New Years Eve 2007

- A very quiet New Year for me - DH is off to sunnier climes to go climbing, DS is off out with his friends and DD2 is not feeling well. I have been printing my piccies for my journal today and hope to add them to my pages (already done) in my Christmas Journal so I can upload some more pages tomorrow. I have tried to visit all my friend's blogs too - to wish them happy new year - and to any I have missed -Maynrys as Blien Noa - Happy New Year one and all.

Boxing Day

Collected Mum & Dad from Rose & Carl's house and brought them here for the day again. Dad seems a bit better now, which is a relief. Went for a walk down the glen with mum whilst it was bright and sunny - then it began to feel colder so we came back home to the cottage. Not a lot of time for "me" things so here is yesterday's page.

December 20th

Today's prompt is about the unexpected - not sure yet what I will do - I need to think about this one for a while.
Here is yesterday's page to be going on with, along with the one from the 17th -- Ben's actual birthday.I am so pleased with this photo - I took it at his party just before the battry gave out on my camera - so I was delighted when I saw it - I think it will become a favourite with me. TFL

December 19th

Well I have had rather a hectic few days so no blogging for me - just had no opportunity. I t has been slightly chaotic in school - rehearsals for the Christmas Concert were very frantic to say the least. Still it all came good in the end - even if it was way too long a concert!!! So it was a very busy weekend for me - on Friday night I was official photographer for the concert and I believe some of the pics are to go to the local paper as they couldn't send a press photographer- I am just an amateur - I really mean amateur! with my camera - so I don't think I will have anything good enough - the light in the hall was just all wrong for my little camera! Well I did my best!
Saturday - and Siobhan rang to say she had arranged a surprise Birthday Party for Ben and would we come - in the Ship Inn, she is amazing - finding a venue at this time of year - I had no success at all - but the Ship has an upstairs lounge - which they were willing to close for a private function! It was a lovely room as well so I must remember it for the future. She had done a buffet as well - well she and her mum had. It was a good evening and of course must be included in the journal - so I have just ignored the prompt for today - even though I could have used it - a this time we were the visitors!!!
Sunday was a catch up day - though we did have a bit of a special tea with Ben in mind and Monday was his actual 21st birthday - so that also must go in the journal! Another prompt gone by the board. It doesn't matter though as I do have last years journal - and may well have others in future years.
Had a day off yesterday - went for haircut & colour. Finished off my Christmas shopping in Douglas, and spent my birthday money from my mum & dad - got boots, trouser suit, top for Christmas Day as so many shops had sales on - already. I really needed a new coat - but couldn't find one that felt right.I ma behind with my cards - I have lost my address book - so cant remember addys to sent to friends!!! What am I to do!!
I have uploaded as many pages as I have got done so far TFL

Thursday December 13th

today's prompt is about the presents - I am quite organised in that I know what I am getting for my children and they are ordered and I am awaiting delivery and Lydia is sorted as well.Imogen is also organised so really with the children in the family dealt with the pressure is off. Here is todays page anyway. TFL

December 12th

Day 12 of this years journal. In a way this feels like a duplicate prompt to that for day 6 - so as I am short of time I have split that entry. I have to be honest - I look back at all my Christmases and really don't remember one that wasn't happy - even when I split from my first husband - that last Christmas we were together was not unhappy - we had a little one and we both wanted Christmas to be magic for her - so we made it so. Anyway here is the journalling I chose to cover this topic.
Christmas Eve - when I was about 11 or 12 (I think), Granny & Grandad had come to our house for a Christmas Eve supper - hot pork pie was on the menu– I can smell the aroma to this day. Granny was served her piece of pie – but it never got to her mouth as when she picked it up the filling fell out along with all its delicious juices and landed on her somewhat ample bosom! As the initial shock wore off she started to laugh – and so did we!! So much laughter - yet it completely ruined her beautiful new dress – which was a peacock blue brocade – very elegant and a glorious colour, simply because the grease! I never saw her wear that dress again, yet I know she would have loved it – it was a favourite colour of hers, and I am sure my mum must have made it for her. My abiding memory of this evening is of laughter - even after my sister & I had been sent off to bed I could still here the adults laughter as I fell asleep. I feel all warm & fuzzy now! TFL

The Tree - December 11th

- - my tree - what can I say about it? I just love my Christmas Tree - It just wouldn't be Christmas without it. I love all my old fashioned ornaments, which include those made by the children. I have a mixture of a "themed" tree in that I do tend to stick with traditional colours - red gold silver white - and a sentimentalists tree with home made decorations and treasured items form my own and my children's childhood.I was planning on having a "Homes & Gardens" tree this year - all white, gold & silver - but I couldn't get the white lights to work - so went back to my usual of predominantly red, gold silver white - and the toys.
Here is the page from my Christmas Journal this year. It had to be a double page as my tree means Christmas to me - I have included the words to the Oh Tannenbaum Christmas Carol - in English of course and they are the words we sang at The Mission primary school - so think they might have been simplified for us - the versions I found on line used different words. TFL

All Wrapped Up?? - -December 10th

- - got my wrapping papers on Saturday so I guess this prompt is appropriate for today, though I don't have many parcels to wrap this year yet. I do need to get those I have wrapped though - I have got the children's main presents and have wrapped Imogen's pressie and given it to her mum to take to Canada with them.Journalling is on the back of the tags -

Usually I just choose one design of paper for my gifts and mainly go for red trimmed with gold, however this year I was spoiled for choice and finished up with 3 or 4 patterns - so here they all are!
TFL

Traditions - December 9th

- - I love my Christmas Traditions - like Chocolate Oranges, Sherry when putting up my Christmas Tree, candles, having my family all around me, fairy lights all stuff I included in my Christmas Journal last year - so this year I am just putting a photo of my girls with their grandparents as going for a walk after Christmas lunch is also a family tradition. We have done it as children and adults and only the very most inclement weather has prevented it - and not even then for Doug! He needs his fresh air does my boy! Journalling is on the tag and says

Last year I missd this from my list of traditions of my Christmas, because I forgot to include it, but now I am gald I did as it means I can add something different to this journal. We have always "walked off" our Christmas Dinner - and only the MOST inclement weather has prevented us from going out for a breath of fresh air after lunch on Christmas Day - if even for only 10 minutes (because it was icy cold!) Even the worst weather doesn't stop Doug going out though - he needs his fresh air and to burn off some energy - such a restless chap - the man I married!

Here is the page anyway.TFL

Listen to the Rhythm - December 8th

- - of the pouring rain - it's pattering down on the skylight above my bed and I think that is what woke me - early for a Saturday as well! Nice weather - for ducks!! It is raining so heavily that I am a little afraid of the cottage flooding. I have never seen rain like to day here on the island - Doug has gone into work this morning so I am going to clean the lounge and make the space for our Christmas tree to go. Then if it ever stops raining I will try to persuade him to take me to Ballapaddag to choose this years tree.
I hasn't stopped raining - but we are going to go into Doolish anyway. Phoned Lydia and we picked her up and took her for her Christmas present. She wanted a good rucksack for her holiday plans for 2008, so we have got her a Karrimor. She chose it herself - so its pink!! Her dad was horrified to think that she picked it on the colour - but me - I understand completely!! It's a girl thing.

Also got a couple of things for Christmas that I wanted, and then dropped Lyds off home before setting back home ourselves - and stopping en route to choose a tree - in spite of the fact it was bucketing down - needless to say I have never chosen a tree so quickly!!!!!

Doug & I spent the afternoon & evening ( apart from watching Strictly Come Dancing) putting it up and decorating it, so we cracked open the Sherry!I can't put up our tree without my traditional glass of sherry. It is slightly smaller than I usually have so the branches are not as sturdy as usual - so I haven't got as many decorations on as usual. I was thinking of going with a change of colour scheme and just having gold, white & silver - but I couldn't get all the white lights to work so have gone with my usual of red, white,gold & silver. I had to use the red lights you see! I am pleased with it though and I think that Ben & Rhiannon like it.

Do you hear what I hear -

Christmas Lists - December 7th

- - are here again! I always make Lists, lists for cards, lists for presents, lists for food shopping, lists for drinks, lists for decorations for the house, list of "to do", wish lists - you name it - I have a list!

I think in my head I am being organised - however in fact I probably spend more time on making the lists when I could actually be doing something constructive like DOING the shopping, or WRITING the cards! I am sure I am not alone in this but still I make my lists!!

Christmas Memories - December 6th

Today prompt is about Christmas memories - good and not so good. Here is the text. I'll try to post pictures later.

I have so many I could write a book - but oddly enough I can't think of any that were not just right - none at all. All good - I have been blessed.Probably because I know that I always look back down the years through those magical rose coloured spectacles, my memory is particularly selective (thanks mum and granny for you gave me the gift of an optimistic outlook on life)and I only ever remember the good times, whilst the not so good just fades into the background.


The Thomas & Bertie Christmas
Oooh it was so cold – the year Ben wanted the Thomas & Bertie play set for Christmas – and it was proving impossible to get hold of. I had tried every toy shop & market stall in Oldham, Rochdale, Ashton, Bolton and Manchester and not been able to find anyone who had it in stock – in desperation I had gone through the yellow pages phoning every toy shop in the north west of England and tracked down a small independent retailer with one left in stock in the village of Marple in Cheshire, who agreed to put it on one side for me to collect at the weekend! You have no idea how relieved I was – Ben was only 2 – almost 3 and just would not have understood why Santa hadn’t brought what he has asked him for.
And to top that it started snowing - and snowing – and snowing! Then came the big freeze – and it just got colder & colder so that by the time Saturday arrived – it was an icebox outside – snow which had become ice, black ice & freezing fog – just treacherous driving conditions really! But Needs Must – as the saying goes! So we bundled up the children in coats, hats, scarves, gloves & blankets, wrapped ourselves up as well as we could and set off to collect “Santa’s delivery”!! The van (our only form of transport was a VW Campervan – with very unreliable heating) had to be defrosted many times on the journey – one of incredible slowness because of the dangerous state of the roads- and it felt like we were the only people mad enough to be venturing out on this particular winter’s day - the things you do for love!!
Have you ever tried explaining to a 10 yr old & a 3 yr old just why you had to go out on such an awful day to collect something that is supposed to arrive courtesy of a magical person and that you can’t let them see – under any circumstances!! No – I thought not – I couldn’t think what to say either!

Sorry - as usual now with me -once I started I couldn't stop!!

Christmas Countdown - December 5th

This evening is the School Xmas Fair and Farmers Market. A usual it has been organised by one of our Junior Achievement Companies and the seem to have made a good stab at it this year.They have plenty of stalls booked and have organised Santa's Grotto - with a visit from the Man in Red! Seems like it will be a good evening and I wish them every success.I have been thinking about my entry for my Christmas journal - put my thoughts down and printed out ready to complete the page tonight. I'll try to remember to bring it in to work to scan the completed page and post a piccie as soon as possible.Here is the text anyway.


Christmas Countdown – December 5th 2007
I am so ashamed of myself – I haven’t got the children an Advent Calendar this year!!! What a forgetful mother I am turning into– because it was so much a part of my own childhood Christmas Season that I feel horribly guilty not having given them one – I shall have to rectify this – even though my Rhiannon is 16 and my Ben is 20, whilst my Lydia is 28! Do other mothers feel such a failure as I do at this moment?

I'm Dreaming of - - - -December 4th

Todays prompt is about what makes a Dream Christmas for you. Certain things are essential for me
- Family around to share the day
- Christmas Tree
- Scented Candles
- Mince pies & Sherry
- Christmas Carols & songs
- Flavoured Coffees
- Chocolate Oranges & Chocolate Ginger
However I included all these in my journal last year, so want something different for this Journal so I thought about it long and hard before realising that I am totally cliched and cheesy where Christmas is concerned - and am happy to be that way!

I look back down the years of all my Christmas Past – and they all seem perfect to me. Am I looking through rose-coloured spectacles? Probably. Do I wish I looked back any other way? NO!!
However I will admit to “dreaming” of a White Christmas – and I do so love the film and the song. I know it is “make believe” and probably not just my imaginary “perfect Christmas” but a lot of other people’s as well. Still Christmas is really all about sharing isn’t it? So I don’t mind sharing this particular dream with millions of others- as long as they don’t mind sharing with me.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I had to make another set of ATCs for a swap I'm in as RM seem to have lost my original set - these are the ones I have made to replace them.

Monday 3rd December

- - I didn't get around to posting on my blog yesterday so have to play "catch up" to show my pages for the Christmas Journal. This is the entry for the prompt - which was Christmas Cards and how we feel about them. I do have my first card of the season - from Grace & Max in California - but yet again I am behind with my own!! So no change there then!! My own fault - I should do my Christmas letter sooner I know - but somehow December creeps up on me unawares - then I get horridly busy - and the time disappears!
Never mind I have made my page - and here is the text -
Cards - December 3rd 2007

I have been thinking about my Christmas Cards – I have made a few this year – not like me as I usually don’t have the time these days. Not made many though – so need to get my act together! I have always liked choosing cards for my family. Mum & Dad: Doug, Lydia Ben & Rhiannon: Rose, Carl & Imogen- and when I was small of course Granny & Grandad.
I always got “special” cards for them – and still do of course, some things will never change. I love “special” or “different” cards and have a couple that mum sent to the children when they were much smaller that I still use as Christmas decorations. I wonder if the children will want them still when I no longer want to decorate for Christmas. I don’t think they have inherited the nostalgia gene – so maybe the cards will eventually be thrown away. Sad thought – at least it is for me.

TFL

December 2nd - -

- - and I have the second prompt in my inbox from Shimelle's "Journal your Christmas" class. She now has 1000 + participants - how cool is that?? It was one of the most enjoyable things I did last year during December and so I am determined to keep on track as far as possible again this year. Here is today's effort - and my text fom the tags. TFL
Wintry Weather?? - - December 2nd 2007
Christmas weather – what can I say about it?? I have such mild Christmas weather now I live here on Ellan Vannin – a truly green Christmas - but still my image of Christmas is always that of a crisp, cold day, just a light dusting of snow – only enough to make everything white I hope you realise - with a pale winter sun making that snowy frosting sparkle like diamonds, children building a snowman, Christmas trees on dad’s shoulders and shop windows – the bow fronted variety of course - all alight & shiny and inviting – full to bursting point with Christmas Fare!! Charles Dickens & the Victorians have a lot to answer for - as I have their rose-tinted image of Christmas in my head when ever I am asked about Christmas weather, yet in my world, Christmas is usually green – wet & cold even – but green.
However I love the delicate beauty of snowflakes, the fact that no two are ever the same, that sometimes they drift down as gently & softly as a feather floating from the clouds yet on other occasions can seem to tumble out of the sky, as if there is no tomorrow, in a mad scrambling flurry, spinning, swirling eddies of white, turning the world white & stormy then covering the earth in a soft white blanket. Waking to the light on a snowy morning has to be a gift from above – it’s magic lingers in my memory from childhood. I certainly remember snowy days from then – using the coal shovel to dig out daddy’s car so he could go to work! Does it ever still snow like it did then? Not in my world now – yet I do remember snow on the island – when Castletown was cut off only a couple of years ago. I was on my way to work in Irving’s car when it was announced on Manx radio that the school was closed and we should all go home – so Irving turned the car round and home we went. The children arrived about an hour later!

December 1st

- - - Advent begins. Today was the first day of this years Christmas Journals Prompts from Shimelle. Today our task was to produce the manifesto.
So here it is -

I have always loved Christmas ~ for me it has always had a special magic, a sparkle and glow that I can almost see, touch and feel whenever I think of it. It fills me with such a sense of anticipation ~ the same feeling I had on Christmas Eve as a little girl, that even now ~ old as I am, returns without fail at this time of year ~ that intense bubble of excitement in my tummy as the big day gets nearer!! As a child of course it was in anticipation of the visit from the Man in Red ~ as I became a mother it became anticipation of the “candle eyes” of my children on Christmas morning and now - well don’t quite know what causes it ~ I just love Christmas! So ~~ once again I am going to keep a Christmas Journal. I will write something down each day, creating a scrap of my journal every day, whenever possible, because I want to keep my Christmas as Magical as it always has been for me, and this will surely help!
I hope that by taking a little time for myself during this somewhat hectic period in my year that I can hold on to the true spirit of the season, despite the commercialization of Christmas that exists outside my cottage door.
Along the way I look forward to finding others who feel the same way as I do and who will share in this with me, and I know that amongst them I will find friends old & new, for whom Christmas is also Magical and who also want to remember why they love Christmas.

I also received the second CJ (Sue's) - with inspiring pages form "Sue's Soapbox" and equally fantastic pages from Nina. Need to get my thinking cap on to match the quality of the work they have produced and think of at least one idea to go in the CJ that fits with Sue's theme.Got a bust time ahead of me I foresee!!