Clickety click!

W senior has reached that ripe old age today, living in USA with wife 3 and their 4 year old daughter and a third career to occupy him - congratulations.
This makes me seem very staid, still living in the family home with chickens for company and enjoying life as a granny.
I spent today buying a new double bed to complete the transformation of the study into my "winter quarters" - decorated, carpeted and complete when the bed is delivered on 21 Jan.
I have to buy a white valance before then and will disappoint T and KP, as I promised that they could sleep in the new bed tonight, not realising they were made to order.
It's a "Sealy".
The salesman at Dreams assured me that Barak Obama slept in one - possibly a higher spec!

Today has been cold but bright and sunny all day - the frost remained here all day.
I went into town - the first time in at least a couple of years - parked at Lee Longlands and enjoyed walking into town and along the canal and drinking coffee.
No purchases made.
 

Boxing Day +1

Three relaxing days with the family and Sunday still to come.
Brilliant!
Christmas Day with P, A, J and Th - champagne, lovely presents, a traditional lunch and games at the table until tea-time.
Yesterday I went to Bicester to see "Cinderella" at Aylesbury, with B, E  and extended family - a sparkling performance, slightly let down by Russell Grant.
Back to Bicester for dinner and a sleepover then  a day with the family before returning home this evening, in case of snow tonight.
Today, I ate too much!
Sitting here watching a recording of Sherlock Holmes and having checked my lottery tickets (useless) I begin to wish that I'd agreed to stay for another night in Bicester

Nearly there.

That magical moment when you know that you have Christmas in the bag and can relax, came yesterday afternoon.
I'm now into enjoying Christmas
I went to Bicester on Tuesday to see the family and take the presents - wonderful.
After a sleepover, I came back yesterday lunchtime, stopping off in Solihull to buy the Christmas lunch and a few odds and ends.
A successful mission - let M&S take the strain!
J and C came to dinner to share a Waitrose "Indian", which was delicious, but gave rise to a disturbed night of indigestion, during which I spent a couple of hours catching up on e mails.
Today I've been on a long walk, including visiting friends to deliver cards and presents in Shustoke and Whitacre.
I've finished wrapping the presents, put more baubles on the tree and laid the table for Christmas lunch. I have to ice the cake whilst cooking fish for dinner then stay awake  for Midnight Communion at 11.30pm.
I shall come home and open a couple of presents before bed.

I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Christmas Trees over and out!

Having spent the last three Sundays, and one Saturday, at church, welcoming and serving teas to visitors to the Christmas Tree Festival,, we finished this afternoon, packed up the remaining cakes and mince pies and came home, leaving the trees lit up, ready for the carol Service at 6.30pm.
I decided that I'd spent sufficient time at Shustoke church and went to Lichfield Cathedral to the service of 9 lessons and carols.
It was brilliant, wonderful choir and readers and shook hands with the Dean and the Bishop on the way out.
Beat that.

Yesterday I had a day out with Jan - we went to Studley, Alcester and Warwick, visiting the charity and antique shops and drinking coffee - great fun, lots of chatting and laughing, which did us the world of good.
I got home at about 6.00pm, then went into work mode, vacuuming everywhere, starting with the new carpet that was laid in the back bedroom that morning - looks great.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Is there a Valuer out there?

It would appear that there are three main elements for a successful valuation Day:
a valuer
a venue
punters with objects to be valued.
Unfortunately, we fell at the first hurdle today, as Charles Hanson phoned early this morning to say that he was unwell - he had a bad cold and little voice -  and would I mind if he sent a colleague in his place.
An hour later he phoned to say that they were all ill and no-one was available - we visited the auction on Friday and two of the auctioneers were sorely afflicted with colds and voice problems.
The two of us who were running it spent the next hour standing in the cold by the Hall gateway, apologising to visitors and visiting locals who we knew were intending to come.
one friend e mailed  my events list (70 people) and another put the cancellation on Facebook.
Outcome: no aggravation and not too many visitors.
Charles promises an extravaganza in the spring.

Anyway, with the little time freed up, I now have the outdoor lights up, the conservatory cleaned and the tree up, awaiting decoration and some housework and ironing done.
I went to Solihull late night shopping with a friend and had dinner in Jimmy Spices - happy hour or two until 7.00pm, meals £11.99.
Where else can you get that many calories in such variety for that much?
What am I doing up at this ridiculous hour when I have clean 420tc sheets on a hot bed waiting?
 

The many delights of Laura Ashley!

Having had a great response to my last blog, I decided that the title was a good one, so have used it again, with minor changes, to reflect today's activities.
Today was the last J and Th pick up day before Xmas, just J actually, as Th went home with a friend then back to football practice.
I left home early to visit Dorridge for a facial - a rare treat - my first visit since the new JS opened.
This replaces the sad old shopping precinct, has a roof car park and underground shop with a rather strange smell.
The car park's good and even has an attendant to direct you to a space.
I seemed to have lost the plot after that as I wandered around Solihull for a couple of hours, failing to buy anything off my list.
I was saved by Laura Ashley in Homebase at Monkspath  on the way home - I stopped off to buy some Xmas tree baubles, having used all of mine on the trees at church.
I bought wonderful baubles along with lots of other brilliant things that I wouldn't have thought of.

Charles Hanson returns tomorrow for a Valuation day in the Parish Hall - tea, coffee and biscuits bought, raffle prizes ready, just the tables and chairs to put out, in the morning and hope that the punters turn up. 

The many delights of Llandrindrod Wells.

I've just spent a great couple of days in Powys with  a friend, courtesy of a Travelzoo deal at The Hotel Metropole in Llandrindod Wells.
The hotel was first class - big beautiful room with supersized bed, en suite with bath and shower, lovely swimming pool and gym, big airy lounge and bright dining room with good acoustics and couples away from Xmas parties.
We had an excellent 6 course taster meal which included a fillet steak, local produce, including some grown in the grounds, and a glass of bubbly.
Breakfast was equally good and the staff were really good.

We stopped in Leominster on the way down and pottered around the antique shops before coffee and cake, then on to LW and a swim before dinner.
Yesterday we had an early morning swim before breakfast, then pottered around the town, visited Holy Trinity church - the largest church in Wales, warm and fascinating before going on to Builth Wells for coffee, then on to Ludlow for afternoon tea before driving home.
One highlight on Wed was finding the place where we used to holiday when we were teenagers and older - Llanavon Fawr, near Newbridge.
The last time we were there, B was a baby, aj and family visited in Dad's motorhome - hot weather and we picnicked by a nearby stream with the children - aj expecting T?
The little cottage has been replaced by a modern house, the road has been straightened and widened, but the old farm remains at the top of thee hill
In the evening it would open the front room as the local pub - The Red Lion - we would sit on the wall and drink cider or play darts inside.
Now it is a proper, full time pub - "The oldest in Powys"
We would have loved to have dinner - Wed is steak night - but decided that the drive home would be too arduous after dinner.

I wrapped the first Xmas presents before I left - parcel dispatched to Denmark on time.

I'm listening to Woman's Hour - a Danish Xmas - amazement that Danes sing carols around the Xmas tree on Xmas Eve - all recipes on the WH website. 

The second Christmas cake.

and some of this one left.
Up early again this morning to ice the second Christmas cake and then make a couple of dozen fairy cakes with the remaining egg yolks, iced with the remaining royal icing and topped off with red and green Smarties - all done in time to attend communion at Shustoke at 9.30am before going to NW to take the service.
Cakes all out for the congregation at Sh to enjoy after the service, topped up again for the rest of the day.
We had a good number of visitors to see the Xmas trees again today, met lots of nice people and served lots of cups of tea and cakes.
The trees were greatly admired - I was particularly pleased with the one for AH - metalworker - decorated with silver spanners, paintbrushes and toy cars, with a welders glove on the top.
He visited with his family yesterday and was "tickled pink".
We are planning to stay open and serve teas on the Sunday afternoons until Xmas.

Home by 4.30pm, O arrived for a chat just in time for G and Ts in front of the fire, where I have stayed ever since.
Watched "Strictly" - fancy Pixie Lott going out - definitely the winner, I thought.
Thank goodness that "Missing" has finished - I'll certainly not miss it - unbelievable gobblydigook!
 

The first Christmas cake.

I made two Christmas cakes yesterday to serve at church this weekend during the Xmas Tree festival
I was up to marzipan and ice one of them, early this morning - no time  and insufficient marzipan to do both.
We have been at church all day, after a quick trip to Coleshill to buy stolen, panetone and chocolate logs - no time to make everything.
We had visitors all day and helpers to make the tea, giving time to chat to the visitors, who loved the decorated trees and praised the Christmas cake - all gone.
We're delighted with the day and the pleasure that it gave to people.
I now have to prepare tomorrow's sermon and ice the other cake ready for tomorrow.
Do visit, if you are able, after 3.00pm when the lights look really good as the daylight fails.
We shall aim to keep the church open on Sundays until Christmas - a shame not to.

So what is the favourite Xmas card this year - the robin, as far as I can discover.
That doesn't seem very likely.
I'm sure that it won't be any of the party leaders! 

Up and ready to run!

Another two full days spent at church, apart from a couple of quick visits to buy more Xmas tree lights and baubles, and the job's done!
The Church looks brilliant - sparkling throughout in every sense of the word and well worth a visit.
I made a couple of Xmas cakes before leaving home this morning and cooked a slow roast leg of pork whilst the oven was on low for a few hours.
I hope that the cakes are as good as the pork - I have to marzipan and ice them in the morning before we open up.
A little disappointed to find that our Village Shop has a large poster for Maxstoke Xmas Tree Festival, but not ours, up.
How's that for support?

I've just woken up and now ready for bed - far too easy to fall asleep in front of a big log fire, after dinner.

A chill in the air.........

................especially high on a bleak hill, in an old church with no heating on with doors open to allow admission of Christmas trees.
able to cope, though, with four layers of clothing including a thermal layer, cashmere polo neck sweater and down coat.
All of the 29 trees are sponsored - last one snapped up today - last one yet to be put in but no adequate stands left.
The nine trees in the East end/sanctuary and chancel, are all done, as well as three of the six window sill trees, and all look great.
Two more days there to get it all put together.
I was there from 9.45am until nearly 5.00pm today, with decorators in and out.
I decorated the trees either side of the altar - green with small boots for the Horticultural Society (their president came to admire it), silver with bells and streamers for The Wedding Barns.
I put deep red/purple balls on the Dugdale tomb and did two multicolour trees in the high windows of the South wall, one for a grandchild (with  Santas), the other for Shustoke Council (without santas!)

We went to Ventura Park for more lights, small rubber chickens (butchers) and toy tool sets to spray silver.
No success with the decorations so I may need to go to Solihull early tomorrow to repeat the search.
Church Council meeting tonight but I was knackered - even slept through "The Apprentice"!
Two more days to go for setting up and then open all weekend, with tea and Xmas cakes-  - still to make and a sermon to write.
Having a week off next week!

O Tannenbaum!

Or twenty seven tannenbaums, to be accurate - all up and in position in Shustoke church.
Some even have the lights  on as they are so tall that steps were necessary to reach the uppermost points!
We don't want ladies falling of ladders whilst topping their trees!
They looked magnificent ass darkness fell, even without decorations.
Two days now for the decorating.
A real nip in the air this evening so a four fleece day in a cold church all day tomorrow, I guess - coffee and chocolate biscuits to keep the spirits up!

Not a lot else to report apart from the house needing some care and attention with the Dyson, mop and bucket and dusters after a few weeks of neglect - have to wait until next week, I'm afraid.
Christmas cakes to make for church asap, ready for the weekend - icing needs time to set.

White Rabbits!

Time to start your Advent calendar - mine has a picture of Santa Claus by JRRTolkein - another 24 of his pictures to come.
This is "Preparation for the Christmas Tree Festival" week!
K, M and I have spent the day at church - eleven trees are mounted and in place, 17 to go.
The extension cables are in place and the lights tested and ready for allocation.
A lot more to do tomorrow before decorating starts on Wed.

The local authority started resurfacing Shawbury Lane today, so access to the church only by the main road.
As they were tarmacking the junction, I had to park at the Griffin and carry everything across the road - hopefully they'll be out of the way tomorrow.

Slower progress this year as the trees are so large  - beautiful trees, 7ft tall, and too big for the drilled blocks that we have used for holding them in previous years, so a lot of extra work to be done.
I bought another six stands today, to make the job easier, so all systems go tomorrow.
Any ideas for "butchery themed" decorations for Tuckeys' tree?

I left early to collect J and Th from school, hence the tree stand shopping.
Th has a cold and was with B for the day, but managed most of his tea so on the mend.
Old clothes and a full day at church tomorrow - perhaps we'll manage a drink in the Griffin at some point.