Mt brain – courtesy of Merry

Your Brain’s Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm – full of intensity and drama.
Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time…
But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you.
You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

They’ve gone.

Best clear up then…..

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This post brought to you by our sponsors…

This year Christmas at the Beans was proudly sponsored by Freecycle Cambridge, purveyors of fine, free used cookers to those whose dining rooms are bigger than their oven capacity. One up for the Cosmic Supply Company I guess.

I guess we would have managed without it, but it would have been a pain, and it’d have taken 2 hours or more to have cooked the 3 trays of roasties, parsnips etc. let alone anything else. Actually the oven is better than our ‘proper’ one, being a electric fan oven as opposed to a ‘hot at the top warm at the bottom’ gas one. So we will be keeping it, for now anyway. so i’m glad I wired it in properly, rather than bodged it :-)

Normal service resumed tomorrow hopefully when the remaining hardcore xmas-teers departs and we try to avoid tidying up.

Coming and going

Two left yesterday, two have just left, but this morning we have had two phonecalls from friends in the space of about 10 minutes.

1. From friends from Leeds heading South who want to call in.

2. From Jax who is heading North and wants to pop in.

More the merrier we say :-)

They won’t be allowed to leave if they don’t eat enough food though. Time to defrost a couple more litres of that soup.

And it’s been snowing :-) but not enough for fun :-( (still an inveterate snow lover, who still gets that little rush of childish excitement when they see the overnight snow first thing in the morning)

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we did it

hope everyone had a really lovely and successful day

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short break from real life..

opened pressies last night to carols and mulled wine – yummy and lovely
BB still been unwell – not so lovely
All kiddies fell asleep easily -WOW
all woke up du bonne heure

Brekkie – mincemeat muffins ymmy, croissants and gammon for those that partake
Xmas pressies all seem to be happy with. Sb and BB having a lovely time

SB and cousin M hardly seen – racing about like loons, but out of the way.

Hopefully Xmas dinner ready 30 mins now-so 3pm! but we have served up a variety of nibbles, and alcohol on tap.

think going well.
Chris and mum working like a demon. i have mainly fedd BB interminably and done the nibbles and drinks, but did the kitchen foray today to help out.

anyway, had my 5 mins so back to real life

‘Twas the night before xmas

Well, not quite, but it is xmas eve now. And the house is quiet, as everybody else is in bed. So I’m enjoying the peace and quiet with a last minute cuppa.and probably no time to blog xmas eve night.

More ticks off the list, even if BB didn’t help, poor little stick. Deleiberated for some tim with MIL over how many Brussels sprouts we needed, and was there enouhg ion the veg order. Bought an extra Kilo, confidently expect to ahve a kilo extra left over :-)

Various things bought by me or Mother-in-law. Teapot, cheap,totaly tasteless table mats for hot dishes, extra roasting pan , tablecloth, etc. Wondered why I couldn’y find ‘Just Brazils’ anywhere in any shop it seemed – oh well bought ptobably nicer Thorntons version. I like going shopping at this point, where I’ve just got to pick up a few non-pressie items really, whilst nearly everyone else seems to be laden down with armfuls of bags. Popped into Waitrose for a few items, which actually felt busy for a change. Even had some decent queues. Realised you get better sort of queue in Waitrose though as we got offered some small cups of fizzy wine and sweeties by some of the staff. In Tesco the other day I just got told off for overloading the belt with bottles……

Me and SB got the cake decorated tonight, bit of last minute effort, and pleased in the end I didn’t find any xmas-y cake decs in the shops. Did simple spikey/snow scene Royal icing (bit late I know), SB applied plenty of silver balls, finished off witha few holly leaves and berries on the top and round the base. Actually looks quite good in a rough and ready way. also made a veg Goulash for tomorrows dinner (smoked paprika – yummy) and prepared the soup for slow cooking in the oven tomorrow morning – a nice couple of hours pottering in the kitchen by myself.

A few outstanding ticks on the list, moslty a bit of sorting of stuff for the guests – in particular need to do the curtain track in SB’s bedroom tomorrow morning, but the freezer and fridge are stuffed, pantry is looking like a pantry should at xmas, more goodies, and copious wine etc. lurk in the cellar, tree is beautiful, pressie are under the tree, SB so excited by it all – for the first time really.Feeling pretty organised actually. (soon to be disabused come xmas morning …..)

Really looking forward to it all, will be so good to have a houseful

So Christmas – bring it on :-)

Have a good one everybody.

‘nother quick blog

Had appraisal at work – took 2 1/2 hours this pm, but all morning finally gathering together and presenting enough paper to have come from whole tree [just over 1 1/2 inches depth!], but I am fit to practice – phew!

Nursery sent us a card BB made with handprints to look like an angel, and a calendar from piccies of her – they really are a good nursery – having rung ‘cos they were worried she seemed so sleepy, not perky self. We picked her up – 45 min after leaving her on my way into work.

BB not been well, a bit chesty, a bit hot, and def under the weather, so a bad day for me to be at work, as only bf will do. Came home and she guzzled until I was prunelike [TMI?]

SB made a claendar too, a card and some Xmas decs. All very festive

Little Nanny brought here by Dad – looking great, and showing off her walking with only 1 stick! Very proud, as the rehab physio said she would always need a zimmer and refused to let her learn stick walking – so stick from me – ROFL! Actually he was concerned about knee joint stability if she only had stick, but she is insistent to use stick, and reluctantly the triwalker I bought for outside. That saying, she hasn’t actually ventured outside house unless Mum or Aunty Margaret takes her to Morrisons [I can't face doing that with 2 children as well]. Anyway, she feels very happy we are so enthusiastic.

Girls having a bath. Since BB unwell today and me at work, no further action on tick boxes – so Chris hasn’t iced cake. or put up curtains in the SB/guest room – this is a problem for my sister as onto main road. therefore must be done tomorrow. I need to make place tags and wrap up BB other pressie [portico aeroplane, but if not done, she can have another day]

I’m glad you all liked our Victorian living room! No Jax, I’m keeping Mum!! She also deleaved the conservatory and cleaned new cooker ::): The dining room has enough room, though wish tablecloth for end matched – must do name settings.

Early night tonight, and then sheer madness tomorrow [hordes descend and the veggies cooking prep! time for wine box] – so may not blog until Tues/Wed. I am SO excited!!!!!

yippee, Christmas is here – dances and sings merrily.

HAPPY XMAS

A quick update

ready for christmas – tick!
pigs flying – tick!

Actually nearly there. Mum and dad here now, feeling very Christmassy.
Chris has wired in cooker and it works – hooray!
Presents wrapped [mostly]
Food bought/cooked [mostly]
worn out [totally!!!]

Just a quick photo of BB investigating the spankingly clean and tidy living room [courtesy of Mum!] while SB was at her nursery party [very much enjoyed]

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Sb has taken loads of photos of the pantry today. She is very keen to have her own photoblog! and camera of course. She does want me to upload about 20, but 1 will have to do for now.

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Catching up

SB off with grandparents. Chris rang them up to arrive at lunch, so a good compromise and all happy.
SO we made muffins, and looked to see if any toys of hers to put away for BB [no!]. played with paper dress up dollies, and did drawing.

Chris did lots and lots of tidying!

Since SB left for playing wioth chris’s parents and their christingle service, I have made the minceppie muffins – they are fab heather, and easily converted to vegan. the last of the curries, and some wrapping, bought 2 goats as final Xmas pressies.

BB now awake – so doing a 1 to 1 play session now!