Random Ramblings :: It's beginning to feel just a tiny little bit like Christmas

Hi there everyone 😀

So tomorrow is 1st December and I can finally share this year's Advent gifts with you ... aren't they pretty? 25 hand folded paper stars, all containing personalised messages to uplift or bring a smile ...

I never really feel that I can start thinking about Christmas until after my birthday, which falls in the middle of November ... I still have a house full of birthday flowers and they are really brightening up these dark and grey winter days ...

I also had some really nice birthday treats this year ... my favourite Christmas magazines, which are always a treat to curl up with ...

I've even had a go at one of the recipes already ...

... my favourite black cherry Yankee Candle and my favourite tipple ... both of which always feel really Christmassy ...

I also had some absolutely gorgeous William Morris fabric, which is almost too nice to cut up and use ...

... and a really pretty Chilly's water bottle ...

... and a couple off books by two of my favourite authors which I am very much looking forward to cosying up on the sofa with.

Whilst I didn't really get to catch up with anyone in person, I had loads of cards, which are always lovely to receive, especially when they drop on the mat. They will stay on display until Christmas cards begin to arrive to take their place ...

We spent my 56th birthday morning doing the fortnightly food shop at Aldi for us, the elderly neighbours and mum and dad ... but we did manage a take out Christmas afternoon tea. Whilst it was a real treat it was nowhere near as nice as this piece of cake I had this time 5 years ago in the Bakewell Pudding Shop, that Timehop reminded me about this morning ...

So what else has been happening?

Well ... I've finally had chance to get out the Christmas fabric and make up a few bits and pieces ... 

I even got to make something which wasn't a face covering, that was a novelty I can tell you ...

We've managed to stick to our two 500 calorie days a week and have successfully adapted our favourite chilli and bolognaise recipes to fit the bill. We also adapted the frittata we had a couple of weeks ago ... swapping out the celariac and peppers for roasted butternut squash and field mushrooms ... it was 100% nicer and has now been added to the regular meals list.

I did manage a bit of a wander in Sutton Park with mum this week ... 

It was just lovely ... a really nice bright day and there was plenty of colour still to be had ...

... as well as a fair bit of mud ...

We even got to see the resident Dartmoor ponies on our way out which was lovely and very reminiscent of our visit to The New Forest a few years back.

Next on the agenda could be a bit of wrapping and card writing ... trying to get ahead. We've done pretty much all of our shopping on line and the last delivery was made this week, so we are well on track.

With lockdown #2 nearly over we've found that we are to be placed in Tier 3 under the new restrictions, so goodness only knows whether we will manage to get away for our planned Christmas break. I've everything crossed that our Tier may be reviewed in the next few weeks ... or that we can perhaps go for the 'Christmas Amnesty' period, giving us five days away, instead of seven ... which wouldn't actually be too bad at all.

I will keep you posted 😀

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