Some pictures from the Weekend

We went to The Millennium Dome, a.k.a The O2 (I prefer the former name as when we mentioned to friends and family we'd been to The O2, they looked confused and said 'huh?' and then we had to explain!

I wish I'd taken a picture of this prior to going in, as the sky was sooo clear and blue. But by the time we came out it was cloudy. Hey ho.

A clue to where we've been. Took the children to the Tutankhamun exhibition, which was fabulous and well worth it.

I just love this picture, I'd love a lampshade like this!!


Back to school tomorrow......(groan).

Post-Christmas and New Year

Happy New Year!

Well it's been busy. Before Christmas I was ill, so I had a little rush on, finishing presents. This one for my friend Amanda, who I work with. (little felt ice skates were so wonderful to make, an idea from Montessouri by Hand). The heart was a little extra for her tree, and the X-stitch was from here and was particularly apt for her (I've since learned that it made her cry, with joy hopefully!!).

Running a Craft afternoon at my Church for the children while the parents helped making 400 Christingles. It was great fun. My two were guinea pigs....

UP at the crack of dawn? Get sewing young man....

C loves stuffing....

After Christmas we went to visit my brother and his family in Cardiff. Staying in a really gorgeous hotel with a roaring fire in each room to sit and sip Baileys next to and get nice rosy cheeks. The following morning while the children played,

We sat reading, and stared at the view.

On returning home, despite not having cooked on Christmas Day, I still seemed to have a plethora of leftovers. Well, we did cook a turkey, ham and acoutrements for the following few days after Christmas, as we did have quite a few visitors.

Poor hubby has been in bed since we returned from Cardiff on Saturday afternoon. He's not usually poorly so I know when he's feeling rough as he never sleeps during the day and doesn't like lying in bed. He's done both every day. (He is also catching up on Season 2 of 24 which means we can continue watching it together once he's caught up with me!!)

Anyway....we have lots of leftovers as he hasn't been hungry enough to eat, so I've been busy making in the kitchen.

Turkey Soup

Yes, yes - I know, a good ole Turkey recipe. However this one is really nice. (Turkey carcus, 1 parsnip, stick of celery, 2 carrots, 1 onion, 2 bay leaves and sprigs of rosemary, 2 litres of water, bung in cooking pot and bring to the boil, simmer slowly for 2 hours). They say that a good chicken soup is good for the soul, and the enzymes released while cooking it is a good cure for colds and flu. R has just eaten a bowl so if he miraculously springs from our bed tomorrow I will let you know.

Broccoli and Stilton Soup, Cheese Sauce

Why Oh Why did we buy a "cheese board". Well I know why, because before Christmas I had a tummy bug and when I finished doing my shopping online, I had no appetite for food so ordered something that would suit all tastes. The Somerset Brie was decimated by the mother-in-law and so there was some Stilton, French Brie and Edam left. I leafed through my Nigella Express Recipe Book and found Broccoli and Stilton Soup....I actually wouldn't touch Stilton with a barge pole if you handed it to me on a cracker, but in a soup, I likes it :-D

It's really, really simple and I'm having it for tea.

First of all fry 3 chopped salad onions in garlic oil.

Add 500g frozen broccoli, together with 1 tsp of dried thyme
Crumble in Stilton....add 800ml hot vegetable stock.


Cook for 5 minutes, liquidize and serve with a little red chilli crumbled on top.


Yum.

I also made batches of cheese sauce for the children, ready to throw on pasta with some of the leftover ham, chicken and some broccoli.

Split Pea and Ham Soup
I have made this before and it's gorgeous. It's also low fat which means it tastes better!!!!

Now that all our guests have gone, the tree is down and things are getting back to normal. I'm already planning what my next sewing project is going to be. I have a few birthdays coming up so better start thinking! (especially as one of them is a big one...you know who you are ;-) )

Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be
on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.

Wishing you a Joyous and Peaceful Christmas, and a very Happy New Year!

(and yes, I'm sure Shepherds wore trainers back then!!!!!!)

A Great Day...

TODAY is a great day.

Today I finished swimming the channel and raised £260 for Aspire.

Today we decorated the tree.

Today I finished these hearts as a present for my friend.

Today we went to Starbucks!!

Today we posed in front of the tree.

Oh, and we have a "fake" tree this year!

oooOOOooo

Christmas Question and Answers...join in!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. I enjoy spending time choosing my paper carefully, together with tags and ribbons. If someone has a particularly awkward present, they get a bag.

2. Real tree or artificial? Real. Growing up we had an artificial one. Hubby prefers real. I love the smell, but hate it when we have to take it outside after Christmas, and the perpetual hoovering up of needles.

3. When do you put up the tree? Second week in December usually. Children have their trees up already! This goes up on 1st December, naturally!

4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as possible after Christmas!! Usually New Year's Day, that means there are people around to help, otherwise I get lumbered doing it myself.

5. Do you like eggnog? Even the name makes we want to gag...so that's a No.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Handmade dolly in a basket, made by my Grandma. My daughter plays with it now.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? We did have one which my Grandad made, but it fell apart after years of play. I've seen a gorgeous one which I'm hoping to buy with the children next week.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My father-in-law. There are only so many war books/bow ties/chocolates you can buy one person! Bless him!

9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? An epilator. One word.....OWWWWWWWW!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like both, as long as someone thinks of you, who cares where it comes from!

11. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone or Elf. "Santaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around September time. When Borders in Beckton closed down, I pretty much did the children's christmas presents in one go.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes and they all went to very good homes.

14. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas? Full roast, then turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberries.

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear and no chasing, twinkling, fading etc etc. Just plain!

16. Favorite Christmas song/carol? O Holy Night - gives me goosebumps.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? One year here, one year away.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? I will get my "Night Before Christmas" book out and I'll be able to tell you! But off the top of my head? No

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. Haven't found the right Angel yet. Maybe I'll make one for next year.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve?!?!?!?! Noooo Christmas Morning thank you very much! We have table presents after lunch and then MORE presents in the afternoon when visiting relatives. Some smaller ones are kept for Boxing Day too.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People panic buying food in the supermarket.

Wishing you a very joyous and peaceful Christmas, and a happy new year!

A little picture of my moody angel at her Nativity!!