As 7pm approached, and as temperatures plummeted around here, the only thing colder than outside was Ann’s humungous great trifle, liberated from the our fridge in good time. It was our contribution to our annual get-together round at Tom and Julie’s to celebrate Julie’s birthday and our neighbour Paul’s – although Paul and Karen were …
Read More
Category:Christmas
Bicester Act
After last night’s takeaway, we kept the Chinese theme going by heading off first thing to Bicester, with David and Valerie – apparently, Bicester is the third most visited UK location by Chinese tourists, after Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. I’m not sure if I believe this factoid, but looking at the gazillions …
Read More
£1-a-Day (2014)
Whilst we are lucky enough to have a very comfy standard of living, many don’t – and with that in mind, David, my neighbour, and I, decided that we would try and live on just £1 a day for food, for the next seven days – starting tomorrow – with the money we’re ‘saving’ going …
Read More
John Lewis Christmas Advert (2014)
For many, this will signal the start of Christmas – the John Lewis Christmas TV Ad. This year, the star is Monty the Penguin, and like last year’s, comprehensively stirs up the emotions ! Kleenex at the ready then… #MontyThePenguin Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until …
Read More
Christmas 2013
Mum arrived on Christmas Eve (she’s here until Saturday) and Lee had stayed over from the weekend. So, this year was about a close as it gets to a family Christmas. With all the pressies under the tree and the three-bird-roast awaiting its fate, we were all set. Lee and Mum were in fine form …
Read More
Lunch in a Hurry
Roy, Susan, Janine and Lauren, joined us for lunch. It was a little hurried as they got held up and we were destined for the annual carol concert later in the evening at the Salvation Army in town. Luckily, Ann had done most of the food preparation the day before, so there was very little …
Read More
Family Boot Sale and Pressy Swap
Tempted? Me neither!We drove up to Denis’ today for lunch and the mega-pre-Christmas-present-swap. Those present: Bev, Roger, Oliver, and Ann. Jane was working and Lee didn’t feel too well (so she stayed at ours). We had a great journey there – where was everyone? – the A1 was deserted! We stopped-off at Mae’s grave in …
Read More
Christmas has Begun…
When does Christmas officially start for you? For us, it’s when we’ve bought the Radio and TV Times… …blown the dust off my reindeer slippers! Classy ehh? …put the tree up …decorated the fireplace! and sampled a few Christmas wines!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my …
Read More
John Lewis Christmas Advert (2013)
…and here it is – the NEW John Lewis Christmas TV Ad for 2013 – ‘The Bear and the Hare’. The commercial uses a unique animation style that combines traditional 2D hand-drawn, stop frame, and 3D model made sets. The story is set to a cover of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ performed by Lily …
Read More
Too Early to Mention ‘Christmas’?
Yes, quite possibly! Today, we began to get into ‘Christmas-mode’. First task of the day was to review our Christmas card address list. This is always worthwhile, but always takes far longer than I think it’s going to. Every year, I think ‘Oh, there won’t be many address changes’, and every year, I discover there …
Read More
Christmas Day 2012
We were at home this year for Christmas. The weather is atrocious around the UK (although dry here) – rain, rain and more rain – and some have been flooded-out. Denis and Bev are due down later and Lee is staying with us until after Boxing Day. Even though we’ve got over our jet-lag, we …
Read More
Official: Christmas has begun!
We missed it last year due to being on our honeymoon, so this year, it felt especially good to take the short drive into town – to the Kettering Salvation Army Citadel – to be part of their annual Carol Concert. We always feel that this event gets us all in the chrismassy mood! (although …
Read More
Christmas TV (2012)
Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online …
Read More
Wrap Artist
In keeping with many others on the planet, today was a present-wrapping day. Challenged by a distinct lack of sellotape and some crap quality wrapping-paper (quickly discarded to the bin), we did pretty well, and managed to complete 99% of the mission! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first …
Read More
Christmas Pressies – 2011
We weren’t in the UK for Christmas, this year. So in a way, it was good to open my pressies in January. Lucky me! Bev – Food Hamper Carol – Whisky Liqueur Denis – Bottle of Baileys Jo and Janet – Body Sanctuary voucher/Chocolate Lee – Bottle of Port/the loudest shirt you’ve ever seen (perfect!)/Rum …
Read More
It’s a Wrap!
I think that’s a record – even for us! 🙂 All the Christmas presents were wrapped tonight!!! Job done!! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness …
Read More
It’s almost Christmas! :)
Now that the business Christmas cards have arrived, we can put those with the personal ones and next week, continue the writing marathon. It all seems a bit rushed this year with the wedding coming up as well. So, the sooner we get …
Read More
Christmas Cards
We started on the Christmas cards today! Compared to last year, we’re a tad late!!! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of …
Read More
Squeeze my Box (Part 2)
I picked up a bargain on Amazon this week in the shape of the Logitech Squeezebox Radio. It’s a neat device that looks and behaves like a radio except that it gets its signal via your router – so no dodgy reception issues, even with our very s-l-o-w internet connection. It also receives Internet-only radio …
Read More
Wot, no more Christmas?
So that’s it then! Christmas is officially over and my waistline is the only evidence of our period of indulgence. After a rather large lunch, Nicki helped us remove the cards and dismantle all the decorations and the tree. The cards are now in the recycling bin and the decorations and the tree are back …
Read More
Boxing Day 2010: Darth Vader 13 – Me, 0
It’s very cold outside – another severe frost here registering –6C on the thermometer. We’re going to make the trip ‘dahn sarff’ to visit Ann’s brother and his family. We set off around 10.30 and as Mum wasn’t feeling too well during the journey, we took a little longer to get there, arriving just after …
Read More
Christmas Day 2010
I was up earlier than I thought – around 6am. It’s a white Christmas, but it’s ‘old’ white as there hasn’t been any new stuff for a few days. It’s cold though – the temperature gauge is showing ‘-7C’. We had a a lazy breakfast and prepared for the main event – presents! 10.00am: Pressy …
Read More
TV: Doctor Who 2010 Christmas Special – ‘A Christmas Carol’
For me, a devoted Who-fan, this has been the most eagerly awaited TV programme of the Christmas period. Penned by the new Who Supremo, Steven Moffat, it weaves a parallel tale of the story of Scrooge – just right for Christmas Day! In contrast to last year’s yuletide Tennant-exit storyline, this episode wasn’t hyped to death, …
Read More
♬ “While Shepherds…” ♬
Cor, that was scrummy – a home-made shepherds pie for lunch!!! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be …
Read More
A Tasty Bird…
Thanks to John, our driver, who battled through the elements to pick Mum up from Biggin Hill this morning, we’re (mostly) all here. Lee joined us at 11 and Ann’s Dad and step-Sister, Bev, will be with us for Christmas day – perfect, just perfect! All that was left to do was to secure a …
Read More
A Christmassy Sunday
It’s been a great day – and a chrismassy one too! We finished putting up the decorations round the house, popped down to ASDA to top-up the champagne stock (no luck though – they were out of stock!), had carols playing on the iPod all day and generally got the house ready for Christmas day. …
Read More
Christmas TV 2010
I feel Christmas has truly arrived once I can see what’s on the box!!! (oh, and once the tree’s up!) These are the covers for the Radio and TV Times for this year. Hhhmmm, Wallis and Gromit again! 2009 Christmas covers 2008 Christmas covers Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing …
Read More
The Cecilian Singers’ Carol Concert 2010
Click on the Programme for a larger version We’ve been going to this concert in Leicester for a few years now and it really gets us in the ‘christmassy mood’. It was being held at the rather splendid Church – St Philip’s, in Evington Road/Evington Lane in Leicester. I left around 5.30 and picked-up Val …
Read More
The Saxon Mill
I took the short drive over to The Saxon Mill on the Coventry Road, near Warwick. It’s my three-monthly get-together with Ian and Mags – time for a catch-up on each others’ activities. It was also our ‘Christmas do’ the nearest we’ve scheduled it to Christmas for many years. Unusually, 🙂 I was first to …
Read More
Another busy Sunday!
Remember when Sunday was the day of rest? No, me neither! More’s the pity! 🙁 Ann spent most of the day in the garden trying to rescue us from the ever-invasive weeds and then planting out bulbs for the Spring. Meanwhile, I was in the office trying to get ahead for the week because I’m …
Read More