Christmas 2007 and all that Oh Joy and Bliss!!

Well finally we arrived at the BIG day which seemed to go on forever, well a whole week of it

actually the festivities started on the 24th Christmas Eve. The candles are lit, the fire blazing away here is another and

better view of our fireplace.

I had planned a little supper in our 'dining room' Where ever I could candles were lit!

Christmas Eve John and I spend on our own. Listening to the Nine Lessons & Carols from Kings College, Cambridge. An annual tradition if and when I can catch it. We also heard Benjamin Brittens' Christmas Carols, a wonderful piece of work, but not every one's cup of tea. For this little supper we had ll sorts of snick-snacks, salmon on brown bread ( couldn't quite finish them) little snacks from the oven = pastry spoon with tiny shrimps, a small shrimp and mango appetizer, quails eggs it just went on and on. I had gone quite mad this Xmas, for someone who didn't want to know about Christmas well you'd never guess. For Boxing Day I had a wild boar roast, it was okay but rather dry and I don't think I will have THAT again, but it came with all the trimmings, for the 27th when John's son Michael came for the day I had ordered 1/2 a cooked ham. Well! if that was 1/2 a one, I wouldn't like to order a whole one.. (We are still eating of it , sandwiches, and slices to New Year's Eve at my sisters; the bone for pea soup on the 13th of Jan, and bits and pieces for spaghetti carbonara (John's favourite) are in the freezer). We had of potatoes and baked celery as well as Christmas pudding which John had bought. It took all my persuasion that he didn't get the largest one; there is still half left.

Christmas day we had been invited to Michael and Rita's which was super: Rita's family was there, her dad Ratan, mum Lidia, auntie Clelia, brother Robert and his wife Sue, and Giovanna Rita's sister. Beanie was still with us, but not in the world yet. Rita looked well although she did get tired, but then we were such a noisy crowd. Our host and hostess set a superb table and we started with a glass of golden champagne. our host and hostess and some of the other guests: Robert, Giovana & Sue lighting the candles. As you see the table was loaded.

Dinner was thanks to Ratan, Lidia and Micko who all contributed and did the cooking. Their large kitchen at times looked quite crowded but oh what a feast, smoked salmon to begin with, turkey with all the trimmings, here are some glimpses:Lidia's and my dinner plates I like dark meat best, so I got the leg; but it looks a little small for a turkey leg, so perhaps it was chicken and not turkey as Micko told me later they had M&S stuffed turkey beast. Still it was delicious.and so were the veggies .

After all this copious meal yes you've guessed it it was time for the the pudding Micko serving it ands in charge of the fireworks here it is in its full glory: and most delicious it was too.

Even the Jellies were not forgotten! believe it or not they each had a dish of their own; once they had finished it was like us: OUFF, only we didn't collapse on the floor like that.

On the 28th when Paul, Fiona, Caitlin and Shaun came I had a 4 rib Rib Roast with sprouts & chestnuts, (not my favourite) and honey parsnips and small baked potatoes with a dip on them, Shaun of course had his usual penne with tomato paste and pesto sauce and fresh cut raw vegetables with dip and Pizza Express sauce. I think it is the sauce he likes best. But he did have the chocolate sponge pudding which was yummy. Nothing was left. There was a lot of the beef left, it was Wakeling's best, but that was wonderful as I love cold roast beef sandwiches. here are some pix for your enjoyment

Christmas is over, and the next one is in 362 days from now as the milkman once reminded me

and one more pix 'cause I like it

Thats it folks, till the new year!!!!!

Well I never.....not this year I thought.

I never thought that I would go in for Christmas decorations and all that jazz, but on Sunday I woke up full of vim and vigour and decided something must be done; so we went into the cellar, John disappeared like a Xmas pixy into the hole under the stairs to retrieve the boxes of Christmas decorations, and we found all sorts of things, among them a bag which was full of a beautiful Danish tree, completely broken down with years, a synthetic tree in a tall thin box, it took two of us to get it out of its box; and then I decorated it will some glass balls and other little items. but it is still a pathetic little tree nothing like the full blown ones in the families. There will be no candles on this tree, I think its a bit dangerous with the Jellies careering around as they do every now and then.

There were also lots of boxes full of table decorations, I shall be doing the table in kitchen and on the coffee table in the sitting room with candles and greenery and balls of course and any other items I can find on Saturday or Sunday, so it doesn't dry out too much.

Then got into the swing of things and did the mantle piece in the front room, this was decorated with the remains of the Danish tree I had had for ever so long and was planning to chuck! Goes to show if you hang on to it long enough it will come in useful and handy. There were some really lovely decorations on it. And at least the greenery stays loking fresh, not like the real stuff dropping their needles and making a mess.

This year John isn't doing his 'fairy grotto' as he always did when Caitlin and Shaun were little. And when I said fairy grotto that's exactly what it was. The little 'uns loved it cause it was different from what there was at home; and I think John may secretly have been pining to do it again. However Next year he can let go again for when and if Beanie comes.

I even did some cookie plates for friends and our Dr. for him the bag with the bottle of wine. (Darren should be pleased that it was a Californian wine; haven't come across wines from Oregon, although I know they exist). This was my workroom at the Xmas period.

We have been invited to Michael & Rita's for Christmas Day lunch really lovely to see her parents and family, all being that Beanie doesn't decide to join the festivities.

And to keep up the winter scheme here is one of my favourites: I love the bare trees in winter; what I call Rembrandt trees.

Winter is here and Christmas is 'a cumming'

Winter has really arrived, the last days have been bitterly cold, one morning there was heavy frost and so I took the Jellies for a walk along the river bank here by Peperharow Road. the leaves were all rimmed with frost, and there was lots of it about, some plants had a beautiful icy cold coat. and even the river bank looked wintery it was really very beautiful, as there was some sun out, but it was cold brrrr.

nonetheless the Jellies had, as usual, a lovely time. The mud was hard frozen, which made walking a bit treacherous even with my walking boots.

But to show I am sort of getting into the mood of Christmas here is a shot of part of my work table, my usual gifts for giving away, not the beads though.

After this I must get on with my altered books I only have two more pages to do, and then must get going on the cover.

Here are a few more pages: Fred's Page and the page on Swans, not quite finished yet. A Merry Christmas to you all, we are off on Christmas Day to Michael and Rita; and Beanie-to-be.

Its about time I think

Xmas is coming, and I couldn't sleep on Sunday night worrying about it all, got so bolshie I decided I didn't even want to do anything at all... Worry worry niggle niggle. As I used to say many years ago I wanted go into hibernation till it was all over.

But I gave my self a good talking to and next day sat down and made lists of what I needed, list for menus and lists of ingredients and shopping. So many list I got snowed under, had to dig myself out several times. However it is a lot clearer in my mind now. And I can go to sleep easier.

I went shopping in Guildford for John's birthday present, I am giving him 3 items for starting this new phase in his like of being over 80; will let you know after his birthday what they are, as he sometimes reads this blog. I also got myself and him new dressing gowns to go with our new slippers we got each other in Madeira. So we will be resplendid on Christmas day when we are on our own!!!

The weather has been foul and wonderful on alternative days. Here are a few pix I took along the River Wey in Guildford last week. it was truly magnificent this fir tree, as red as a flame.

Jed sniffing this gnarled old tree while we were sitting along the bank

and a wonderful pix of the sun reflected in the water although it is a bit difficult to see.

John was getting quite impatient with me as I tarried along, but I couldn't resist stopping every few steps to click on my trusty Fujifilm camera.

And to end it all here is video of the Jellies at play. This is taking

forever!!!!!
although this does need some editing towards the end. One of the things I mean to do over the winter when I have finished my 6th altered book. Have only 2 1/2 more pages to do. By half I mean I nearly have finished that page its an experiment which has taken me a lot of time and effort. All sorts of family photos that I have first turned into greyscale and then posterized them. Got some quite different and astonishing results. I hope to have all the pages done by Christmas so that I can concentrate on the cover!!! Photos will be blogged in the future. Here are just two to whet your appetite

This is it folks till next time; must go and recue my potatoes.

One more for Thanksgiving

This says it all

I know it is over, and we didn't celebrate it, although coming to think of , it we did by going out for a meal, we went to the Kings Arms and Royal Hotel in the middle of Godalming (do you remember that is where Darren's family stayed prior to your wedding the Wednesday and we had meal altogether there) The hotel and pub has just been done up and newly refurbished but in the right style for a pub from circa 1600's, well not quite. Any way we didn't have turkey as thanksgiving is not a celebratory day in the UK , so John had a rib eye steak and I had the most delicious calf's liver, pink and tender. The kitchen there is very good, and we will certainly go again as it is also quite cheap.

I think I might upload one of the videos I took at Littlehampton of the Jellies, if I can find it! And here as well is one of my favourite dogs Milo, he looks so happy, the Jellies would love him, well Nellie would at least.

Jed likes to paddle, but as you see, Nellie's doesn't really like getting her feet wet! Scrapping yes, its their way of telling each other off.

This blogging is a bit of pain, I spent all morning catching up with other peoples, and doing this post. And it is now walkies time, but the weather is lovely, crispy sunny and cold for the UK, but nothing like in Portland. I really must get back to my altered book, only have the cover and 3 pages to do. One page is giving me a lot of gip but for another I have some good ideas, if only I can get at it!!! the wait if for the uploading of the video. I am so slow just like this little beastie.

Tata for now.

15 November at Bailiffscourt

We set off on the 15th, just a week ago; and only now did I get around to creating a new post; as it takes me that long to write my posts.

On a beautiful sunny wintery day, not too cold and hardly any wind

for Bailiffscourt in Climping near Littlehampton,

a place the Jellies dearly love, and where they are as welcome as we are; as you can see in this pix, basking by the fire. Having two staffies together on one split lead gets us a lot comments. Bailiffscourt is a hotel that looks medieval but actually was built in 1931. It belonged to the Guinness family, they used to come to Climping for their holidays camping with their children. Then in the late 1920's Climping council was intending to redevelop the whole area with council housing. Lord Guinness countered that by buying the entire area; and his wife had the most enormous fun of building this hotel, together with her architect they scoured the country for derelict buildings no longer in use, and all sorts of items of the period.

All around the main hotel building are various other buildings in similar style. We were in this one, quite near to the hotel entrance

our bedroom door from the outside! it looks pretty authentic doesn't it.

Inside our bedroom, called Broomwood there was areally great bath room a comfortable bed, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. And even biscuits for the Jed and Nellie.

We had a truly wonderful meal, their chef is great and I am getting quite pernickety about food we are served, so often I feel disappointed but certainly not this time. I had wood pidgeon breast, something I have never had tried, and it was delicious; a really great celebration for all four of us, although Jed and Nellie had their usual food of mixed tripe and turkey & rice kibbles. Nothing fancy for them alas.

Next day another wonderful day we went our usual walking place by Littlehampton golf course by the sand dunes we were in luck the tide was out so there was a vast amount of sand in stead of the usual pebbles 3 meters wide. The Jellies love to romp on the sand and Jed even goes paddling.

Here is John with his camera

Usually the beach is quite empty but this time there were all sorts of different things on it!!Like a tractor and truck working on the pebbles. Two riders who came galloping along. I had hoped to take a little video but my card was full! And then the Jellies having fun together Nellie waiting to pounce. We walked a long way along the sea side and then we went back to the car park via the sand dune alleys, they love that even more.

After that we had a big bowl of mussels as the East Beach Cafe,that really wonderful restaurant with food as good as at Bailiffscourt, and that is saying some. Then home where we were just after four.

I was sent this really great little video which I will try to upload, but it is a windows media (TM) file so it might not work. It is proof that it was the Irish who first colonized Africa.

It did come in; so that is it! Isn't killing?

And now a happy thanksgiving to you all

Till the next time!!! Adio