ONE Friday to Christmas!

So it's here, the last Friday before Christmas. 

This time next week it'll be the big day x

It's been another busy week but it started off with a rare Sunday off!

I spent it drinking copious cups of coffee, wrapping a few presents for work, writing work colleague Christmas cards whilst watching the Christmas Chronicles 2. All very relaxed and much needed.

Before work on Monday, Jeff and I headed over to The Newt. He's hurt his back, so the pathways were better for him there,  rather than romping through the woods! Coffee and cinnamon buns were the order of the day, before we headed home and I went off to do an 8 hr shift at work!

We lucked out on the deer again! Such an amazing sight x

I worked Tuesday, then spent Wednesday wrapping presents. I LOVE wrapping presents and because this year we've decided not to waste money, exchanging gifts we don't really want/need, I've hardly anything to wrap! Still, the few I do have to do.....

...are wrapped extra special x

So the big news yesterday, Thursday was Sam's fab result!

(see previous post)

He and me if I'm honest, are still on cloud nine!

Once we got the result, Jeff and I headed over to East Harptree Woods. We've not been before, just on from Stockhill Woods. Jeff is still nursing his bad back, so we mainly stuck to the paths.

It was lovely, with additional surprises along the way.

Surprisingly there was still plenty of fungi around to photograph.

We stopped off in Wells on the way home, to do a socially distanced present swap in the garden, with Jeff's Dad. This time of year we'd normally have  a get together with Jeff's side of the family in the diary, all 16 of us together. I feel sad that these things can't happen this year x

My robin keeps visiting, although I'm going to give up trying to attempt to photograph the birds until the festive season is over. Can't compete with the Christmas tree light reflections.

So here we are, a week today and it'll be Christmas. 
I'm off to work later, another bit of overtime to help out. Fingers crossed I should be meeting up with my sister tomorrow for a walk and present swap, all socially distanced, outside!! I'm then working 3x 8hr shifts Sunday, Monday, Tuesday before Christmas can begin. I plan to get the big food shop done early Wednesday morning, then hunker down until work calls on the 27th. I've lucked out this year and have Christmas Eve and Boxing Day off. Next year I won't be so lucky, so I'm going to make the most of it this year and enjoy the break.

Have a great week x

 

RESULTS DAY!

Super proud and chuffed to bits for this one! His A-levels got cancelled due to Covid. He fell foul of of the algorithm on results day, being given a D in his Physics, further disappointed by a C in his CAG result (Center Assessed Grade). He knew he could do better, so decided to sit the exam in October, the ONLY student in the WHOLE school to sit an exam!! Inspired and motivated by his tutor, during an hour's weekly tutor session, he put in the hours alongside his Gap Year job, sat the exam in October and today, results day, he only went and got an A!!!

Very proud Mum x

 

The Newt

A colleague at work told me about this place - The Newt near Bruton.

You pay for an initial ticket, which then gets upgraded to a pass, valid for a year.

 Now I originally bought the ticket way back in October in readiness for my birthday treat with my sister but once we went into lockdown, we felt our journeys wouldn't be essential so cancelled. I'm due to meet my sister there next weekend, for a socially distanced walk and present swap but it all depends on the weather. Sophie and I decided it would be a good idea to do a recce before next weekend and went yesterday. There is a no dog policy, so Sophie was more than happy to come. It's just half an hour up the road and I was really pleasantly surprised. It shouts 'money' whoever owns it has invested a lot of money into the grounds and the buildings and being in Bruton, it certainly attracts a London audience. 

But it was lovely and I certainly will be going back, making full use of my pass.

You parked up and then walked up a boarded, lit walkway to the ticket office, then along further to the reception area, where we picked up a map.

This beautiful carved apple sculpture is the first thing you see.

I'd read up about this beautiful raised walkway, spiraling through the trees and although brief, it didn't disappoint. It will be lovely to walk along it throughout the different seasons.

Beautiful light and design.

The gardens and wooded areas are beautifully landscaped. We only explored one area, so will definitely need to go back. It's not your Poldens or Stockhill, no romping through the undergrowth but instead neat pathways wind their way through the wooded areas. I suspect it's a haven for all things fungi when in full season, so I look forward to returning for that.

The beautiful walled garden is in the central area, near the cafe and shop. It was quite busy by the time we returned from our walk but there was plenty of outside seating and an area selling warm cider.

The big surprise for me was seeing deer! I hadn't realised there was a deer park there. 

As we walked the treetop walkway, we spotted two deer hiding down in the trees. 

Once we entered the open area there was a field full of deer - incredible. 

We then dropped down the pathway back into the wooded area and saw a pair of deer really close up, but then further along the pathway, there was a herd of maybe 20 or more deer just meters away!

It really was a beautiful place, 

And I will be back!!

A super Covid Christmas attraction.

Top tip though, get there early x

Two Fridays to Christmas

Just two more Fridays and it will be....

CHRISTMAS DAY!!!

The tree has gone up!

With Sophie's help and a few festive tunes!

The little tree in the sitting room too.

I've done a bit of overtime this week, so the festive decorating has been done in stages. The main tree and one set of lights got done on Monday before work. The second set of lights went up on Tuesday after work and then on Wednesday after work, we decorated the tree. 

The sitting room got my full attention on the Thursday! 

Old bits, new bits, Christmas wouldn't be the same without bits!!

Not too cluttered!

The old Christmas cards came out too. A tradition dating back to my first Christmases with Jeff and my envy at his Mum's Christmas card selection. I keep old Christmas cards and every year display them, just like treasured decorations. When I first met Jeff and went to his house for Christmas, I was really envious of the lovely cards his mum had up. It was only after a couple of years, I realised she just displayed her favourite cards year after year. We joke whether the card we send to each other every year, will be a 'keeper' and make the cut of a forever card x

I cluster them together - always puds in the kitchen....

a mix of FC, HoHoHo and Merry Christmas on the kitchen shelf.....

robins on the bookcase.....

trees on the fireplace.

And of course, we do all this wearing our Christmas jumpers!

Are you feeling festive yet?

I'm getting there x

Day Trippers

So this morning we got up early and headed down to Cornwall for the day. Jeff is still working but Sam had the day off and as he's Granny's FAVOURITE 'her Sam' as she calls him, we put a bow around him and gave him to granny for a couple of hours, as her early Christmas present!!

We remained socially distanced, a good 2m away, wore masks, windows open...

...it was lovely to see her, looking so well too, after a recent stay in hospital due to a fall. 

I wish more than anything I could have given her a big hug but seeing her was lovely.

We stopped off at Portreath to see the sea, get my fix!!

Boy was it blowy!!

Reminds me of the days when you got to Granny's house and couldn't even open the car door as the winds were so strong. Certainly blew the cobwebs away.

We then met up with Mum and Dad, did the present swap! 

Sadly that's my Christmas celebrations done with my side of the family. We prove far too greater risk to them all, to spend more time with them over Christmas, bubbles or no bubbles. So for this year that's my Merry Christmas, hoping to get in another visit before the inevitable next lockdown, after the festive five day madness is over come January!

Sam drove home, plenty of tunes ringing out... 

....and the most incredible sunset after a wet and blustery day.

Day complete with a pasty for tea!

A good day xx