ADVENT ready!!

Pinch and a punch.....

....hello December!!

Farewell to the fabulous month of November!

What a super busy month!! Sophie's birthday, my birthday, and a mixed month of work and pleasure! Two weeks of work/exam invigilation, then, Mary Poppins, Will Young, Wicked (film) Emily Powell's fabulous 'Arktisk' exhibition 💖 First frosts, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Trips to Cornwall to see my folks and Cardiff to see Sophie and Sam. A great month x

And an awful lot of that has been packed into this past week!

So, on Monday, I headed down to Cornwall. I last went in June with Sophie, so it was about time I went down to see my parents. As it was dry, I headed all the way down to St Ives, as again, it's been ages since I was last there.

I didn't realise until I was there, just how much I needed to see and hear the sea 

and just breathe in the salty fresh air. 

It was lovely and quiet, just how I like it. 

And there was most definitely a little festive feeling in the air.

On Tuesday Mum and Dad joined me for brunch, out at Tremenheer Sculpture Gardens. 

There is a lovely cafe there, which is accessible for mum.

We then dropped her back home and Dad and I headed over to Trelissick Gardens for a walk. 

Dad can't get out as much as he'd like, as he's really now mum's full time carer. 

So when I'm down, I like to get him out and about in the fresh air for an hour or two.

I headed back home on the Wednesday, taking a slight detour, via Newton Abbot, to see a fabulous exhibition by the artist Emily Powell. I have been stalking her on Instagram for a couple of years now and finally got to see her fabulous work in person and meet her too.

Her work is the most fantastic, colourful, vibrant, uplifting explosion of joy. This exhibition, titled Arktisk, is a result of a painting trip to the Arctic. I LOVED every single inch. A whole room, from floor to ceiling, made up of 100 + individual 1mx1m square canvases filled her studio space.

It was just BRILLIANT

Each square was a painting in it's own right. I could have happily brought  a few home with me but sadly her paintings are out of my financial reach. But I do believe owning an 'Emily Powell' will be of huge value in the future, as she's just been taken on by Banksy's agent.

Thursday morning was stunning!

What a view to wake up to!

I was in school on and off, doing a little internal exam invigilation.

The school grounds were looking lovely and festive as I was leaving.

Friday was 'hair colour and cut' day! Then I packed up the car and headed to Cardiff. It was an horrendous journey. Took an hour longer than it should have done, due to the M49 being completely closed for resurfacing and then 10 mph traffic around Newport. It was worth it though, to see the kids. I dropped off my stuff at Sophie's, then collected Sam and took him food shopping, before heading back to Sophie's to stay, and put up her Christmas tree together.

Then on Saturday my sister came up to visit for the day. She'd not been to Sophie's flat yet and as she's thinking of buying a house soon, if she didn't see it now, she might of missed it completely. 

So after a quick tour and a coffee, we walked over to Snails Deli for brunch.

It was a good idea, as although busy and festive, it was a much better place to be then town!!

We headed in to town afterwards, to do a little Christmas shopping but it was sooooo busy!

Whilst we were in the centre, Sophie and I went and saw Wicked, as Jo headed back to Bath on the train. Two hours and forty minutes went by in a flash!! It's had all the hype and I really enjoyed it. I have seen the stage musical twice, so knew the story but there were so many additions and links to the original Wizard of Oz, although I'm sure I missed enough to warrant going to see it again!!

So here I am now, Sunday evening, home in time to celebrate Advent! 

I have my advent calendar up, Christmas mug out, the chocolate tin is full....

......and my first Christmas card opened!

Christmas can now officially begin and a little bit of festive magic can drip in day by day xx

Getting organised!!

On Monday, Sam's car was being collected for scrap! 

Initially I was told I'd have to stay in all day and wait for someone to turn up! 

(The scrap man actually arrived at 6.02am!!!!!)

So I thought I'd start on my Christmas cards. 

Use any free days wisely and get ahead of the game for Christmas!

I have a real mix of old cards, sale cards, new cards!!

I've tried to use as many as possible this year and need to be really good about not buying as many for next year, as I already have a secret stash I'd bought in last years sales, which don't even feature here!!! I do have a 'thing' for buying nice cards and really do need to limit what I buy!! Although I do defend myself and argue that there are far worse addictions to have!!

I also updated the round-up note that goes in some cards. Only those who aren't on social media and where our only contact is through the yearly Christmas card, get one!! I did think I'd try and cut my list but..... I have over the years cut it greatly, from circa 200 to 60'ish!!

So the list remains for another year! 

At the end of the day, I enjoy sending Christmas cards. I like choosing nice cards, cards significant for certain people. I like to check in, write a personal message and love to receive cards and catch up with people I wouldn't otherwise keep in touch with. Yes, cards can be expensive, and stamps are getting super pricey, but I still value a nice Christmas card and appreciate the time and effort it takes for someone to send a card. And those of you who have followed here over the years, know that I display my favourite cards year after year!

So my pile of cards is here, ready and waiting to post out at the beginning of December!

I do seem to have fallen into Christmas a lot earlier this year. It's partly down to my new work timings and a bit more free time and the fact that I am super busy over the next few weeks, so need to be organised. I was back in Bristol on Tuesday, so did a little more Christmas shopping.....

....met up with my sister for food and my birthday treat....

....seeing Will Young, for an informal evening of songs and chat!

It was a good night. St George's in Bristol is a nice little venue.

Woke up on Wednesday morning to a gorgeous pink sky and...

.....a frosty start.

The first proper 'scraper' of the year!

I had to get out for a little walk and make the most of it.

The perfect winter combo - cold, crisp, clear, blue sky day!

I promised myself I wouldn't buy any new decorations this year, then got tempted by these lovely baubles. The perfect new addition and by the lovely Lexi, whose homemade baubles have been on my tree since 2011!!

I also started wrapping!! 

Just Mum and Dad's presents. I'm going to see them for a couple of days and as I'd got everything for them, I thought it was sensible to take it all down with me. We are meeting on Dec 23rd but just in case something happens, illness? weather? I thought best take it with me now.

I also took down the birthday bits and replaced with snowflakes!! Jeff has either not noticed or chosen not to comment!! I'm away 'on and off' this week, so it's a head start to getting 'Advent Ready' when I come home on Sunday!! I'm going down to Cornwall, back on Wednesday. Have Thursday at home, albeit I'll be in school invigilating, then it's up to Cardiff on Friday after my hair cut, to check-in on Sophie and Sam, coming home on Sunday! So, busy, busy!!

I'm hoping the weather will improve. We're currently in the pathway of Storm Bert. It's wet and windy and generally miserable. Not the weather to be driving down to Cornwall in. So a busy week ahead, am then home for a week, although lots of coffee dates already in the diary, before Jeff breaks up and we go to Madeira for a few days, hence I need to be a little organised this year!!

54!

Happy birthday to me....

54!!!

A very achy 54!!

On the one hand, I don't feel 54. I still think I look a relatively young 54, but some days I feel a good 64/74!! This blumin menopause is not very kind. Generally day to day, I feel fine but at night, I ache! My back, my hips, my arm.... which in turns means I don't sleep as well as I used too!! I'm on HRT, I dose up on collagen, turmeric, magnesium, sleep with a pillow between my knees, doing all I can to help myself ....sigh!! Hormones, who'd have em? 

Anyway, enough of my moaning!! 

I worked Monday, Tuesday and took off the Wednesday to go to Bristol.

To do a little Christmas shopping, idea searching and.....

....to go and see Mary Poppins!

The tickets weren't cheap, so Sophie decided not to come, so I went for a slightly cheaper mid-week ticket and sat at the back of the stalls. Worth every penny. It's a fabulous show. I think that's the third time I've seen it now and would happily go again.

Bristol was looking beautiful on my walk back to the car.

Then on Thursday, my actual birthday, I took myself off to Bath for the day. I haven't been to Bath since June, so had a good mooch, bought a few Christmas bits, ensured I had a Landrace cinnamon bun for my birthday breakfast!!!

And then enjoyed toasted panettone and ice-cream for tea!

Well, if you can't indulge in cake on your birthday, when can you?

I worked on Friday, final exam of this session! 

So a nice mix of a week. 

The next few weeks, well all 5 leading up to Christmas are starting to fill up. I need to use any free time wisely. I have this week at home. I have to stay in all day tomorrow waiting for the scrap man to come and collect Sam's car! I 'might' start writing my Christmas cards!! Then Tuesday I'm walking in the morning, going into Bristol in the evening to meet my sister and go and see Will Young for our birthday treat. Am meeting various friends for coffee and catch ups, possible trip to Frome, so a busy week ahead. The weather is supposed to turn cold. I don't mind cold, I just hate rain!! So will hopefully squeeze in a few walks too. Have a good week x

Birthdays, exams, and baubles!!

We started the week off with birthday celebrations.

How is my baby 25????

It was lovely having Sophie home for a couple of days. She was here for her actual birthday, heading back to Cardiff after tea. So we had a nice mooch around Wells and lunch out....

....then had tea, cake, cards and pressies once Jeff got back from work. 

She and I are off to Italy for a few days in the Spring to celebrate our birthdays.

I took the Monday off but have spent the rest of the week working, invigilating Year 11 mocks. The weather has been terrible. We've been hiding under a blanket of grey cloud for days, so having to work hasn't been too bad, although there are lots of new invigilators, so I'm now considered a pro!!!

My lovely Cornishware Christmas bauble delivery arrived, to brighten things up!! 

These are seconds, not that you can tell, so make them a little cheaper.....

....and I don't mind the price, as I keep them up all year long!

Not just for Christmas.

On a Christmas note....

.......we have had the same Christmas tablecloth for 22 years!!! 

(It's as old as Sam!!)

Considering it's cream, it's done amazingly well to have survived the numerous wine, gravy, and wax spillages and stains over the years.

I have decided to have a change this year! I bought a single duvet set, like the bedding set I'd bought for Sophie's room from Habitat. I had planned to use it as it came, double-sided, but annoyingly it looks gingham with the underside showing through. 

So I've unpicked it and now have two new tablecloths for a bargain £16. I will sweet talk Sophie into hemming around the edges for me and make napkins out of the pillowcase. I bought some green placemats from Primark, so can still use my Cath Kidston Christmas plates and have been collecting various candles, crackers etc.

Fingers crossed, it should all look lovely and festive come the big day.

Jeff and I have also just booked a few days in Italy during his 2025 Christmas break.

The 2025 autumn flights came out the middle of the week, so we booked up Lisbon for the October half term for a few days and then noticed some December flights were out to, so decided on Italy for a few days. Think of all that deeeelicious Panettoni we can bring home with us!! Both trips are with just the underseat bag allowance, so it'll be interesting to see how we get on. Although we have included one extra cabin bag for our return flight from Italy, thinking Christmas presents!!