Christmas, the real thing

I love Christmas :-) It's very different without small kids waking us up at 5am, so we have a nice lie in now, and open our presents together with a glass of Bucks Fizz





My tiger onesie was wonderful and I got a whole stack of other stuff, Then the boys come round and we have a load of more present opening. Then my Mum and dad and Brother and Sister-in law come round and we have Christmas dinner in our kitchen. Luckily my neighbour has an aga which I borrow, because I don't think the turkey would fit in my oven!

Rest of the day is drinking, eating more and finding some games to play. This year we had indoor fireworks, which was a bit an experience!!

On Boxing Day we set off for Handsworth to watch the sword dancers - more carol singing, and the mummers play as well as the sword dance.


Because our family is quite extended, we have several days of various kids and grandchildren turning up for more meals, and of course, more present opening - makes Christmas last even longer!


This year, the night most of the family came round - it snowed! Looked lovely, and we built snowmen on the road, but it did mean no-one could get home. Borrowed lots of bedding form the neighbours, and we had an impromptu sleepover!


Our new cat, Gelly, had never seen it before. He wasn't impressed.


Our annual drinks do between Christmas and New Year is a fun event - its amazing how many people you can get in our kitchen! It doesn't look like this for long.


After it was over, we cleared up, and walked through the snow down to Fagans for our regular Sunday night pub quiz. A combination of snow, and Christmas festivities meant that when we got there, we thought we stood a reasonable chance of winning...


But, others turned up, and we didnt't win.
And of course, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas wouldn't be complete without a trip to the pantomime - we always go to the City Hall to see whatever Manor Operatic are putting on, and this year it was Peter Pan. Oh no it wasn't....

Christmas - the anticipation

We all know when it's getting close to Christmas, because we go on the Santa Cruise!  A canal boat trip with the grandkids, and friends and their children (although the number is reducing as the kids get older)

Its a trip up the canal, which is actually very pretty, and some years made more exciting by the boat having to break the ice. There's mulled wine, mince pies, biscuits, Santa, a present for the kids, and a bauble for the christmas tree for the grown ups.

Usually followed by a walk into town, a mulled wine in the Sleigh Bar and a nice meal with everyone.
Then there's the carol concert - some of our friends are in the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, so we go to see them sing a mixture of traditional, modern and local carols. And for the past few years they have had the Black Dyke band with them - who are amazing. Another good evening, preceded by a meal with everyone in town.

This year we had a really special evening in the run up to Christmas, where we went to a gourmet evening at Chatsworth with friends. Cocktails at our friends, champagne and canapes in the painted hall, a private tour of the house, and then a seven course meal in the candlelit Stables. Very nice, and I think we scrubbed up well!


We also went to Chatsworth during the day to their Christmas market - packed as usual, but we managed to buy lots of unusual presents, so it was worth it.


On the Sunday before Christmas we go to a social lunchtime hosted by Handsworth Traditional Sword dancers - this year it was back at the Devonshire Cat - a good lunchtime with carols, dancing, beer, and a mummers play or two.

And finally, our Christmas Tree. this year we had two. After the Handsworth event, I noticed how many needles ours was dropping, and realised it would be bare by Christmas. Serves me right for buying from a pop up shop rather than go somewhere reputable. So, in a fit of pique the next morning, I moved all the presents from under it, took the decorations off it, dragged it out into the front garden, and through it into a skip we handily had outside.Went to B and Q, bought a new one for one pound!! Apparently by the end of the day they were 10p!  Was so pleased to see the new one up - it looked great!


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Dolls House Christmas

I had a great time decorating the Dolls House for Christmas. I started with some trees - plain green ones bought from various places. I used small beads, glitter, sequins and tinsel to decorate them. In total I did 5 of various sizes - here's three of them almost finished.

I bought an assortment of mini decorations, and also made a lot, then set to work on the house. i've always wanted a big hallway with a tall tree with lots of presents under it, so that was first:

The kitchen had a small tree, and some mincepies and a Christmas cake on the table

The living room had lots of decorations, as well as an array things to eat on the coffee table, including the Christmas bowl of nuts, and a couple of g and ts

On the next floor, the hallway had a bright ponsettia, holly and door wreaths, as well as fibreoptic tree which had red lights - one of my bargains from Poundland!

I decided to do the music room blue and silver, and it became my favourite room. The silver tree was also fibre optic and glowed blue.

The dining room was decorated in green and gold with a big swag on the fireplace with gold roses, which I made using the roses I'd decorated candles with at our wedding 10 years ago. I knew they would come in handy again....

There was also a feast set out with a boars head, a turkey, crackers, Christmas cake and even a bowl of brussel sprouts!

The hall on the third floor had some simple white and silver decorations

and the nursery had some old fashioned paper lanterns and some small decorations - had run out of ideas by the time I got up here - will try harder next year.

The games room in the basement had a tree and a Christmas table with sweets, cakes, wine and fruit.

The two clusters on the back wall are a pair of my Christmas earrings!
Phew. All taken down and packed away now for next year.

Santa Cruise

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Santa Cruise. A one hour trip down the Sheffield canal from Victoria Quays in a beautifully decorated boat, where everyone gets in the Christmas spirit and even the driver sports a reindeer hat.



We usually go in a large group of assorted kids, grandkids, friends and their kids and grandchildren. Yesterday there were 16 of us, and the little ones love being at the front of the boat waiting for Santa.




Of course, Santa arrives



and everyone gets a present from his sack. The adults get a couple of glasses of mulled wine and a mince pie. There's biscuits, juice and colouring things for the kids and we all have a great time. The weather was great, cold but sunny, and there was the added bonus of ice on the canal for the boat to break through. There's even a bar if the mulled wine isn't enough. Lots of opportunity to have a chat with Santa and have your photo taken.



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Christmas Tree!

Decorated gardens for Christmas this weekend. Always leave the lights at the front up, so it's just a case of turning them on and seeing if they work. This year they did.

So Christmassy! I'd still got some lights up in the back garden from Stuart's birthday, but managed to get some more up, including some lanterns from my mum and dad which they aren't using anymore. think I'm going to leave them up for summer BBQs. So, that's five sets of lights up at the front, and five at the back.

Still working on getting icicle lights all along the roof of our terrace of 10 houses.....

Also this weekend was the Magical Christmas Tree Concert. My friend Andrea and I occasionally become concert promoters for the night for friends, and this time we used Nether Edge Bowling Club (a great venue) for Pete Morton, Chris Parkinson and Maggie Boyle and their magical Christmas Tree. A great night was had by all, and i'm pleased to say that after some initial panic, we broke even on the night!