Late night, morning catch-up, evening activities

1. An unplanned late night yesterday when the rain became torrential and aimed downhill as quickly as possible... The neighbours all pulled together again, we put out sandbags and bailed out where we could, with the result that our houses were basically ok.  I spent a while mopping up the dribble of water coming in through our front door so that no real harm was done.  So my early night became 1:30am

2. I enjoy our Christmas Eve tradition at work of having a cooked breakfast together as a team.  And I was ready for it after last night's activities!  It was also nice to have a relatively relaxed morning before finishing at lunchtime; I need to keep my phone on while I'm off, just in case, but it's good to have some time off for a while.

3. My current (secret) knitting project is coming along well.  I've made a couple of mistakes that were just too difficult to correct, but only I would know they're there... I've enjoyed doing a slightly more complex scarf/shawl project this time and learned a bit about shaping and patterning - I hope the recipient will like it.

3b. I've painted my nails red :)  - because it's a Christmassy colour, and because I felt like it.  They're quite bright though!

Happy Christmas!

It's been a good day:
- we didn't wake up too quickly, then we opened our presents before getting up
- church with Mum and Grandma
- my brother and his wife popped round while we were cooking, on their way to see her family
- the Queen's Speech was good, and so encouraging to see her faith shining through
- the meal was all ready together
- we popped over to see Dad and his mum - they'd had a good day too
- we took my gran back to her house and sat with her until the bedtime carers arrived - she seemed exhausted but still quite cheerful
- back to Grandma's flat to relax with turkey sandwiches and a glass of wine

It's been lovely that Grandma's been so perky this visit. She's mostly understood who we all are, but more importantly she's not been unsettled by the unusual events. And she seems very pleased with the scarf I made her (and even seems to remember my offer in October to make her something!)

A December weekend

Last night was A's work Christmas meal so we didn't get home until quite late. I had a strange drive home (we'd travelled separately) where I got sandwiched between 2 cars driving oddly. I ended up taking a small detour to avoid them, and arrived home safely.

I had a lovely long lie this morning (I didn't wake up until almost 10:30) before we went through to Keswick for some Christmas shopping. I knitted in the car and added about 30 rows to the 3rd crocodile scarf.

We visited Aunty Beryl in hospital. She's still very frail, but her breathing seemed better and there's still some spark in her. It was good to share some jokes together.

A phone call with a friend, sharing ideas for Christmas presents and planning when we'll all meet up.  It was nice to chat without her young sons taking our attention instead.  Now I need to think of a quick meal for next Sunday's lunch :-)

Christmas Day 2011

A lovely, relaxed day!

• we didn't need to rush to get up, and were at church this morning to celebrate with our friends.
• plenty of time to open presents when we got home, and we enjoyed seeing what we'd been given
• dinner with Andrew's family, again taking our time, and with a break for the Queen's speech in between courses
• then the traditional board game - which was a new one, and quite confusing at first...  I won though!
• I've spoken with all my family yesterday & today, and it's been so nice to catch up with them and hear lots of happy voices at the other end of the line.

No rush tomorrow either... I'm looking forward to it.

The real meaning of Christmas

 "[Jesus], being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name what is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2: 6-11



Christmas Eve

A relaxed, lazy day...
- I was in town mid-morning and before the crowds grew.
- we visited Aunty Rose who seemed in good form (& plied us with drink...)
- all presents are now wrapped and ready
- the soups are made for tomorrow's lunch and Monday's tea
- washing and ironing are done too!

So now it's just to go to sleep ready to celebrate tomorrow.

Christmas greetings and ready for bed

1. I took the biscuits around the office this morning - it was lovely to be able to offer something homemade and wish everyone a happy Christmas.  It's only a small thing, but I enjoyed it.
2. We had the lab clean-up in the afternoon, followed by the baking I'd brought and some fizzy pop from Susana.  She'd also bought a load of luxury crackers, so it was a very festive way to end the year together.
3. I've been fighting a migraine since yesterday evening, but not so bad that it's stopped me.  I'm looking forward to an early night tonight.

Christmas begins...

Christmas starts here!

• We went carol singing today around the north part of Cockermouth.  I've not been round the streets singing carols for years!  It was good fun (although very cold!) and it was lovely how many local people seemed to enjoy joining in. 
• We served mulled wine and hot chocolate from the back of Dave's van, with mince pies galore, and had a great time.  The people I spoke to all want us to come back next year.
• One of the stops was outside the house of Andrew's former colleague, who we see from time to time.  I'm hoping we can keep some stronger links going now...

Eating lots and having fun:

• Yesterday was my department's Christmas meal at our guest house.  The food was delicious (as usual) and we played some silly games.  Lots of fun, and my voice was going by the end
• Today, our department and the Finance area went out for lunch.  I had the slow-cooked leg of lamb, and it was just as good as last time... the meat was so tender and just fell off the bone (yum!)

I've also heard from a close friend I've feared I was losing touch with - it felt good to start catching up again, and begin making plans for getting together soon.

Christmas lists...

• Presents bought / made?  family, yes; friends and godchildren, almost!
• My family visited?  yes
• Cards written and sent?  almost...
• Christmas parties planned?  looking forward to it!
• Carol singing planned?  yep!  outside on Friday in Cockermouth, Carols by Candlelight in Whitehaven on Sunday
• Lab tidy-up arranged, ready for New Year
• Remembering the reason for Christmas in the first place?
• God loves us!  He hasn't left us to muddle along by ourselves, but came to live on the earth with us.  He came to His own creation, to deal with our selfishness so that now we can be in His presence and live!

Christmas part 1

Friday: a Polish Christmas meal with family.

• Lots of laughter, and new experiences with food...
• I already knew I liked Barszcz but was surprised that the mackerel was quite nice too. I wasn't so sure about the herring though.
• Lovely to see my uncle & aunt again, and one of my cousins had flown in specially.
• The vodka was good too!

 

Saturday:

• Breakfast with both brothers - we couldn't think how long it is since the last time
• shopping then lunch with Mum
• coffee with Oma
• tea at Mum's while watching Strictly
• then back to Graeme's to finish presents with a glass of wine
• Oma's scarf is finished :-)

 

Sunday:

• Church with Grandma & co. (so frustrated with new liturgy though - too many complicated words making unnecessary barriers between us & God)
• Gave out Christmas presents
• an unexpected hello with my other uncle & aunt
• Lunch at Dad's

 

...then home!