IT'S NEARLY HERE......

....and although the house has been decorated for a few (!) weeks now, things really HAVEN'T gone to plan!

Mum arrived last Friday with Kirsty and HER Craig ( now that WAS part of the plan!)...bags were unpacked and it started to feel a lot like Christmas...I went off to the Charity's Christmas bash at night and arrived home just after midnight having had a lovely evening. 

Imagine my surprise when I walked through the door to discover MY Craig in the house (he wasn't due until today.... and here the best laid plans start to unravel). He had travelled back from a business trip to San Jose and when he and Kirsty looked at each other shiftily when I asked if this was him here for Christmas, I knew all wasn't well: he had come to tell me face-to-face that that he had to be in JAPAN the day after Christmas!!

To say I was upset is an understatement...not much sleep was had as I tried to come to terms with this turn of events. By morning I had pulled myself up and, realising that it wasn't the end of the world (well, not quite) took myself off to a Charity event I was involved in:

I left the troops to shop for the Christmas Dinner we were now having on Sunday ( 'cos Kirsty and HER Craig were going back on Monday to have Christmas with his family-part of the original plan!) 

After a lovely day, I came home about 6pm to discover that only my Craig was at home- the others having gone to see the new Star Wars movie. We had just finished eating and sat down to watch the final of 'Strictly..' when the phone rang....it was Kirsty to say that mum had had a bad fall and they were in an ambulance being taken to hospital! 

To cut this long story a bit shorter the end result is that mum has fractured her humerus, is in a sling, is in agony and can't get out of bed without feeling sick and dizzy...I have to add here that I am a dreadful nurse and that she is a dreadful patient!

Craig left this morning to go back to Germany before flying on to Japan and I am now trying to imagine how Christmas Day is going to be...in some ways this whole debacle has taken away the focus from dad not being here this year, though believe me he is still much missed.


I sincerely hope that YOUR plans have not gone quite so badly awry and that your Christmas is filled with the love and laughter of family and friends....i know that in the midst of this chaos I will!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

WAVING ON MONDAY......

....NOT Tuesday, but actually on Monday!

It's been a couple of weeks since I joined SIAN and her merry band of 'wavers'.....life has been busy here in 'the slow lane'....Christmas Bazaars, Carol Concerts, shopping for the local  Food Bank and - of course- decorating not only my own house but the Drop-In Centre are a few of the things which have been going on.....not to mention my Ornament Exchange last week. 

Me on Monday?

Labelling these packages for the FOURTH time!....they have been the bane of my life for two weeks (at least!) now.....Craig and I packaged them up when he was home a couple of weeks ago....FEDEX have been supposed to be picking them up, but every time the very patient, non-English speaking lady turns up the labels I have printed off have been wrong!! Another set has been printed and the pick-up was supposed to have been today....guess what?!- it didn't happen...hey ho!!

Whilst waiting for the pick-up I managed to spend a little time in the garden....and look what I found:

who would believe it?!...even here!

Some other pretty sights in my garden:

the Bizzy Lizzie is still flowering...it's struggling a bit now but valiantly still producing flowers even after our long, hot summer

and of course my trusty nasturtiums, which just self seed and spread everywhere if I'm not careful!

Hoping your week-before-the-week -of Christmas holds good things and not TOO much stress!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

PS....I'm hoping to get around to some blog reading this week...looking forward to catching up with you all!

ME ON MONDAY

I KNOW it's October, I KNOW it's early but it's me we're talking about here..... so this morning saw me doing THIS on my IPad:

The album is 'ON THIS WINTER'S NIGHT' by LADY ANTEBELLUM ....well worth downloading or buying the CD

The weekend?....there was a fun Quiz Night, a funeral, a Village Street Fair (in which the Charity was involved) in aid of Breast Cancer  and a meal out with friends.......mixed, eh?

Waving at SIAN  and the other 'Monday Wavers' and wishing you all a good week.

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

ME ON MONDAY....and a start to the WINTER SCAVENGER HUNT

The first MONDAY of 2015......Happy New Year to you all!

Today?...the final bit of Christmas is coming down

You may remember that a few weeks ago  I mentioned a WINTER SCAVENGER HUNT, in which I hoped to participate; this is the list of items to be found:

1. Reflection in water
2. Someone wearing a funny hat
3. Ornate door knocker
4. Breakfast
5. Something that is over 100 years old
6. Winter weather
7. Someone dressed for the season
8. A fish
9. Festive lights
10. A letter shape in nature or in an object
11. Polka dots
12. Silhouette
13. Stained glass window
14. Partly built new building
15. Bunting
16. A collection (of anything)
17. Texture
18. Shadow
19. Street musicians
20. Nativity scene - compulsory and can't be substituted

I am kicking off the Hunt with number 16- A COLLECTION (of anything)...given that my Christmas Village was the last of my decorations to be taken down, I reckoned my collection of North Pole Houses just fit the bill!

On refreshing my memory about the items, I have a few of the others but will post them later...in the meantime I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for the others!

Hoping this finds everyone recovering from the festivities and getting back to whatever is normal for you!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

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ME ON TUESDAY

I have to say that there's not been much evidence of living 'life in the slow lane' here these last few weeks...indeed, I didn't even manage a post to wish you and yours a Happy Christmas!...I can only hope you have all had a lovely time with family and friends and that Santa found you all!

Today:

.....I am having an afternoon TOTALLY to myself.....sporting my new slippers from Santa and determined to finish a book I started two weeks ago and have had neither time nor energy to finish!


The weekend?: after a lovely- but busy- ten days with mum and dad (where dad was in fine fettle and enjoyed the benefits of the sunshine and heat), unfortunately he started to go downhill on Christmas Day: we made the decision to get him home sooner rather than later and I travelled back with them on Sunday, returning late last night. They are both quite relieved to be home, nearer to their own Doctor and in the comfort of their own home...and I confess to being relieved that they are too!

Kirsty left on Saturday and Craig on Sunday, hence the reason I am having an afternoon reading.

Waving for the last time this year at SIAN, who came up with the idea of ME ON MONDAY ( or even Tuesday!!)

Wishing you all a Happy, healthy and peaceful New Year when it comes...no resolutions from me, except to try and manage my time better and get back to crafty pursuits!!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

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TIME FOR TEA

Well, what a day you've picked to drop by! Not only is it pouring with rain, but I am in the process of having my Sitting Room painted....

complete with scaffolding! There are boxes and 'things' lying in every nook and cranny around the house, but fortunately there a couple of chairs in the Naya we can sit on, and I can squeeze past the scaffolding to get to the kitchen....it's a hot drink you'll be wanting today, so I'll get the kettle on.


While I'm doing that you can have a look at the Christmas Village...

It's tradition that I have the village in place in time for Kirsty's birthday (which is today...Happy Birthday my sweet!!), so I have just made it in time.

I've also just about finished the tree here in the naya too..just to find the topper, but that will be once I can get back into the cupboard!

Well, I have managed to get past the scaffolding, so let's have this cuppa before it gets cold. Fortunately I bought some mince pies to freeze at our XMAS Bazaar last weekend, so we can have one a couple of those each.

How are your Christmas plans going? If you've visited me before, you will know that Christmas and all it entails are a huge thing with me, so you can hear Michael Buble singing about a White Christmas on the background.

 I 'm very excited, because I'm having my very first Christmas Ornament Swap on Friday...I'm also hoping I can get the house back together and decorated by then!! No-one here has heard of an Ornament Swap but thanks to Blogland I have, and everyone is looking forward to it.

After Friday, my next project will be to turn my newly acquisitioned Craft Room back into a guest bedroom(!) as mum and dad are coming over for Christmas. You can't believe how excited they are...dad (and ourselves) never thought he would ever have another visit here! There are lots of things to be put into place from a medical and practical point of view, but it will all be worth it, of that I have no doubt.

I don't know about you, but I have so enjoyed my trips around blogland, having whatever beverage was on offer ...a huge THANK YOU must go to ABI whose idea this brilliant meme was. Due to her workload  at Uni this year , she is calling a halt to TFT but you know you are more then welcome to drop in here at any time...and I have no doubt that come the New Year another meme will bring us all together!

Now grab  that umbrella and get out to the car while that rain has subsided a little bit.....safe travels!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx 

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ME ON MONDAY

Waving at you all this week, whilst compiling the list for our Charity's Christmas Party.....

.....It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!.....I have to say that it still feels odd thinking about Christmas in the sunshine, but I'm coping!

The weekend?......garden tidying, new plant planting, hospital visiting, attending another funeral, having coffee with friends, ' sorting' Christmas trees and baubles for the upcoming XMAS Bazaar...and, best of all- booking flights for mum and dad to come here for Christmas! The one thing dad wants most is to come out here again....I have no idea how it will turn out, but I woke up yesterday morning knowing that it's what I want too!

Thanks to SIAN for the idea of the 'MONDAY WAVE'...have a good week!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

 

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NOVEMBER

SIAN has come up with another great idea......check her post HERE...... but I have used RUTH'S photographic post as my 'presentation' inspiration......
I have come to the conclusion that I am a great 'jump on the bandwagon ' type of person....and it's probably just as well, or my blogposts would be even fewer and further between!

For me, November is:

remembrance 

 Beautiful sunrises

Helping to organise our local Christmas Bazaar

 Christmas cards ordered online arriving

Playing Christmas music

Getting the Christmas Village ready to go up by the end of the month

taking the woolies knitted by our Craft ladies to the Children's Home

and wishing a very special girl Happy Birthday!

Thanks for the inspiration Ladies!...

Have a good weekend, and I do hope Christmas is starting to creep into your life in some capacity!

Thanks for dropping by!

take care of you

Alison xx

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ONE PICTURE, TWENTY WORDS

Joining in with ABI's monthly meme......

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas .......the Christmas CDs have been brought out and are being played- LOUDLY!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

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ZOOM IN - ZOOM OUT

Hello 2014.......and Hello to a new meme started by my friend HELENA:

 

I have spent the last couple of days taking Christmas down...and taking a last few pictures of this year's displays....and thought these might work for my first contribution to the meme (late of course!)

ZOOM OUT

ZOOM IN

I zoomed in on two of the decorations I received in the Christmas Decoration swap organised by  MIRIAM.....the heart was sent by MIRIAM herself (thank you Miriam).....the snowflake is one of a set of three, sent by  JANE ( thank you again, Jane).

Now that Christmas has been packed away, I feel i can start to focus on 'getting back to normal'...I don't know about you, but much as I love having the house decorated for Christmas it makes me feel in a constant state of being on holiday and I can't get back into a routine till it's all down!

Hope life's getting back to normal where you are!

Thanks for dropping by!

take care of you

Alison xx

HELLO WEEK!

This week I'm saying:

HELLO to the last few days of 2013...how did that happen?!

HELLO to the first few days of 2014...how did THAT happen?!

HELLO to just Boo and I being here, after having Craig and Kirsty with us for a few days

HELLO to working out the time difference between here and China...that's where Craig flew to yesterday!

HELLO to going out with friends for dinner on New Year's Eve

HELLO to arguing with myself  (again) about whether I should actually be in Scotland ...dad is back in hospital, but once he is stabilised they will let him home again...mum is insisting that she and my brothers can cope   (which I know they actually CAN)

HELLO to enjoying the last few days of looking at my Christmas decorations.before they come down at the weekend

HELLO to planning a trip mid-January...and NOT to the UK!

HELLO to wishing you and yours  a peaceful, healthy and happy 2014!

SOURCE

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

SIMPLY A MOMENT

THURSDAY DECEMBER 26- 3.30pm

The dogs in the house in front of us have started to bark loudly...I think it is probably the wind that's upsetting them. It has been an incredibly windy 24 hours...but at least we've not had the flooding that the south of England has experienced. Boo, surprisingly, doesn't seem at all fazed by it and is lying on the tiles at my feet, snoring gently.

I have just finished a cup of coffee (from the cup given to me as part of my Christmas from Kirsty- it may be my favourite present this year!)

Craig and I have just not long come back from the airport, where we saw Kirsty off on her return to Newcastle.....she doesn't seem to have been here for long enough, but she is due at work tomorrow. To be honest though, she would have been quite happy if the weather had caused her to be delayed for a day or two...but no such luck...I have just checked online and the fight is en route!

I reflect on the last couple of days and how much pleasure I have had in us being together, but yet have had so many of our UK family and friends on my mind....did we do the right thing by staying here, or should we have gone back for Christmas?...have I been selfish in just wanting the three of us together this year?.....I could go on questioning myself and my motives,but the reality is that there is only so much one can do in any given situation and I felt it important that we have this time together.

I am aware of an insistent BEEP! BEEP! In the background, and realise the washing machine has finished it's cycle...onward and upward!

With thanks once again to ALEXA for encouraging us to stop, take a moment and think!

Hoping you and yours are having a wonderful Christmas!

Thanks for dropping by!
take care of you
Alison xx

'JUST BEING'

I can't believe it's THREE WEEKS since I last wrote a blog post!....all I can say is that life has been hectic but, in the main, fun! There's been too much  lots of eating, drinking and generally making merry  (not to mention lots of hard work to make most of it happen-and not just on my part) and I've enjoyed every minute of it!

just a taste of what I've been up to...I even got to go to a Xmas performance

 in one of the schools we have supported..I didn't understand most of it, but it was wonderful!

However, Friday was my last 'commitment' and now I can focus on our Christmas i.e. our family Christmas......the one where I can relax and enjoy 'just being'.....just sitting looking at the lights on the Christmas trees....listening to Christmas music.....watching cheesy movies......all of it knowing that even if my girl isn't actually in the room with me, she's in the house somewhere...and knowing that Craig is going to be here by Christmas Eve!...it's a good feeling, believe me.

I know there's still shopping to do....and wrapping...and general household chores....but if it doesn't happen exactly as I plan, it's not affecting anyone else's plans or expectations...only mine...and I admit to my expectations (of myself) being too high at times- but by this morning I feel as though it's time to focus on 'just being' and to accepting that Christmas doesn't have to be perfect- just meaningful and as happy as you can  make it.

Whatever the next few days bring, try to find time for 'just being' and enjoy the season....I'm hoping for another post before the day itself, but 'just being' might get in the way!

In case I DON'T get back.....I hope you and yours enjoy a peaceful, happy and blessed Christmas!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

HELLO WEEK

I realise that we're halfway through the week, but I just wanted to pop in to say 'Hi' and record what's happening with me.

This week I'm saying:

HELLO to the week -before- the- week- before Christmas!!!

HELLO to the house being decorated for Christmas

HELLO to three Christmas Lunches...and no turkey to be seen!

HELLO to having a new boiler installed

HELLO to travelling to Scotland on Friday.....just for a few days- I'm back home next week

HELLO to finishing writing the Christmas cards, so they can be posted when I get to Scotland

HELLO to seeing mum, dad and various other family members- including Kirsty - over the weekend

HELLO to going to Edinburgh on Sunday to see 'The Lion King' on stage...a Christmas treat from mum!

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well and that you have some Christmassy things happening this week!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

Storytelling Sunday....

.....obviously NOT on Sunday, but I didn't want to miss the last one of the year; so rather belatedly, here I am with my 'precious' for December. For the uninitiated of you who may just have dropped by my blog, Storytelling Sunday is the brainchild of SIAN over at FROM HIGH IN THE SKY. This year she has encouraged our little band of storytellers to think about the things which are precious to us, and to tell the stories behind them.

Being December, that can only mean one thing in this house....CHRISTMAS!!...so my last 'precious' for this year is 'topper' we have for our main Christmas tree. Many people have angels, or even stars but since 1985 we have had this little fellow:

He was given to us (well to Stuart really) by Craig's great aunt Margaret, who bought him at her Church Christmas Bazaar.....and he is made from an empty tin can and some cotton wool! Although Stuart was only three months old at the time, he was mesmerised by the Christmas Tree and the snowman which we put on top of it (really because we didn't know what else to do with it!)....and it just became one of our family traditions to top the tree with the snowman.We would now never think of replacing him ...he has watched over us for all those Christmases and I like to think that when he goes on the tree, a little part of Stuart is here as part of our celebrations too.

If you would like to read more stories (which I'm guessing this month may have a Festive feel to them!) why not pop over HERE.

I would just like to thank SIAN for organising us yet again.....I'm sure I'm not the only one who now has stories I hadn't even thought about AS stories, told.

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx 

HELLO WEEK

This week I'm saying :

HELLO to the Christmas Bazaar being over....and having raised just over 4400 euros!

HELLO to cleaning my house PROPERLY....just in time for Christmas ;)

HELLO to Kirsty and Craig being home for Kirsty's birthday at the weekend- YAY!

HELLO to getting the North Pole Village out and in place by the end of the  week

HELLO to receiving my first Christmas card and these beautiful, crocheted snowflakes from JANE, as part of the FESTIVE SWAP organised by  MIRIAM....thanks Jane...I love them!...and thanks Miriam for organising it!

HELLO to getting my parcel off to NATHALIE .....late I know, but hopefully it won't take too long to get to her!

Hope some festive  fun is creeping into your life!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

IT'S COMING!.......

.......Christmas, that is!

The signs are slowly making themselves felt around the house:

..Christmas music is playing (you really should download the title track of this album, by the way...and their version of 'Silent Night'...actually the whole album!)

....the newest of my Christmas decorations (most courtesy of kirsty from her American trip, but the wreath was given to me by one of our crafting ladies as an early Christmas present)

.....I've been following along with JENNIFER'S FROSTY FESTIVITIES event (some wonderful inspiration there..why not pop over?)

...I've even looked out some of last year's Christmas photos to scrap!

So why am I STILL struggling to accept that Christmas really IS on it's way?......because of THIS:

...the temperature on the terrace at 11am this morning!!

Having spent most of my life in the west of Scotland  then the north east of England, it just doesn't FEEL RIGHT!!

I honestly don't know how all you girls in the Southern hemisphere  cope with Christmas being in the Summer!!...I realise if you're born and brought up there it must seem normal...but even all the movies and songs  (well most of them) portray Christmas being a season of snow and chilly weather!

This will be my fifth Christmas here, and I STILL can't get my head around it...hence the music and crafting; trying to get me 'in the mood'!

Is Christmas rearing its head where you are?

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

....

HELLO WEEK

This week I'm saying :

HELLO to dad having got out of Hospital again!

HELLO to continuing with some Christmas Crafting done for our upcoming Xmas Bazaar

made by our Craft Group, not just by me!

HELLO to getting my post written (rather belatedly) for SIAN'S STORYTELLING SUNDAY

HELLO to thinking (seriously) about starting the Christmas Gift List...writing it-not actually buying, you understand,

HELLO to starting the next block for our FRIENDSHIP QUILT

Hope all's well in your little corner of Blogland!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx