Merry Christmas

[GillD46]

Wishing all forum members, at home and away,

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2017

[Dennis The Menace]

Nice one Gill

Merry Christmas everyone

[gfwgfw]

I am giving it miss this year

[Stephen]

Wish I was

[Kenmo1]

Having got up early and down the town at the crack of dawn this morning, we soon realised that everybody else had had the same idea and the supermarket was absolutely heaving. As I stood in one of the long queues for the checkout, all I could think was why in the world do we do this to ourselves.

Now that I'm home and most things are under control I can now relax and say Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year.

Maureen x

[mavismumakrill]

Wishing all a Very Happy Christmas however you are spending it. Hope you have lots of laughter over this special time and remember just what the real meaning of Christmas is and what it conveys. I do agree it is too commercialised nowadays.

Anyway, Best Wishes to One and All and A Happy New Year, hoping for a bit more world peace in the coming year.

Mavis x

[Boris+]

Gill - well said, you hit the nail on the head.

So, we dashed into the shops for last minute stuff yesterday morning - and found just one person in the queue ahead of us! Brill!

Today is end of phase 1 painting and decorating - start again after Boxing Day; but I am told it will be worth it (eventually). Hopefully Santa is watching and seeing how 'good' I am being ....... please leave my pressies in a neat and orderly pile!

So - here's wishing one and all a really enjoyable and happy festive season. As to 2017 - here's hoping that we all get through the next 12 months without any major upsets, clear sailing for all of us, smiles and happy memories freshly stored away from a lovely year in 2017 well spent.

Health, happiness and freedom from stress to one and all.

[CaroleF]

I think I'm ready - we have one daughter, husband, two children and husband's mother coming in for an early supper this evening, after they've been to the Candlelight Carol Service in our local church and I think I've got everything about ready - roast gammon is the centre piece. I've also made Nigella Lawson's Spruced Up Vanilla Cake - very impressive it is - and once you have bought the mould to cook it in it's very easy - have a look on line - it looks like mountains and when you shake icing sugar over it looks really impressive!

Tomorrow we are off to other daughter for Christmas Day then on Boxing Day it's to elder daughter who lives next door so not far to go! We're saving presents for them until Boxing Day as they are off to husband's sister in Winchester tomorrow. We have a new bike for our four and a half year old Grandson, his first real bike - it's in our cellar at the moment and I have to keep moving the thing to get to fridge and freezer which is there as well. Max refuses to use his older sister's old bike as it's pink! This one is very blue and black so hopefully he'll think it's boyish enough.

The day before yesterday I saw my Consultant about my knee - a follow up appointment to see if the injection I had eight weeks ago had any effect - it didn't. So it's a total knee replacement in February - in a sort of way it's a relief to know it's going to be done. We have a cruise to the Canaries in January to come first so beware anyone on Ventura as I will have to use my scooter on board as the distance from one end of the ship to the other is too far for me to walk at the moment. Hopefully we'll get some sun and that will give me a boost before the op. I think that other people have far worse things to cope with than a knee replacement so I do count myself as lucky.

I hope everyone has a peaceful Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.

Carole

[GillD46]

That looks very good indeed, Carole, I may buy one of the tins and try that for another year. Thanks forthe tip - and enjoy x

[suespud]

To everyone....Wishing you all that is good

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[GillD46]

Your pics sum it up really, Sue. I hope you have a really joyful Christmas with your family xx

[Silver_Shiney]

the reason for the season....

[Stephen]

To everyone....Wishing you all that is good image.jpegimage.jpeg

And don't try giving me that old one of 'its only tea in the mug I'm holding'.

Happy Christmas Sue

[GillD46]

So, Christmas Day has been and gone. I hope it was enjoyable for most of us, and if not enjoyable, not too difficult and passed quickly.

For the first time in 39 years we spent ours alone - apart from visiting my mother, who has been in hospital since the beginning of November. Christmas à deux is something we've wanted to do for a few years now, and while it was pleasant, it didn't "feel right" so I'm not sure we'll be rushing to repeat the experience.

There remains a mountain of food to eat - or freeze - and lots of gifts to find homes for, then family coming for tea, so normal service is resumed and I think choosing some holidays, including perhaps another cruise, might get us back on track.

Happy Boxing Day everyone.

[Stephen]

What, not off to the shops

Soon be Easter

[Boris+]

Hi Gill,

Happy Boxing Day! Our xmas day last year was 'home alone' - like yours this year. So, we decided to 'do something different'.

We packed a festive picnic, and complete with stuff like santa hats we went off and had a picnic at the top of a hill with a glorious view. We had festive music playing on the car radio, (it was Schloer instead of wine as we were driving, but used picnic wine glasses nonetheless), and we got some amused glances (aka funny looks) from people who were out walking their dogs in this popular beauty spot.

It was almost hilarious - we had taken our cameras with us, but the 'view' kept on disappearing in the mist/fog (a bit like the high-speed mist/fog in the Channel Islands) - and much jollity was enjoyed!

This year our xmas day was quite different - it was an outstandingly great day with little one enjoying herself thoroughly and providing entertainment for us and her parents. So, two quite different special days - but we planned to do something different last year, and got what we wanted with some bonus points on top.

Next year - Southampton bound, so that will be different too!

[GillD46]

Em - We are booked on QM2 for her long Christmas cruise next year, which happens to also be our Ruby Anniversary (29th) but are seriously considering swapping it for one of the World Cruises, or possibly just out to, or back from, Sydney. Lots to think about and plan over the next few days and weeks then.

[Boris+]

We've got a special anniversary to plan for too - with ours the cruise bit is quite firmly booked and I don't want to change it, but it's the parts before and immediately after that we need to plan a bit.

Meanwhile, it's almost time to start looking at our 2017 bookings - and start thinking about what to wear!

Have a great NYE.

[gfwgfw]

Is it a ll over ?

[Boris+]

Hi Graham,

Yes, thank goodness it's all over now, but we really enjoyed it - for us it's going to be a benchmark one.

Now - back to reality, more decorating and getting ready for the first load of deliveries!

I need a cruise!!!

[suespud]

Far from over in this family !! Christmas isn't just about 2 or 3 days.
It is still family and friends time, till the day after New Years Day, then we slow down and put Christmas away again for another year.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well for another ten months anyway!

[Stephen]

The wreath fell off the front door this afternoon. That won't be going back up. That's the oman for the start of taking decorations down. Mrs S has already started putting one or two decorations away. I think, 'hang on minute, I'm sure there was something there earlier'.

[Happydays]

I've taken down the Christmas cards, tree shall be taken down on Friday or Saturday at the latest after Christmas day I just want it back to normal.
May take a bit longer this time as I've got a rotten cold & cough...ah tissue

[Silver_Shiney]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, HD