Saturday 31 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Thirty one

Planned endeavors

Start new art class
Visit Budapest
Visit Kew gardens
Swim more
join square dance beginners class in Autumn

Achieve chapter eleven in Alpha bears
Resume French on duolingo and learn a few Hungarian phrases.

2017 blog plans

Jan    31 books in 31 days
Feb   Postcards of the world continued
March  Attempts at art
April   NaPoWriMo
May   Photo blog
June   Bloglists continued
July   Free e books continued
Aug   Grab bag story challenge
Sept  Declutter diary
Oct  Attempts at art 2
Nov   Craft corner catch up
Dec   Daily December Diary

Wishing everyone happiness in the New Year!

Daily December Diary

Thirty

A post Christmas, pre New Year celebration with our daughter and her boyfriend, cooking and eating, drinking mulled wine, exchange of presents and lots of chat.

Friday 30 December 2016

Daily December diary

Twenty nine

Big food shop, thankfully less busy.Sorted books and old computer games ready for recycling to charity shop.Watched The net and Harry Potter.

Daily December Diary

Twenty eight

Tidy and declutter day

Tuesday 27 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Twenty seven

Ironing done ,wrapped presents for my daughter and her boyfriend who requested I keep their presents until they visit. Conquered the big boss on Alpha bear to proceed to chapter ten after many months stuck on chapter nine. Watched Call the midwife which I missed on Christmas Day.

Monday 26 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Twenty six

Playing Mice and Mystics chapter one which we started playing yesterday with our son. A very complex game! finished my final bear!


Sunday 25 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Twenty five

Happy Christmas everyone!!

Daily December Diary

Twenty four

Our son came home at eleven. After a Chinese meal for lunch we headed to the airport to collect our niece, coming home for Christmas from her studies in Hong Kong. An hours drive to deliver her home. Coffee and mango cheesecake home made by my talented sister in law, then home with a tray of home made pork pastries. watched Lady in the Van.

Daily December Diary

Twenty Three





Friday 23 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Twenty two

Out at 9a.m. to complete our pre Christmas food shop. Still busy but less so than in previous years and less expensive than I had expected too! In the afternoon completed this!

Daily December Diary

Twenty one

Delivered cards for our neighbours then off to local shops for money, milk and medication. In the afternoon completed bear number two.

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Twenty

Rereading book of Deacon in the Legends collection. I love this book by Joseph Lallo. Completed penguin number three, this one I was able to make up without rereading the instructions.

Two and three together!

Daily December Diary

Nineteen

Another fruit salad made, this one with longans, strawberries, grapes and mango for our after zumba Christmas buffet. Zumba gold was fun with a few seasonal songs then a shared buffet meal in the hall with a selection of canapes, cheeses, mince pies and sausage rolls and non alcoholic mulled wine. In the afternoon made up penguin number two.

Monday 19 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Eighteen

Dreary and dark with heavier fog. Had to put lights on at two o clock today. A lazy Sunday reading and relaxing with a bit of ironing. Ate too many chocolates and mince pies!

Sunday 18 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Seventeen

A trip with son, daughter and partners to visit my sister and family for Christmas get together, superb meal, game of ticket to ride and exchange of presents, then son drove us

home for an evening Chinese meal  before they returned to their flat

Saturday 17 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Sixteen

Our sparrows are back now they have food again, also blue tits and a robin. Spent the morning wrapping presents. Cooked a chicken curry, steamed salmon, pak choi and mackerel salad at lunch time. then made up party bear and more wrapping
In the evening out for a meal at a local Malaysian restaurant with authentic food and good company.
Rojak, yellow chicken, popiah, fried rice with salt fish and fried rice noodles. Yum!

Thursday 15 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Fifteen

Breakfast, shower and fruit salad made by 8.30 a.m.
My go to dessert for sharing! Three fruits with a refreshing honey and lime glaze. Then off to choir to help set up for our annual Christmas entertainment{ from members of the choir} and buffet after. All bring a dish or monetary contribution. Preceded by our usual concert evaluation from our esteemed conductor. A lighthearted way to end the year after the stress of performance.

Daily December Diary

Fourteen

I intended to walk with my walking group today but got my bus times mixed up so had to send apologies, so weekly food shop this morning and trip to post office to send package and overseas cards. the afternoon spent completing knitting and making up this Kokeshi doll from Flutterby. Not a perfect result but a fun project.

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Thirteen

Addressed my cards for sending to France and Germany and wrapped presents ready to send to my niece. A visit to my auntie this afternoon, coffee and cake and a lovely chat. Despite a few memory problems at age 88, she can still remember the names of five nuns who taught her in school and the subjects they taught.

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Daily December diary

Twelve

Feeling a bit under the weather today, the effects of a hectic week or too much mulled wine so sent apologies to my Monday singing group and spent a quiet day at home, healthy eating, lots of clementines and Vietnamese green soup for lunch. Wrote letters to my German and French penfriends so I can send them to hopefully arrive before Christmas plus reading my way through an enjoyable free book bundle called legends.

Daily December diary

Eleven

My husband fed the birds today, with bird feed bought from Costco, after a long gap. We were rewarded by five long tail tits swooping to eat the fat.  Early evening attended a Christmas soiree,
mulled wine and canapes and sublime tenor singing seasonal songs with superb piano accompanist ,with time to chat with friends. Our hostess is amazing to open her house for these wonderful occasions.

Sunday 11 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Ten

A busy day, did a bit of much needed tidying. Daughter and her boyfriend arrived at 11.45. A quick cup of tea then off to Costco for shopping, Wing Yip for dim sum and more shopping then home with a full car! Tea and chat then got ready for concert. Lift to the venue with my neighbour{and singing friend} On arrival realised I'd forgotten my reading glasses! Luckily able to borrow a pair which enabled me to read the music, if making my view of our conductor slightly blurry! My daughter, son and partners in the front row. Concert still had a few mistakes but better than dress rehearsal. We will have a full autopsy on Thursday. Lift home with daughter and boyfriend and cup of tea with them before they loaded their shopping and returned to their flat.

Friday 9 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Nine

Coffee in bed with a very purry companion, Singing for fun Christmas concert this morning, a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience. Dressed in seasonal red and green we sang a selection of melodic songs mostly in two parts including; walking in the air, Maria Wiegendlied, child of the stable, and carols for audience participation. Cut my husband's hair this afternoon and continued with the process of writing Christmas cards.

Daily December Diary

Eight

Dress rehearsal for the choir Christmas concert on Saturday. After sorting out logistics, how to wear our new red scarves,how many chairs to set out, how best to manage black folders and carol books, a full rehearsal of the program of readings and songs. It didn't go well and the more our singing technique and mistakes were criticized the worse our singing became! Left the venue feeling disheartened so can only hope the performance is better on the night. On the positive side our house guest of two months has left to spend Christmas with his family so I can revert to my usual practice of eating breakfast in my pajamas! A visit from our son in the evening cheered me up too.

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Seven
So yesterday,I did no ironing but did make up this little fella, the first of my penguins ready to post off to my niece as a little seasonal extra. The detailed instructions on the Flutterby blog were very clear to follow. Still writing cards, food shop done and a much needed trip to the hairdressers. Emailed a reply to a fellow postcrosser who wanted to know where a Canadian Mail a Moose card I sent was purchased! Postcards received from Belarus{ yesterday} and China today.

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Six

Writing Christmas cards and letters today, hopefully can post the majority tomorrow.When I need a break, will try to clear my ironing pile too!

Monday 5 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Five

Two buses{ very full} to travel to Encore singing group at Liz's house. An early coffee break as our vocal coach was late. Coffee,home made mince pie and a glass of Irish cream followed by vocal exercises and singing parts of Jerome Kern medley. Further coffee then ending with Chattanooga choo choo. Our vocal coach was sporting a very fetching turquoise quiff! Home for lunch, two more episodes of Modus, ironing and registered two postcards from Germany and Portugal. This evening will be enjoying a meal with my walking group at our local Slug and Lettuce.

Sunday 4 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Four

To the cinema today to meet my daughter, luxury seating in recline and dine. We did not dine but did recline as we watched " Fantastic Beasts" Very enjoyable followed by lunch in Comptoir Libonais, Chicken,feta salad and spiced hot chocolate then home on the bus. Chat and tea then Chinese takeaway before driving her home with more food, toilet rolls and her Christmas tree!

Saturday 3 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Three

Coffee in bed and cuddles with the cat to start the day! Finished knitting mini penguins, three in total so now just need to make them all up and knit sleeves and hands for Kokeshi doll and neckbands for teddy bear dresses, and embroider features and sew in loose ends. Phoned my aunt to arrange a date to visit, emailed my German penfriend to say thank you for the beautiful advent calendar. Watched first two episodes of a Scandinavian thriller on I player called Modus. Very good, eagerly awaiting the next installment. Finished reading Cursed[elves] and started Butterfly Islands, not sure about the storyline yet, maybe a tad far fetched but it may grow on me. Ironing pile decreasing too!

Friday 2 December 2016

Daily December Diary

Two

One very unhappy cat, starved as instructed and definitely unhappy to go back in her carry box was delivered to the vet at 8.30 a.m.with instructions to phone at midday. Time for a quick coffee before catching the bus to go to " Singing for fun". The last practice for our Christmas concert next Friday. A much more relaxed process with our vocal coach Beth with time for coffee and chat midway.
My husband met me at the bus stop then straight to the vet to collect our cat. No abnormal blood results so carry on as normal unless she has another episode. Now reading an elvish tale. Finished second snowman hat and scarf and about to start two penguins! Trying a recipe recommended by a friend for a salad of sweetheart cabbage,mayonnaise, black pepper and olive oil{chilli flavoured} to accompany roast chicken, chips and salads.

Thursday 1 December 2016

Daily December Diary

One

Choir this morning, our last practice before the dress rehearsal and concert next week. An intensive rehearsal with a tense choir master, always the way so close to performance. An advent calendar from my German penfriend arrived in the post, a lovely surprise! Reading an absorbing ghostly thriller, a token amount of ironing, then a trip to the vet as our beautiful cat had a fit this morning. After a thorough examination she was booked in for blood tests tomorrow.