all over for another year

Yes, that is the end of Christmas but as Charles Dickens wrote-
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

Did you all have a lovely festive season?

Our Christmas day was spent quiet and relaxing at home, just the two of us.
Marks and Spencer saved the day and we bought our lunch on the Saturday. The reason we left it so late? this virus, which yes is still lingering here, neither of us are 100% and friends and family have been discouraged from visiting.

Christmas day we went for a short walk in between showers, to blow away the cobwebs.

Blossom on a tree through the hedge.

Then back to a lovely Christmas dinner and an evening in front of the TV.

We spent the afternoon of Boxing day at my Brothers house with my family but back home for a turkey sandwich  and even more TV!

We have tried to just relax and do very little in the hope we feel well enough to go away at the weekend to visit my Mother in Law in Shropshire.
Today we met up with friends for an hour or two....before coming home to.....yes you have guessed it....a turkey sandwich in front of the TV!

Christmas Eve

The candles are lit.

We have just watched 'Nativity!' on TV

There are plenty of presents under the tree.

Yesterday was a bright cold day so we decided to venture out.

We went to Tatton Hall Home Farm

The animals were dressed for the occasion.

Rudolph was there!

It was very busy.

Estate Managers Office

Father Christmas was there and lots of families were standing in a queue to see him.

The choir was also there to entertain.

On the way out we stopped to look at the deer.

Then it was time to go home
but we called in at my mums house for a cup of tea as we were quite close.

The Runcorn Widnes Bridge

The Carols from Kings has just started on TV and Hubby has just passed me a glass of Bucks Fizz.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Almost there.....

......almost better.

Yes we can see light at the end of the tunnel. Today we braved the horrid wet, grey day to do the Christmas shopping. Presents and food were needed and we didn't do too bad really.

Lucy and a box of tissues!

The flu virus wiped us both out and we had not been able to venture to the shops and even today my Christmas Spirit has gone, I just can not muster up the energy or enthusiasm for it.

Marks and Spencer came to the rescue with the Christmas food and we got the presents needed but I don't feel my usual thought has gone into them. I did manage to knit a few scarves before I was struck down and we had bought a few at the Christmas fair at Shibden in November. 

We keep getting cards from people I know I did not send one too and I am afraid they will receive theirs after the big day!

The bells were ringing at Halifax Minister today.

The children made lovely Christmas Cards this week at school.

My lovely mum made these owl finger-less gloves for me!

I want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2013

struck down

I am afraid I have been struck down with a viral infection. Stuck at home, Lucy on my knee and a box of tissues. We have had to cancel a Christmas party we were hosting this Sunday so very fed up

So I won't be around for a while, I need to get better before the big day itself!

frosty morning

We are having lots of frosty cold mornings at the moment.(much better than rain)

lots of scraping the car and sitting in it while the windows clear. Tomorrow night is our school Christmas concert so my post will be even later and might be slightly less Christmassy than usual!
I am also feeling a bit under the weather so might just come home and go straight to bed as I think I might need too!

Vintage Bauble

This is a vintage glass bauble on our Christmas tree. 

The vintage glass bauble

Some of the paint has rubbed off and it looks a bit tatty round the edges.

My mum gave it to me years ago. It is almost as old as I am.......does that make me vintage?

It's beginning to look...

....a lot like Christmas!

Yes today we managed to put up the decorations.

A large real tree in the lounge with mainly silver decorations and a dash of red.

and in the other room is a small artificial tree in green and gold decorated with birds. (I will take some photos of that another day)
I also wanted to show you my smoking dragon.

You put it over an incense burner and the smoke comes out of it's nose!
My mum bought it for me at the Christmas market yesterday.