair!

Christmas day ready!!

Christmas day!

Breakfast bags ready!!

Panettone for breakfast and a few presents to open.

My Christmas table this year, with my new tablecloth, much to Sam's disappointment. "I like the old one, it's tradition" I thought it was a nice change! Added a dollop of extra colour.

My roast potatoes were the best EVER apparently!!
Praise indeed and worth noting. 

We played the cracker charades....

... before decamping into the sitting room for the Kings speech....

...then back to the kitchen for pud ....

.....then more presents!!

Gavin and Stacey was excellent Christmas TV, as was Wallace and Gromit earlier in the day. I think it's the first time in years, that we've actually watched TV and not a film.

Boxing Day was a card playing, Lego building kinda day!

We had a Lego round, as part of our gift giving, and I bought 2 sets to be completed during Christmas day lunch but they never got done, so everyone had plenty to keep themselves occupied.

I had a hair cut booked in on Friday morning, so I headed over to Shepton and did a quick top up shop, resisting all the sale stuff! It was a really quiet, relaxed day, had a quick tidy around and chilled.

On Saturday, Sam headed off to Carlisle, to go and see his girlfriend, Poppy. Jeff drove him to Bristol Temple Meads and Sophie and I spent the afternoon on the sofa, catching up on the Christmas TV we'd missed. All very relaxed and a wonderful change from past Christmases', when I would have been working!

I decided to take the tree down yesterday (Sunday 29th)  

fuelled by the last of the mince pies and coffee!!

I like everything away, clean and tidy, ready for the new year!

Every year, one decoration ends up staying out,and this year it's my mirror ball toadstool. 

It's far too nice to keep in a cupboard all year!

Finally, this morning, (Monday) some blue sky, rather than the blanket of fog we've been sat under for days. Am sat here drinking my coffee, and this robin is singing its little heart out. There has been a lot of birdsong in the past few days. Hopefully we will start to feel the nudge of Spring before too long. A short winter, would definitely be preferable this year.

Bought my first bunch of daffs today. 

 Best £1 spent at this time of year!

Simple pleasures x