Bonus day off

After our weekend away I’d booked an additional day off in order to catch up with all those things that weren’t done over the weekend.

The day started with a lie in. C had turned the alarm clock off, so it was lovely just to wake up naturally and get up when I was ready to, not because I had to.

I had decided that I would go into town to finish buying the incidentals for Christmas presents. There were a few bits still to get and I needed to do it on my own, without C.

The city centre was heaving, almost as busy as a Saturday. There were people everywhere. Some shops had a queuing system, only allowing a certain number of people in. To be honest, it didn’t take long to get to the front of any of the queues and into the shops. It was all quite civilised. I managed to get everything I’d gone in for, and a few extra bits besides.

When I got home, I wrapped everything up. Everything that needs to be posted is now ready to go. I think I’m officially done with the Christmas shopping. And there’s still 3 weeks to go.

I prepped my lunches for work for the next few days. Then tackled the ironing. I watched some cheesy Christmas tv whilst doing the ironing. I need to have something to take my mind off doing the ironing but something that doesn’t require much concentration, otherwise I’ll end up burning the shirts! Then, a lovely cup of mint tea with a mince pie to complete the festiveness.

I actually feel more christmassy than I usually do and considering we’re not going to be able to spend time with the whole family. Who’d have thought.

A different way of preparing for Christmas

We are enjoying a long overdue weekend away, staying in a hotel for a couple of nights. We chose to book breakfast and evening meals at the hotel as we were unsure what was around and if you had to book.

Our first meal was Friday evening. I chose the ham hock bruschetta for starter, chicken with chicken leg croquette and veg for main, followed by toffee cheesecake with homemade ice cream and popcorn for dessert. With accompanying glasses of prosecco and a Baileys to finish. Absolutely delicious.

After dinner there was not much to do, and current covid rules says that you’re not allowed to hang around in the bar if you’re not eating, so we went back up to our room and watched TV, until the feeling of a good meal, alcohol and a warm room lead to sleep.

Only a few hours later and it was time for breakfast. Due to a pared down menu the options were cereal, porridge, croissant and other pastries or a full English, bacon sandwich or toast. I ticked the full English but then C ticked the toast and pain au chocolate options as well. A massive array of breakfast arrived with tea and coffee. Took some doing but we got through it all.

Needless to say, we didn’t need lunch. We did have a cream tea at a National Trust property early in the afternoon, but that was enough.

Dinner time again. This time I opted for the ham hock starter again (didn’t much fancy any of the other options) followed by bbq beef short rib with sweet potato fries and slaw, then chocolate orange torte for pud. One glass of prosecco and a bottle of wine between us.

This time I felt that we needed to go for a walk after dinner. I felt like I was going to explode! When we got back to our room, we were thinking of what to do for Sunday lunch on our way home and managed to book a table at Prezzo for 12.30. Quite early for us for Sunday lunch. I’m thinking I should have a smaller breakfast to leave some room. I’m also thinking I do like a cooked breakfast, and I’m on holiday, so sod it.

I have stretchy jeans on, so they’ll expand. I’m preparing my tummy for the onslaught of Christmas food. I’m also mindful that eating too much is not good, so it’ll be back to slimming world soup for lunch next week.

A weekend away

Due to Covid, like most other people we haven’t had a holiday, or even a night away from home.

When we came out of the first lockdown we booked a weekend away as something to look forward to. Then we went into Tiers and then into a second lockdown. We wondered whether this trip would have to be cancelled.

As we came out of the second lockdown, locally we were put into Tier 2. Fortunately so was the location we had booked into. This has meant that we could indeed still have our weekend away.

We arrived at our hotel and felt very safe with the precautions they’ve put in place. Masks to be worn throughout the hotel unless you’re eating. The Housekeeping staff deep cleaned the room before our arrival. And I used to manage the hospital’s domestic services team so I know what a deep clean should look like. The Housekeeping staff will now not enter our room again until after we’ve left. I’m sure we can cope without the bed being changed/made, or the towels changed for a few days (they’ve left more than plenty in the bathroom anyway).

We booked in to have our evening meals at the hotel too as we weren’t sure what was in the local area and whether it had to be booked in advance, so figured that this was the best solution.

We have booked tickets for a National Trust property and plan to have a good look around our location too, and hit some shops and a Christmas Market in the Corn Exchange.

Can’t express how good it is to get away for a couple of nights and spend some time together, chilling. The weather could be better but it is December after all. We’ve come prepared.

Christmas starts here

Advent Sunday heralds the start of the Christmas season. Its going to be a very different one this year.

The December calendar is usually full every weekend of #bellringing for carol services, and tradition and ritual surrounding preparations.

C and I rang our 2 bells as usual this Sunday morning. When we arrived at the cathedral they had installed garlands and lights around the south porch, and an illuminated star at the top of the tower. When we reached to ringing room there were cables and LED lights in each of the window areas directed outwards, ready to light up the Cathedral. At least they managed to run the cables round the edge of the room this time, usually we have to navigate cables across the floor where clearly they do not consider the safety of the ringers.

By coincidence, my Angel Wings candle, that I light every evening throughout the year, had expired yesterday. When we got home from ringing C went to fetch a new candle from the supply in the garage. He brought in a Christmas Cookie one. Great timing for the start of Advent. Although it’s a different scent to the usual one “Angel Wings“, the purpose is the same when I light it.

Presents are almost all bought, and the ones I have already are wrapped. I always buy C and R advent calendars. R was given hers when we last went to see her. I bought C an advent calendar of a different sort, but he can’t have that until 1st December. I bought myself one too, seen as though I don’t get one otherwise.

Christmas cards are being written. Possibly the earliest we’ve ever done that.

Here starts the preparations in earnest.

Keeping us guessing

As you know I subscribe to BakedIn Baking Club. Each month I get an email telling me fresh ingredients to buy ready for the box with the dry ingredients and recipe card to come through the post. But you’re never told what the recipe actually is. This was the email that arrived this week ahead of distribution. Then there’s a frenzy of comments on social media about what it could be.

This one really has me stumped though. Eggs, cream, milk, butter, oil. The dry ingredients always seem to contain a flour mix of some kind and some nut or other. Google is generally not much help.

I’m hoping that the box will arrive by Saturday. I really missed out on baking last weekend, partly because I was quite busy, and partly because C had purchased 2 boxes of mince pies, so I thought we had enough snacks in (not that they lasted very long). I fully intend to bake something this weekend. I need the distraction after a difficult week at the office.

If the box doesn’t arrive in time I’ll have to think about what to bake. I’m torn between biscuits, cranberry & orange biscotti, cinnamon buns, chocolate brownie or biscoff cuppies.

I found an online quiz called What Should I Bake? After asking some obscure, and some unconnected questions, the results suggested that I should bake cookies. The chart however suggested my responses showed 40% cake, 20% cupcakes 20% pie, 14% muffins, 4% bread and 2% cookies.

I’m hoping the box arrives so I don’t have to make a decision.

Winning at life goals

Every year I promise myself that I’ll get more organised for Christmas earlier so I don’t have that last minute panic buy. And every year, without exception, I fail.

Its usually because I have no idea what to get people, and those closest are really rubbish at offering up ideas. And also the lack of shopping opportunities between work and #bellringing commitments. I dont really like getting things as stocking fillers, I’d rather get things that people want. I also try not to get things that people need. If they need it, then they should buy it themselves. If they can wait until Christmas or birth, then they don’t really need it.

Every year the family has the same conversation. “Oh, don’t worry about getting me anything, I earn money and can get things I want when I want them, save your ££”. I totally get this and subscribe to it. I’m a grown up and earn enough, so if I want or need something, I’ll just buy it. I get that that makes me incredibly fortunate and that some people dot have that luxury. There is something to be said for I’ll buy you a voucher for a well known delivery company, and you buy me the same thing , therefore negating the point, which then becomes a battle of how much did one spend versus the other.

Having said all that though, I do like to buy people gifts, something to open on Christmas morning.

This year, due to lack of #bellringing commitments I have had more opportunity to browse shops and on line. As I’ve been doing so, if I’ve seen something I think someone would like I’ve bought it there and then. Even C has been earlier in providing guidance on the sort of thing he wants.

To cap it all, I’ve even wrapped and labelled everything I’ve got do far. With it being unlikely that we’ll all be able to gather for Christmas this year, things will need posting or dropping off, so the logistics of that will need sorting in good time.

For once, at this stage, I’m ahead of the game.