*~*~*~*HAPPY NEW YEAR*~*~*~*

*~*~*~*Joyeux Nouvel An *~*~*~*Godt Nytår*~*~*~*Gelukkig Nieuwjaar*~*~*~*

*~*~*~*Glückliches neues Jahr*~*~*~*Buon anno*~*~*~Kalendis Ianuariis*~*~*~*

What are you doing this year? 

I Don't make plans - they never work out if I do, I Never make resolutions - I never keep them! 

When I checked back to last year I said I would set my self little tasks, well the little tasks did happen but not until about September when I stopped working on Fridays, I was able to get on and do things with that extra day at the weekend so still working on the little tasks.

A year ago I said I would just use from my stash of stuff, I did, but continued to purchase knitting yarn, mmmmmmmm...................note to self no more knitting yarn!  Most of the time I went shopping with a shopping list, or better still sent Alex, he shops to the list - most of the time- 99% of the time, sometimes he bought in a treat, well as he said it was cheap!  Have stopped going into Charity Shops, they are far too expensive, and I haven't seen many pretty dresses for Caitlin, very rarely seen any little boys clothes, some charity do not sell childrens clothes - as I was told by one managress when asked why - answer, "because we cannot be bothered"! Also now charity shops seem to sell lots of new stuff!  I did go to the library a lot!  With the exception of the lovely books I received as gifts from my good friend Jane, and she always seemed to pick the one I looked at and pined over - how do you do that?  I haven't bought a book this year!  Tip:: go to the library this time of year, all books seem to returned so the selection of books is great! 

So all-in-all I think I will just take each day as it comes and just live for that day, but I have decided to do a craft fair this year, I will tell more about it another day, but it does mean I am going to have to start working on things NOW!  Lots of sorting needs doing for this fair too.................

Now like last year I'm off to take the Christmas decorations down and write thank you cards!

My pretty Lillies new boss bought me for Christmas

Juicy Fig said she was going to try and blog everyday, I said I would try and leave a comment everyday!

Languages used at top of post

French, Danish, Dutch,German,Italian,Latin

Well its all over!

How was your Christmas?  All the blogs I have read recently you all enjoyed your Christmasses.  Ours was very, very quiet.  We knew it would be as we have already celebrated, so we just took it as an ordinary Bank Holiday.  We didn't even have our Christmas lunch on Christmas Day!  Not sure what happen there!  Think it had something to with the chunky bread and smoked salmon we had about lunch time, we  intended to have the cooked Christmas meal early evening, but the bread and smoked salmon was a bit filling!  We enjoyed it even more the next day.  We just chilled on Christmas Day!



I asked a my friend Thea to paint this picture for my husband



I decided to treat myself to a subscription for a magazine

It was lovely surprise our son Robert rang from Cambodia on Boxing Day, he was going to ring the day before but apparently the Vietnamese turn the international phone line off over night.........

I would like to share with you a line from his email which I read before the surprise phone call

*We watched the sun rise over the ruin temple, Anneka got bit by a monkey and we got engaged*

talk about dropping things into a conversation!

My Christmas Soup!

Heat about quarter pint chicken stock and finely sliced onion, carrots and Brussels Sprouts (they are only fairy cabbages really!)  until soft and herbs of your choice.  Add either tin of Tomatoes or packet of Passata then fill the tomato tin/passata packet up twice with water add to pan, add some frozen peas, I also added two large mushrooms, but you could add pasta instead, at the same time add any left-over cooked chicken.  Make sure all the vegetables are cooked and the chicken is thoroughly heated through and serve. 

Wish you Merry Christmas

We purchased this sweet little vintage childs record player from Michele at the Vintage and Handmade Fair Chipping Sodbury at the beginning of December. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all!

Christmas does come early, its true!

More of my advent pressies from Gill

Day 8 ~ Sweet Little Owl Keyreing

Day 9 ~ Christmas Essence

Day 10 ~ Candle

Day 11 ~ Pretty Labels

Day 12 Two Lollipops
Sorry I eat one before taking a photograph!

Day 13 ~ Sweetties

Day 14 ~ Small Slice of Handmade Soap

Day 15 ~ Felt Christmas Tree Decoration

Day 16 ~ Pretty Blue Eyeshaddow

Day 17 ~ Pretty Ribbon

Day 18 ~ Beads

Day 19 ~ Another Yummy Chocolate Teddy!!

Pretty Stocking I won from Ellie

Pretty Button Wreath I won from Kathryn

A HUGE thank you to Ellie and Kathryn

I'm very shy really!

I don't know why but I do find it very awkward about showing off the things I have made, although I do show things on my blog I am very shy person really, blogging has helped me to get over some of the shyness though.

The craft shop I work in changed hands today.  But for the last seven and half years Janet has always wanted to do a black and white window.  This is her last window!

The two main pictures the Crinoline Lady and the Romany Caravan were designed and stitched by me!

A new era for me tomorrow..........

Well I thought they were a bargain......

We needed to go shopping - the cupboards and freezer were running on empty!  I haven't actually been shopping since the end of November when we needed a few bits for our family party, that wasn't a proper shop.  There wasn't any  cheappie flowers that day so I had to pay full price -  £3!  But yesterday in Morrisons I bought these four bunches for the grand total of £4.  I still have all the ones I bought last month too.  I do like a few fresh flowers, don't you.....?

Two mixed bunches ~ Lillies ~ White bunch

I'm here.............

On Saturday went to the Vintage & Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury.  It was my first visit and it was wonderful!  The fair is organised by Jayne and what a wonderful job she did. 

Sunday I started to feel unwell, sore throat, difficulty in swallowing and a hacking cough, and although I went to work on Monday morning, I really shouldn't have gone, but the morning was busy so it sort of took my mind off the sore throat.  I slept most of the afternoon and and went to bed at 8 O'clock and slept right to till about 5am.  Felt better and went to work on Tuesday and today, and I shall go tomorrow as I just have the cough now, the throat is quietening down, I have Fridays off, so I will be catching up on a couple of things.

Now I would like to say a very BIG thank you to Gill  for my Advent Calendar

Day 1 ~ Three gorgeous buttons

Day 2 ~ I really enjoyed this cuppa!

Day 3 ~ Pretty earrings

Day 4 ~ Sweeties

Day 5 ~ Pretty parcel tape

Day 6 ~ Will grow these after Christmas

Day 7 ~ Chocolate Teddy
It has been spared because I go off of chocolate when I have a cold!