Broadstairs Baubles

Familys always do Christmas in slightly different ways. They have their own traditions and share the same in- jokes and histories, and that fact in turn often proves to be the cement that actually makes Christmas the most "loved" of celebrations for most people.
Today I have missed my own traditions and in-jokes especially with sisters Ann and Janet, but I have had a nice Broadstairs time with the Burtons and the Brownings!
The meal was outstanding, the company relaxed and happy and we even had Gethin prancing around in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special!
Got home at 10.30 and watched some of the awful Love Actually (2003) ...I did love Emma Thompson's bitter sweet performance as a wife scorned though! .....very VERY moving!

Happy Christmas Everyone xx Hope you all had a good one

Christmas Eve Redundancy

Today I have not felt so nicely redundant since I was a child. Usually Christmas Eve at home is a panic of last minute shopping, making lists ( and crossing off things done which is always done with great satisfaction!), tidying and cooking. This year in Broadstairs everything has been done for me! Coffee when I woke up, lunch made for us (although I only ate bread as my guts are still playing up!). This afternoon we have walked to Broadstairs with the dogs, had a hot chocolate at Morelli's and are now sat in a comfortably warm lounge watching tv.

I do feel rather guilty at not being "busy", as well as experiencing that no-man's-land feeling of Christmas Eves as we experienced when we were Children. Parents out buying the gifts, Janet and I, killing time in front of the tree watching Jason and the Argonauts (1963) or The Railway Children (1970) . It was always a tradition. Today, with Jenny Agutter back on the tv, I am revisiting it once again ! (and it still moves me when Jenny shouts "daddy!....my daddy!!!!!!" as she gallops down the railway platform

(above Sorrel with her open mouth smile lets Chris cut the meat--- is it wise given the fact he hasn't had a fag for several hours!)

Alesha beats Matt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank the Lord!

Matt is out ! and Gethin (bless his little face) should have been in the final! Britain collectively ( and in a fit of peak) realised that the Welsh Bombshell had been robbed of his place in the final and Alesha should not loose out with that little Eastend child winning the sympathy vote, so it was finally sorted that the Best Woman Won!

Personally, I thought that the best laugh of the night was when a knock kneed Kate Garraway asked the audience to vote for her!

A Kent Christmas

Well I am glad that I took the family photo on the left, so the lens would not capture a rather wan and sickly looking individual that was me all day yesterday. Minutes after this photo was taken I had to give my excuses and make a hasty exit home to have a rather large and undignified vomit.
The gastric bug Is still unfortunately with me, and today I have slightly overdosed on Imodium so that there would be no embarrassing "accidents" on the way to Broadstairs.
In the end we loaded up the Belingo with a ton of pressies, George and Maddie, a few bin bags of clothes and easily grabable paracetamol and spent an awful 8 hours negotiating fog,traffic jams and unfamiliar roads to finally get to Sorrel's house at 6pm. (Yes the photo of me looks rather worried)
We had a lovely welcome with homemade mince pies,fish pie and lots of Christmas trimmings, even the Scotties made themselves at home within minutes.Tomorrow we are spending in and around Broadstairs, and catching up with Richard (Chris' Dad) for dinner tomorrow night.

2007 Review

Well, Christmas makes you think of the year past, and perhaps it is a sign of being middle aged, but this year has shot by with a speed of a rocket. The "bigger" events of 2007 are still lurking in the wings; Gordon Brown sneering his way into number 10; the flooding of Britain ( and the near demolition of Sheffield); Iraq's drip-drip disaster; media embarrassment of phone line spins and the newspaper frenzy over little Madeline. But, I guess it is the smaller, more personal stories that obviously stick in my mind in this little bit of green Wales we are now hiding in.

There are been a few lows! Not many, but a few. Nu's family traumas pulled at the heartstrings and reminded us all what real friendship is all about; we lost Finlay, and his eternal optimistic faithfulness and money has been a bit difficult at times
as has the deadlines for Chris' job, but generally we have a lot to be thankful for over 2007.

He now have William, a cheerful down syndrome of a Welsh terrier to complicate the house pack; 24 chickens have arrived to keep old Robina on her toes; the ducks have turned up and the success's
of the allotment have provided more satisfaction in 6 months than years of "personal development" within senior nursing. The best year ever for the Trelawnyd Flower show has catapulted me into the tight knit community that is Trelawnyd, and Chris has enjoyed being the "maverick" in his new post at Bangor. So village life is having it's effects. Nu and Jims' "winter wedding on the wirral "was the social highlight of the year,(there wasn't a dry eye in the house!), -giving her away was the real honour of 2007

Chris has loved riding and being "Lord of his manor", I have re found the importance of family and the support and love of friends in Sheffield, Manchester and Australia. And to cap it all I have lost three and a half stone and managed to fit in a 34 pants and a medium top!

All in all, as Frank Sinatra once said ..."It has been a very good year"

http://www.goldlyrics.com/song_lyrics/frank_sinatra/vol_1_greatest_hits/it_was_a_very_good_year/

Peggy Lee: Fever!

Effortless! Heard this again on radio 4 , when taking the welsh to the kennels ( in between bouts of the shits)
and it made me smile.

Morning Sickness

Been feeling sick all day, and I have found that somewhat debilitating I can tell you. This coupled with the fact that Chris has told me he is smoking yet again, has all but ruined my day. I have managed to eat a couple of cans of soup and two slices of toast, but my guts feel as bloated as Shelley Winter's Character Belle Rosen in Poseidon Adventure. Here's hoping I feel better tomorrow

sod's Law

I have been feeling pretty ropey all day! Nausea and bowels ( need I say more?) So I would have liked to have a long sit with I am Legend Which I am reading AND enjoying at the moment. But no! Up at 6.45 am to take Chris to the station, then to Buckley with the Scotties for their pre crimbo haircut. Then beach with the Welsh, eggs deliveries and sainsbury shop; a quick trip to Abergele for some more Chicken pellets, a quick bleach of the kitchen floor, then of to Buckley again. It has been like this all day!

A handful of imodium and no food has certainly helped and I could have done without the terminally cheerful rat catcher from Flintshire County Council who turned up at 5pm wanting tea and sympathy, but at least I sort of sorted out a nice diner for Judy who is calling in later!