Christmas is finally over....

....we went into town to see the sales/take back presents noone wants.  Charlotte returned a couple of tops she had bought for me that were not my favourites and so I am replacing those with some better vests and blouses and getting rid of my old stuff.   My woolly waistcoat went back, Selina thought it looked better on the hanger than it did on me-one very good reason to send it back-and I did agree with her.  Charlotte bought herself a beautiful Biba bag, even though she got a beauty from Sara, but that was her office bag you understand, the gold Biba bag definately isn't!
     Selina and Pete have had to go back to Bristol to go to work in the morning, it is very quiet now even  though Charlotte is still here and Joe is most certainly sulking-guess who his favourite sister is.  Now Che has arrived with Charlotte, sulk over- guess who is Joe's favourite guest....
     Played the new game you gave us for Christmas Sara, it didn't result in murder, but I think Pete was pretty close to suicide with Dad on his team.  There were no instructions in the box, but we made it up as we went along.

     Heading up to Charlotte's for New Year and then I guess it's back home to take down the decorations and face the mountains of washing that has built up over the holidays.

Queues waiting to get on the escalators

The bull in a jumper....

The Birmingham bull has got a new jumper for Christmas, not that he looks very happy about it.

       And the only snow so far is inside the Bullring, and very pretty it is too.  Darsh and I sat in Pret today, with a cup of soup each, just watching the people going by in Selfridges.

Santa doesn't come if you are still awake, but Joe simply couldn't keep his eyes open any longer tonight...

However he was pretty much on the ball when dad accidently dropped a board full of meat on the carpet tonight....

He really thought all his Christmases had come at once.

Quick quick...get writing...

.....before things go wrong again.  I haven't been able to sign into Doeythejog for days...so much for magic...it is just plain annoying..

     The girls have all been home over the last week.  Sara came over for Gemma's wedding and brought her friend Steph from her university days.  John was forced to stay back for an interview...WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL...well done John!!!
Selina and Pete arrived Sunday evening, just in time for our first chrismas dinner...hmmm... and Charlotte appeared Tuesday night. 
     We have shopped, eaten, played board games, visited New Life (and bought 2 winter coats and the daftest winter hat ever-all for £20) been to see the new Sherlock Holmes film, admired the bull in his best Christmas jumper (no camera) and just enjoyed each others company.  Which I think is what Christmas is all about.
Poor Joe has been in a permenant haze with all these people coming and going,  he even suffered a haircut in the midst of all the chaos.  I think he looked very smart... until he licked out a yogurt pot and got a greasy face all over again.
    So now it's Christmas Eve and we plan a trip to the butcher to claim our Turkey, and a wander round the Bullring, for nothing in particular, just to watch the crowds.  Darsh wants to go to the supermarket for bargains, again nothing in particular, just anything that has a reduced sticker and he thinks is a bargain.  I hope it is nothing too big and will fit into the bin easily on Boxing Day.  I would like a bunch of flowers, some that are still alive, not like the ones in M&S yesterday, I think they must have caught a chill from been stood too close to the doors, they weren't even worth a reduced sticker.  Pete is heading to his Mum's this evening and we, of course, are going to celebrate with our traditional roast duck sauce and jacket potatoes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

 

It's back!!!!!!

I haven't been able to sign in all week and was waiting til the tribe came home at Christmas to show me what I'd done wrong wrong.  Now I won't have to tell them... they will be lead to believe that I fixed things all by myself...when really it was magic.  But now I'm wondering if...I had just left my old washing machine alone for a few days...would the magic have fixed that?  I can see the poor thing stood in the garden... dripping...  Also where's that snow the weather man promised us today?  I was so disappointed when I looked out of the bedroom window this morning. 


     We went to Brugge on the Eurostar, [only a few hours ride away] and stayed in an appartment right in the city centre.  Had 3 days of wandering round, admiring and eating.  Loads of pics, but just a few of the city....
if this beautiful, but ancient computer will allow me.....
 

Ooooh magic, real Christmas magic, and the city was wonderful too.

     I am off into town for a few bits and bobs for under the Christmas tree.  Darsh has gone to London-again- so Joe and I are happily playing at home.  I want a few pretty plants for a couple of bare pots near the back door (thanks Joe.)  And some cocoa, I forgot to buy yesterday, and a chocolate cake without chocolate is always a bit of a disappointment...

It's raining, it's pouring.....

    ...and so I am sat in the conservatory looking at, and attempting to sort out holiday pics, and there is definately no sign of wet or rainy anything, apart from a few like this...

                                                                 ....and....

     The other pic I have just put here seems to have vanished into thin air.....it was one of John in his swimming suit...I think he may have vapourised it over in Ireland.  If I ever find it again I will post it, in as large a size as possible...

     This beautiful sunset was taken from the buffet window as we sailed away from Turkey, 2 weeks ago today.  No sign of any sunset here tonight then!

   I was aiming to go into Sutton or to the car boot sale at the bottom of the road today, as I still don't feel too brilliant, but do need a bit of fresh air, however seeing as it's raining...
     Not an entirely wasted day - a rack of ironing, hoovered through the house and washed my winter coat-again-I'd got grease or oil all down one sleeve-how?-it's been hanging in the cupboard since we went on holiday.  I got the wrapping paper out of the loft, so I could wrap a few presents, or make a few more Christmas tags in the chaos that was once my crafting room.  Darsh seems to have disappeared again, he went for a haircut yesterday lunchtime and hasn't returned or called since.  Joe is snoozing by my feet, he knows supper time is looming, and it's raining, so he doesn't want to go anywhere tonight.

     The dog seemed to have a brilliant time on his holidays, he had lots of doggy company, walks and attention.  Seems he even shared a bed with the resident cat and played nicely with a little girl.  He was really lost for the first few days at home, wandering sadly round his garden and staring thoughtfully into space.  He's been pining, but it wasn't for us!  We are off to Brugge on Saturday, on the Eurostar...so guess where Joe's going. 

What a difference a week makes.....

......if it includes a big boat and a plane.  This week  is cold wet and and very dull.

       Last week was bright and very sunny, we had a wander around in Katacolon in Greece (possibly spelt wrong, but I'm too lazy to run upstairs and get my map) And as we gradually went further south it got hotter and hotter, until we were having to cover up and even head for some shade.



                    Breakfast in the garden cafe, food was available 24 hours a day, and the only way for Darsh to stop eating was to go and lie down in the cabin and watch telly or sleep.  He had severe withdrawel symptons from his phone and computer- has been making up for it this week however.

                   Passing between the foot of Italy and Sicily on the very last day.

     Since we got home I have had a cold and constant headache, so haven't done a great deal.  We had to get a new washing machine and that has arrived and been plumbed in.  It takes 3 times as long as the old one and is very quiet, but it doesn't seem to wash any better.  The old one has taken up residence in the middle of the dining room floor and he plans to fix it and keep it forever, just in case the new one breaks down.  I've looked at it and given it a bit of a shove but I'm far too weak and wobbly to shove the darned thing over the doorstop and into the garden this week.
      It seems strange to be back home and every thing is so Christmassy after all that sun, I've got all my ideas for presents, but just haven't felt up to going into town yet.  Planning on getting the trimmings out of the loft and sorting them. Charlotte's tree is up there and she isn't likely to get it to her flat until after Christmas!  She is coming home next weekend, but we are going to Brugge on the train, and the last thing she will want to carry is a flashing Christmas tree.