Santa's On His Way

 

Giddy-up reindeer, nearly there!

 

My night-time photography skills leave a lot to be desired (!), but here is a photo of Santa flying overhead!

Actually, it is the International Space Station.

"Howwwwwaaaarrrd"

 

Happy Christmas all my lovely bloggy mates!

Zxx

& Modern

 

Our Christmas pressie from one of Mr Bs' past "angels", Chlo-Ro.

 

A pretty bauble found last year at Homesense.

 

Ditto the owl; but I daren't take him out of his case to hang on the tree, so this year he's on the window sill.

 

So, Christmas Eve tomorrow. Nearly done everything. Fresh produce and turkey crown to get tomorrow and my fave stuffing to make - sausage meat, prune and sherry. Oh yummy!

And mustn't forget to whip up some brandy butter.

Then ...done!

 (Or, is that all done in?!)

Zxx 

 



Vintage Deccies

 

The angel was probably the first decoration I bought for my own tree, that my dad made for me, in my bedroom.

Nearly 50 years old!

 

 

These baubles were one of the first things we bought on our first meeting of the wonderful Bryony who does our local vintage fairs. We met her on the steps of the hotel, where the fair was be held in Market Harborough, eating chips.

A lady after our own hearts and, she has found, over the years and fairs, a place in our hearts.

 

 

The other item we bought was a vintage meat safe.

Still, kept the baubles safe on the bus journey home!!

 

 

We bought these other vintage beauties from her as well.

 

 

 

She keeps a stall at Kibworth Antiques.

Hurrah for Bryony!

Zxx



Winter Solstice, 2014

Lucky to be able to capture the sunset this evening.

The sky looks on fire!

And now we're going to get longer days.

Hurrah!

 

 

I celebrated by making my first batch of mince pies!

Zxx

My Coca Cola Ad

 

The Coca Cola Truck paid a visit to Northampton yesterday.

 

 

I went to meet Mr B at the rail station and then we went off in to town.

 

They had the set-up in a different place this time, outside The Guildhall, (or Trumpton as Mr B calls it!), which was a brilliant setting for the fake snowfall mixed with the teeny tiny bubbles.

 

 

But the highlight for me was the small group of singers; they were fantastic!

Totally fabulous.

 

 

Thank you for your words of support on my last post.

Once I was out it was fine, it's just getting out of the house!

I dunno, mad innit?

Zxx



"Madonna" & "Child"

 

When Mr B comments on how good it is that I went out in the back garden the other day, you know things aren't as good as they could be!!

Zxx



On The Second Day Of Christmas...

...an angel delivered a sachet of Tanzanian Kibo Dark!

OK, a bit of a psychotic looking angel

To be fair I was in my jimmies and hoping that the bus wasn't going to go past As I stuck my head outta the door!
And I was having 'a bad head' episode.

It's all in the eyes, y'know!!

Check out my 'new' leaded windows. Neat, huh?
Zxx



On The First Day Of Christmas...



 

...Tabby helped me open my 'Advent Calendar of Coffee'.

 

 

25 different flavours of my favourite brew.

 

 

Todays flavour was "Peru Treasure of the Andes".

 

 

I bought this online from Imperial Teas (!) of Lincoln after reading a Facebook comment from a friend of a friend. So glad I did! A cafetiere of classy coffee every day for the next 25 days.

Heaven!

 

 

Zxx

Tra-la-la-la-laa La La La Laa

Not the most explanatory of titles, I have to admit, but I dusted off the old Chrimbo CD and have been warbling away ...
 

...whilst washing up.

Wiping up with this.

And wiping with this as well!

(Sorry, 'Vulgar Woman' is back!!)

The Coca Cola ad has been on TV since the 9th November. (Do you think that was much too early?).

This could be taken as a bit of Vix love; but I also had Prancer but he got put in the recycle bin last night, so I'm guessing it's just reindeer names!

I haven't been out shopping today, but when I do go I will take my dusted off M&S shopper.

Need to use it as much as I can in the allotted time.

(Tucked away again after Twelfth Night)

So, not very Christmassy yet, (have you seen that bloody awful weather out there?), but little touches are creeping in.

(Phone photos, so excuse the quality. Put my camera away somewhere safe.)

Zxx



Stir Up Sunday, er no, Mix It Monday

Oh my goodness; what a palaver!

 

 

Got Mr B to 'shake' the festive mix bag of fruit and nuts from Aldi for a mini version of Stir Up Sunday as I hadn't measured out the ingredients to make my Christmas cake yesterday.

 

 

It was a bit of a shame I hadn't checked my cupboards because come yesterday I only had about a third of the dried fruit that I needed!

Arrgh!

 

Had a look through my large recipe collection in the hope of finding something I could do to salvage what I had already measured out.

Step up a print-out from Kirstie & Phils' Chrimbo programme, which was along the lines of x amount of dried fruit of any type and so forth, so that I could get the wet/dry/fat mix OK.

A very large amount of cherries, the remains of the mixed peel, some old dried apricots and even older crystallised ginger and 'hey presto' enough mixture to make a cake!

 



 

This was the final piece of last years. It was the Marion Keyes recipe, which, although very nice, was much too sweet for me.

What's the betting that this years' cake is the best ever and I won't ever be able to replicate it???

 

Zxx

T'was The Night Before Christmas

Santa's sleigh

 

Mr B went to Iceland for a Pina Colada Dome, batteries for Big Mouth Billy Bass and a dress from boohoo.com

I've got some DiSaronno but I'm not sure what it is,

cheese footballs some cat food and a bottle of Bucks Fizz.

 

I'm writing a list and checking it twice just like it says in the song.

 

We started the After Eights last night,

I knew they wouldn't last long!

The evening's dark, the days are short, the weather gets you down,

We paid a ten pound deposit on a two kilo turkey crown.

 

The cards got posted, second class, just on the final day

Mrs B bought some market clamps - to stop the gazebo blowing away!

 

So, never mind the decorations are still all boxed and stacked

I haven't bought any presents, so there's nothing left to wrap.

 

 



Christmas Day 2013

Feet up after dinner!

We didn't eat until this evening...giving us enough time to work up an appetite!

So much so, there isn't actually a picture of the dinner itself; you'll just have to take my word for it that it was very tasty!

Festive Versace head; cup of brandy butter with obligatory vintage cake decorations; a very Grinch-like Tabby, really not getting into the spirit of things; table & piano; Wol and Rudolph on our 'minimal woodland' tree; feet up; origami Santa and toadstool on tree.

Mr B has just made me a cup of coffee and I feel an After Eight moment coming on!

 

Happy Christmas!

Z & Mr B

xxxx



 

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all love and good health during the festive season.

 

Z xx

The Holidays Are In My Town

What's this? Who came to Northampton?

 

 

He even has his own number plate!

 

 

Oh Yes! The Holidays are in my town!

 

 

Woop woop!

Now I'm feeling really festive!

Z xx

Make The World Better With A Sweater

It was 'wear your Christmas sweater to work' day today apparently. 

 

 

So, having 'youtubed' one of Ditsy Sprinkles fave Chrimbo songs that I didn't know, (The Chipmunks one, if you're wondering), I found a whole heap of 'go-go' songs including this wonderful version of 'Boots'.

 

Well, if they're not wearing a rather snappy collection of Christmassy jumpers, (and very little else!),

well, I'll eat my....sweater!

 

a waxwork version...can you believe it?

(I do think they mean a festive number a la Bridget Jones; but look at all that shimmering going on. Let alone the shimmying!)

 

Personally, I'd prefer an invite to Penny's Best Christmas Jumper party in Miranda! The greatest TV that Patricia Hodge has ever done IMHO!!

 

Such fun!

Z xx

Holidays Are Coming...Holidays Are Here!

Well, in Birmingham, actually!

 

MK Winter Wonderland

 Gosh, I haven't been to Milton Keynes for years. 

 

So, to go when they have decorated for Christmas is a particularly good time to visit.

 

 

 

More twinkling lights than you can shake a stick at, as the saying goes!

 

 

A 'cheeky little something' for supper at Jonny Loulous' with a turkey and cranberry sauce filled crusty baguette.

 

That big bag in the background?? That's my Chrimbo pressie! Which we opened last night!!

Want to know what it is?

Zxx

Prettimas

 

Six squid for 100 ever-so-pretty, sturdy and specially shaped paper chains.

 

My surprise find yesterday at Jonny Loulou, Milton Keynes.

 

I am soooo in love with these it's sad!

Zxx



Janices' Twelve Days of Christmas

 

My gift to you, my lovelies!

Zxx

Today I...

 

Today I was going to go to the Fair and my local butchers' and greengrocers'.

But I didn't.

 

Instead, I made our Christmas cake, which is cooking away as I type.

 

 

 

I wore my new Christmas Cats apron. I do believe that Santa has found a matching mug and coaster set; guess I know what I'll be drinking my festive hot drinks in!!!

 

Having popped the cake in the oven and done a mountain of washing up I had a sit down with a coffee and a couple of slices of this Weetabix cake, which I bought from the Village Fair last Saturday.

I was a tad unsure, I mean, Weetabix cake? But so pleased I took the plunge...it is totally yummy. A dense, filled with fruit tea loaf with no hint of the breakfast cereal.

I've been have a slice as my 'breakfast' each morning. A pretty good way to start the day!

 

Right, I'm off to have a gawp at my cake.

Have a great weekend!

Z xx