Sunday
I have not had a piece of this in years. I remember as a teenager going to new year parties, back in the day you went door to door with a dozen friends and your own bottle, and every bodies door in the village was open till 6am, this was always on offer - along with many other starchy foods to soak up the alcohol. Always remember the amount of bread people use to buy to make up sandwiches for the visitors, the plates were mounted high.
Black bun Black bun is a type of fruit cake completely covered with pastry. It is Scottish in origin, originally eaten onTwelfth Night but now enjoyed at Hogmanay. The cake mixture typically contains raisins, currants, almonds,citrus peel, allspice, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper
Black bun |
Monday
Was a day from hell. It rained and rained and rained, and rained a bit more. They were rescuing people by boat from a local supermarket, rescuing passengers from a train that ran into a five foot deep puddle, diverting traffic because the roads were closed with flooding. We still had food shopping to do, so we avoided Kilmarnock which seemed to have the worst of the weather and headed into Ayr. Just caught a news bulletin as we came out of the supermarket that one of the roads was shut due to an accident so managed to avoid going that way. The river was thirteen feet above seasonal norm, the highest it has been all year.
This was the park at the red bridge, the water was literally lapping the bottom of the bridge and spilling over onto the paths.
a flooded park |
Tuesday
I had the children over to stay today, did not think they would really want to come on Christmas night. We have a tradition where they make the snacks they leave out for Santa and the elves. Fifi makes mince pies for Santa, and Bob allergy free biscuits for the elves. They love this little tradition so I always find time to do it. After tea they had some of their baking with hot chocolate and marshmallows in, Fifi also had squirty cream. I had discovered Sing along a Disney on youtube the other day and so I put this on for them. I remember buying this on video the year it came out as part of on No 2's Christmas and my lot loved it, it heralded bedtime on Christmas Eve as soon as it was finished. Nowadays these two track Santa on NORAD.
You can read more about our traditions here.
catching up with traditions |
Wednesday
Last year I had smuggled the twins up the stairs and did a foot print painting that I made into a picture and laminated. So last week when I had them anyway I tried to get hand and feet prints off of both of them. Lottie was not amused and Xander was not too sure. So Daughter No3 and I just did foot prints instead. We made them into
this years footprint pictures |
Thursday
Was a quiet start to the day for us. We had been invited down to daughter and Son in laws house to have Christmas Dinner with them all, along with the other grandparents. It was a fab day and nice to spend some quality time with everybody. Have to say I did not take a lot of pictures there was just too much going on.
Have to sat the two wee ones got some beautiful clothes for Christmas from relatives. They had matching design outfits to wear for Christmas day. The older two got a huge variety of stuff as well, and as is typical of this modern generation - they got far too much stuff.
Minky has worked out how to go backwards on his scuttlebug,they both got one. Here is granddad pushing him forwards and letting him push himself back
Minky on his scuttlebug |
Friday
We made a decision a number of years ago that we would have the children over on Boxing Day and that they would receive presents from our side of the family then. Saves over whelming them too much all on the one day. Sadly this year none of the other daughters could make it over but they had left presents here for them. The six of them came round and we had a nice few hours. Mum and dad took the twins away and the older two stayed on and played with some stuff and watched a film before they went back home.
Have to laugh at the older two - playing with the wee ones toys, Bob got a row for taking the stacking cups of off Minky so he could play with them. I know what to buy for them next year!!
Christmas No 2 |
Saturday
We do not go in for adult Christmas presents in this family in any big way, Christmas is for children. But we always get something small from the children, and Fifi had seen this book whilst out shopping with her mum, and picked it up for me. A lot of useful information in the book.
to me from the grandchildren |
Sunday
Well we now have frost, much much better than the rain we had at the start of the week. My automatic car defroster kindly gets out of his bed and defrosts the car for me ready for work. This picture was taken at 2pm at the end of my first shift of the day. The sun made the trees and grass banking look beautiful, but despite the sun the frost did not clear.
a frosty scene |
Monday
The frost has carried on. One of the drawbacks is the chickens water freezes overnight. This was the inside of their bowl when we went out to them in the morning. The dish had frozen right up the edges.
a frozen water glass |
Tuesday
The frost is away. Daughter No2 is down for a few days. She is off down to see the children and left the dog here while she went. He is waiting patiently on her coming back.
waiting patiently |
Wednesday
I got some money for Christmas and I like to spend this money on me and not swallow it up in the house. So as I had to go into the town to change the children's pyjamas to a bigger size I decided to have a look for one. Did see a couple I liked but decided on a more lightweight one that is wind proof so will do for the spring and autumn as well as now.
my new jacket |
Well that is it folks, another year finished.
A happy, healthy and joyful new year to each and every one of you. I look forward to sharing next year with you.