Well I’ve gone and done it now!

Whilst the cat’s away… I’m giving myself the best day! 🤣😂🤣

We are having a new garage door fitted today and that means that my other half is in his workshop moving things and lending a hand if needs be…leaving me all alone to … ‘do Christmas’!

So, I’ve put the music up nice and loud and I’m listening to an old Coldplay concert from Whitby Abbey as I toil away…poor me! 😁

Most of my Christmas decorations have a story to them. I spotted this ‘tree map’ last year, at Avon Mill Garden Centre, in the Devon Crafts shop…and as The South Hams, and Torcross, in particular, is a favourite haunt of ours, I had to buy it!

I keep lovely cards and then bring them out each year.. (it makes it look as if I have more friends than I actually have! 😂🤣😂) and this one, that Nich gave to me, last year, I thought was lovely …

‘Snowy Owl’ by Cressida Bell.

Believe it or not, I made these choirboy decorations in 1988 and I made loads of them for a school Christmas fair! I had about 4 remaining and they come out every year! 

I found this, above, in a gift shop in Totnes, a few years ago.

I’m a huge fan of Emily Sutton and her wonderful illustrations! Given to me about 5 years ago, with a gift inside it, this gift bag comes out every year as I think it’s absolutely charming! 

This candle, I’ve never taken a match to in all the years I’ve owned it. It was a gift to me in the 1970s, from Norway!

Another artist fave of mine is Angela Harding…and this advent calendar is a real delight!

Being a fan of The New Yorker magazine, I managed to find the New Yorker Christmas book, some years ago…

 And then last year, I found this lovely poster, along with three others and so I change them every couple of months…

So that’s Christmas started…that’s just the lounge! 😂

Stepping into Christmas!

On Monday, we made a trip to Powderham, where there is a cafe, a plant centre, a gift shop and a farm shop.

It’s always an interesting browse, with plenty of ideas for gifts…

The farm shop has plenty to offer too…

I didn’t buy anything apart from a packet of serviettes…!

I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping and  it was lovely to browse without any pressure.

 On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to go to Buckfast Abbey for morning coffee, with Nich and William.

Look what I can do, Grandma!

Waiting patiently for cake!

Afterwards, we ventured home to Nich’s and…we got out some Christmas books! Between us we could fill a library, both being book mad! He’s an avid reader. He had recently purchased the three books, the two above and one just below, with some birthday money.

This was a present from his lovely wife, a few years ago…

And then he showed me this one…uh oh…fatal! 

It’s absolutely lovely! It’s full of recipes but also has so many illustrations from times gone by at Fortnums.

My husband has been asking me for weeks what I’d like for Christmas! Being very content with what I have, I never really know…but I came home and promptly asked for this lovely book!

It’s what I call a ‘coffee table book’ to dip into…frequently!

Meanwhile…

On Thursday, it was crafting with William! 😁

Followed by a biscuit treat!

I haven’t been feeling at all Christmassy, until now!

And so, all in all, a lovely week!  🎅 🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄

Happy 40th!

40 years ago, today, I came home with this…

 

Tummy ache… and…a son! 

Named Nicholas John. And when the nurses said that he was ‘a good ten pounder’, I almost died! Actually, he weighted 9lb 6 ozs and I do know that it was somewhat uncomfortable…but I also know that 40 years later, it was so well worth it! 

Born with very dark brown hair, by the following summer, he was very blonde! And he continued to be so. Unlike me!

It wasn’t long before school came calling…

Sixth Form came and went…3xAs at A Level..not too bad!

And off to The University of Exeter…

After 3 years, graduation…B.A. Archaeology…

  And then a further graduation..M.A. Archaeology

I think he worked hard… and played hard…!

And then came some travelling and some gadding about..

Not forgetting his love of TUFC…

And his love of Lizzie!

In 2018…a wedding…! T’was delightful!

And then, in 2021, along came…

And today, we all shared in the celebrations…40 years of my lovely son’s life! Lizzie made a rather apt cake…as they recently made it to Northumberland and Nich walked on Hadrian’s Wall…

I would say, a most splendid 40 years… and 40 years of which we are all very proud! 

Here’s to 40 more wonderful years, eh Nich? 

Happy Birthday! 🎉🍰🥂🎉🍰🥂🎉🍰🥂🎉🍰🥂😁