2009 in pictures

Well that's the end of the year. Time for a look back........
January
We started the New Year with a trip to Bath. We'd never been before and were blown away by its sheer beauty and grandeur. It was like being inside a huge film set. A place we must return to at some point.

My new craft room! I spend a huge amount of time in this tiny room so I decided to give it a makeover, and I must say I'm delighted with it. Of course, it's not always as tidy as this, but it's a room that's meant to be used.

February

Half term in Rauris, Austria on the family ski trip we've always wanted to do. I discovered that skiing was not for me, but I'd long suspected that would be the case. Mr B and our children had a great time, and I did enjoy the trip once I decided to give up on the skiing which was sheer torture for me!

March - spring at last after a long cold winter!AprilAway in the caravan to Dockray Meadow in the Lake District. The weather was bright and breezy, and we got out for some nice walks like this one in Wasdale.

MayWe went up to meet my lovely girl for a day in York, had lunch at Betty's and did a bit of shopping.May also brought the highs and lows of supporting Everton in The F.A. Cup. Exciting and disappointing all together! Only true blues would understand.

JuneA day stolen away to spend in Paris ...... midnight drinks opposite a twinkling Eiffel Tower and the Rodin Museum next day. Sheer bliss!

Horribly busy at work ..... but very successful in the end. Hopefully just one more before we leave.

JulyJuly saw our 30th Wedding Anniversary which we spent on the road in France ..... the longest driving day. Not good planning! Did I get pearls? I'm still waiting!
AugustOn holiday in France just before disaster struck. Two days later I was struck by a back injury that left me flat on my back for two and half weeks in excrutiating pain, and led to me having to fly home alone leaving Mr B to get the caravan and dog home on his own. Horrendous!

SeptemberFlowers from work .... I was off throughout the whole of September and spent a fortune at the osteopath. The longer I was off, the less I missed it. Going back was really hard and made me realise that there is so much more to life than the day job.... I made a conscious decision to try and live for the moment and spend as little time possible thinking about work.

OctoberThe new kitchen is finally finished. It has taken far longer than expected for it all to be completed, but it's lovely. Small, but perfectly formed in my opinion, there's so much more room to spread out for baking.
November
A weekend away in Newcastle. Our lovely girl showed us the sights and in the evening we had a late meal with her and her boyfriend. The weather was wet and cold but the welcome was lovely and warm. It's a pity its so far away.

At the end of the month we had a weekend in Derbyshire on the Chatsworth Estate. Very Christmassy!

DecemberTime to decorate the house and get ready for another Christmas. This one didn't actually go to plan .... we were defeated by the weather and illness, but family still gathered to spend time together and we tried to make the best of things.

Here's looking forward to a much healthier New Year!

A cold and frosty morning

I had to do dog walking duties this morning as Mr B is feeling poorly sick. It felt really strange as I haven't held her on the lead since my back injury in the summer. She's just as bad really, pulling and being over excited. It's hard work! My lovely girl came with me and took these photos of a frosty Wirral Way as I couldn't hold Inca and the camera at the same time!

Inca is modelling her new Christmas collar and snuggling with her new duck. This is her third duck, and the only one to survive longer than a few hours. The other two were shredded almost at once. She carries this one around carefully from room to room .... so far! She's resting after her frosty walk. She has life totally sorted ...... long rests punctuated by short bursts of frenetic activity, a bit of eating and long, long sleeps. I've never seen a more rested dog! Meanwhile we need a rest after taking her on her frosty walk!
Handmade with love

Now that they've been opened I can show the Christmas cards I made for my family. I don't usually get round to making my own cards but this year I was determined to make some for my nearest and dearest. I was really pleased how they turned out, if I do say so myself.

A lavish affair for Mr. B. .......
bright and breezy for my lovely boy.....
.... and ever so sparkly for my lovely girl, who loves sparkly pretty things and who bought me this lovely sparkly heart from Liberty's Christmas shop when she was in London recently.

It's Christmas!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas !

Unfortunately I won't be having a very Merry Christmas myself as I have now developed pleuresy after harbouring the evil cold for three weeks now. After spending most of yesterday in bed with a fever, I managed to cook the Christmas feast with some help from the family. When I sat down at the table I just couldn't eat a mouthful ........ sod's law really, as I've worked so hard to prepare a lovely Christmas for us all. Oh well, back to bed with my medication!

Christmas Eve Eve!

Had a lovely afternoon baking with my daughter (who is home safe and sound- thank goodness!). We made chocolate chip cookies and wonderful florentines, which I have never made before. They were so yummy I'll have to make them again. I don't think these will last very long. Our lovely dog is bemused by all the activity. She feels compelled to bark at any kitchen appliances and is often found just sitting in the kitchen sniffing the lovely smells. She hasn't realised that none of this food is for her! Poor love!
All the food for the big day is safely defrosting quietly in cool corners of the house ..... retrieved from the big freezer in the garage.

Snowbound!

Packed up the van and after looking closely at weather forecasts we decided to give it a try. Bright sunshine on the P.P. gave way to heavy snow by the time we reached the tunnel. However, it was just rain in Liverpool so we pushed on. It was not to be. The M62 was chaos. Had it been gritted? Who knows? We got as far as Ikea in Warrington before we made the decision to head back home. We couldn't get off the sliproads as cars and lorries were struggling up the hills so we continued slowly until we came to the M6, where we could head back to Chester. After 20 years of caravanning this is the first time we've had to turn back.

We're disappointed because we love going to York, but on the plus side I've now got three free days to do as I please. Now that's a rare thing!

The Christmas Card Question

What on earth do you with your Christmas cards? How can you display them attractively? In previous years I've stuck them up on the window frames in the conservatory, or blutacked them to the pine panelling in the old dining room. Neither method was an option this year.

In the end I decided to hang them on ribbons which are suspended on the doors around the house. We've got some lovely cards this year and I think this works really well. Of course, only the cards that co-ordinate with our colour scheme are on show here ...... I just can't help it! Any card that doesn't make the grade is hung in the hallway, and truly dreadful ones haven't gone up at all!!!! Oh dear!

I've hung a few from a ribbon on the kitchen window, just to add a bit of detail until I get a new blind sorted out. The new kitchen would look lovely with bunches of greenery above the units ..... too late now, but maybe next year!

Saturnalia

Late night shopping in Chester with Mr B. we came upon this lovely sight. On close inspection we discovered there was no tree there at all ... just brightly lit globes. Very clever! Very beautiful!

Stepping out of the arcade and onto the main street we heard the unmistakable cries of the Roman Commander inviting all citizens of Deva to cast away the winter by shouting out loud.... great fun. It is the feast of Saturnalia and a legion of Roman soldiers was marching through the city streets brandishing torches of fire to chase away the winter.

Chester as always looks lovely with strings of white lights hanging above the Rows.

Christmas shopping is virtually all done now, so we should have a panic free time in York next week without having to hunt for presents.

Guarding the house!

We are so fortunate to have a big brave dog to protect us from strangers in red suits. Inca did a great job tonight keeping all intruders away. I don't know how Father Christmas will be able to leave his presents on Christmas Eve with her around!!!!

Apologies for the dreadful photograph .... it was raining and the sleigh was moving!

The traditional visit from Heswall Round Table's Christmas float .... now it's Christmas!

Wild Things

I had a date with my lovely boy to see "Where the Wild Things Are". I thought it was ambitious to spread a short children's story into a long film, and for me the plot line was really thin. In fact I fell asleep quite near the beginning. Well, I have had a very busy day!
Still, the Wild Things looked good, and I felt sorry for the goat who was so lacking in confidence. However I have to deal with little Wild Things squabbling all day, so I can't say I really enjoyed it. My lovely boy did though, and that's why we went!

Later we walked across to Borders which is in its death throes. It's so sad to see one of our very favourite shops in disappearing. We bought a collection of classic novels at a much reduced price. I'm looking forward to re-reading Hans Christian Andersen's FairyTales. At face value, just a children's book, but poke a little deeper to find darkness and sadness within.

The Best Christmas Song Ever

YouTube - I Believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake (HQ Audio)
I loved this one back in the day, and I still love it now. You just don't hear it very often. It's a hidden gem!

Cute Christmas Cushion

How cute is this cushion with its curly haired angel and jingle bells in each corner?

It was a gift from an unexpected source and it has made me smile all day. It just goes to show that there are crafting angels in places you would least expect them! People keep their talents well hidden sometimes.

Spoiled? Me?

Inca loves lying on her bed, especially now she has a new cushion of her very own. A girl needs to rest after a long walk!

Had a very productive Sunday afternoon, with a Christmas baking session. Now we have lots of festive mince pies and some Mincemeat Cupcakes, which are going into the freezer for now, and will be iced later.

Christmas Baking

It's beginning to look a lot like .....

A collection of glass jars holds greenery and flowers on the kitchen window sill.

I bought this heart shaped wreath in Milan a few years ago.

A simple white star on the tree in the living room. A red glass angel bought in a Christmas Craft Fair in York last year.

Homemade shabby chic decorations ...... I dried the orange slices and tied them onto bundles of cinnamon sticks. Raffia and fake berries complete the look.

This is our new 'living' tree in the conservatory. I vowed I wouldn't pay the money for one from Gordale Garden Centre, but hey ho, here it is! It is quite small but very cute. The plan is to keep it in the garden until next year. We''ll see!

It just fits nicely into the corner of the room by Inca's bed.

A Christmas collection on our new dresser .... the little tin snowman was a bargain at just £1 from Poundland.

The teaglass comes from Krakow, and I loved this card of Father Christmas so much I framed it years ago and it comes out every Christmas.

And of course it wouldn't be Christmas without our treasured Crib collected over many years on holiday in France. Most of the figures are twenty years old, with some more recent additions like the camel which we bought in Brantes.

I love the memories that come flooding back when the decorations come out of their boxes.