Christmas 2005

We had the most fab Christmas ever!

On Christmas Eve, Nicholas was working, but playing his clarinet with Dave, so we went to watch at 3.30pm. They were really good. We were dead impressed, and they had collected over £200 for Chestnut Tree Hospice over the week. For tea, we had a noodle thingy that I made, which was very nice, both children sitting down to the table with us. Everyone helped clear up, but then they both went upstairs, Nicholas on computer, Lucy on MSN. I watched TOTP2, mostly Christmas hits. I so love that programme, I used to watch TOTP avidly as a teenager, so it brings back memories. We sorted out presents and stockings quite early, and went to bed about 10.30pm.

On Christmas Day, we were supposed to get up at 7am, but my clock was set wrong, so we didn't get up until 8am. Mad rush to shower, dress, and then open presents.





















After that, we took Merlin for a quick walk round the park, back home to change out of doggy clothes, and we drove over to Andrew and Lynda's for Christmas breakfast (10am). It was really great! We had bacon, fried eggs, hash browns, sausages, toast, croissants, fruit juice and tea. We then went in the lounge and sat and opened presents. I had made mum and dad an album of their golden anniversary year, and couldn't wait for them to see it! WE also got Mum and Dad car seat covers, mum had a bead bag, and dad had car cleaning stuff.


















We came home about 1pm, and sat around drinking tea etc. until the turkey was cooked. We sat down for dinner at 3pm. Turkey, roast potatoes, boiled potatoes, carrots, sprouts, brocolli, sausages, bacon rolls. Mum and Lucy made prawn cocktail for starters, and we had homemade Christmas pudding which we poured brandy over and lit.

WE took Merlin for another walk round the block and Mum and Dad went home about 7pm. We sat and watched telly, had a turkey sandwich, and went to bed about 11pm.


Boxing Day. WEnt to watch Andrew and Izzy swim in the sea. Freezing !!!!




















Afterwards, we went to see Maurice's mum, not the kids, becasue they are both a bit coldy. She gave me some pearls, andfor us all, a huge box of fruit and biscuits etc. YUM! The rest of the day was quiet, we put all our presnets away.

Me Hairdryer, MP3 player, CD (Burt Bacharach), book (Sharon Osbourne), smellies (Sanctuary, body shop, boots), apron, Chanel no 5 talc

Maurice socks (loads!), dressing gown, razor, whiskey (from Harrods), chocks, digital calendar
Both garden vacuum cleaner

Nicholas Roku soundbridge, cycle helmet, pants, chocs, Narnia computer game, door hanger, CDs (2 x Soul Survivor), James Bond claendar

Lucy Sony walkman MP3 player, chocs, thongs, earrings, hunks calendar, CD (Now62), door hanger,

27th DEc
Nicholas is 17!! We gave him a suitcase and a cheque for some computer stuff. John, Mark and Angela came to lunch. I had already made casseroles and froze them, so I made a chicken one as well this morning. Just as well, cos they all went! Made my satsuma and banana tart for pudding. Nick's friend James came about 2 and he stayed the night.

28th
Nicholas had 4 friends round for a LAN party. Lucy went out with friends, so wew ent to Sainsbury's and went out for lunch to the Coach and Horses on A27. Pub could do with a makeover! went into Worthing, but didn't buy anything, but Maurice got one pair of his glasses. Gary came in the evening which was nice.

29th
Took Lucy to the ballet. Swan Lake. But I didn't feel very well during the performance, so we left a bit early. Got home about 10 to 6 as it was! Went to get Katrina and she stayed overnight becasue Claire and Andy were staying a night in a hotel. Watched TV

30th
Woke up not feeling too well, so Maurice took Merlin for a big long walk over Cissbury after dropping Nicholas at work. It was much warmer, but windy and rainy. I was glad to stay in bed! Felt better as the day went on, so we went to Waitrose to do a bit of shopping, dropping Lucy and Katrina in town to get their nails done. Claire and Andy came about 6pm, and we had a great meal (chicken in port, with oranges and figs) Tehy stayed until 10.30pm

31st
I went for walk round Cissbury with M this morning. It was lovley, sunny, but a bit windy. very muddy though. It felt good to go for a long walk, and even better coming back for coffee and Christmas cake! Lucy went out with friends, we had snadwiches for lunch, and I have been on the computer most of the day! Ordered some lunchtins , one for me, one for Sarh's birthday at the end of the month. Off to Nick and Claire's tonight. We've got turkey curry for tea tonight which Maurice made yesterday!

Christmas journal and Security men's do

Here are my entries in my Christmas Journal for days 14 and 15. I actually completed them both this morning, and I'm really pleased with them. I'm loving doing this journal, real quality time to think about Christmas nad the things I enjoy doing is MAGIC!!! The music one is my favourite entry so far, although todays (15th) is pretty good too. I love the BG Blitzen papers. I ordered the pack from Jillybean's scrapyard on Tuesday, and they arrived on Wednesday. How cool is that? This one is called Poinsettia and I love the colours, especially with the green cardstock.











Security Men's Do
WE were invited to the Security men's do at American Express. Last year it was an excellent night out. The food was fabulous, there were plenty of people there and we palyed roulette with pretend chips. We spoke to quite a few people, and had a really great evening.

This year, the food was very disappointing, it was like going into a canteen. We had beef or chicken casserole served out of those awful metal containers that you get in canteens, with only 2 bowls of salad!!! It was quite tasty, but it didn't seem right to go for seconds. (Actually it did me a favour, becasue it meant I didn't eat too much!!) WE played ahorse racing game, which was OK, but we didn't win, and the 2 blokes running it were a right pair. One was gormless Joe, who lolled back in his chair and kept scratching his balls, the one in charge was a very little fat bloke with very scruffy trainers, and a very Essex accent!

The speeches were dreadful! It's always difficult when you don't work there, but these men made it particularly boring!

Today I have a free diary, but loads to do at home. Bet I waste my day! I've started a list, been for a dog walk, and am catching up on here before I start on it. What shall I do first? Post the Christmas cards (involves long queue in PO for stamps), tidy dining room (where to start?), finish putting decorations up (have to tidy dining room first!). No I shall do yesterday and today's Christmas journal entries!!! (At least I won't have tidied all my scrapping stuff away first, and I should stay in this morning in case any parcels come. (WE have ordered a few things from the internet this Christmas.)

Lucy's birthday

This is Lucy with Lucy G and Bec at Pizza Express on the night of her birthday.
Lucy is 14 today. 14 years since we had that gorgeous little girl. She was not a very easy baby, but I was so thrilled to have a daughter. One of each now, a son and a daughter.

Lucy had a digital camera for her burthday, a Canon coolpix that M bought in Gatwick airport on the way out to Phoenix last week. She also had loads of smellies!, ski gloves and hat, Black-Eyed Peas CD, purple throw for her new double bed, sweets. I can't think of anything else.

I am still loving doing my Christmas journal. I must load up some pictures here. I love getting the prompt from Shimelle, thinking about what I am going to do, doing it, and then looking at what everyone else has done. The emails are much less now, about 20 - 30 each time. I can cope with that.

Nearly finished Mum and Dad's album, will probably take it to my crop tomorrow night and finish it then. Need to think up something to say to janet re her CM offer. I should not and must not appear to be interested in selling it! I really want to get away from CM, it's just that it's the only stash I see in real life at the moment!

Christmas journal 3rd December

I should keep a diary about my Christmas journal. I have done 3 pages. Introduction, which is written on a piece of red card and surrounded by small pieces of BG Blitzen. It made me think about why I want to do the journal. Mainly trying to capture the warm, cosy, magicla feeling of Christmas. Page 2 was a snowflake. I cut it out from light blue paper and stuck it on black card. It looks good. I added some sticker snowflakes, journalled in a spiral in the middle, which I love, and a bit of pink glitter, cos I haven't got any silver. My third page was on cards. Not so pleased with it. I amde a small version of the style of card I'm making this year, and cut up a card from Mum and Dad, cos they are the nicest we get, and a card from Ken and Lily that I particularly liked. But being a light blue background, it doesn't look warm and cosy! I have done lots of journaling though, which I like. Hopefully it will get me into a better way of journalling on my scrapbboking layouts.