Taking time out

All the making is done, gifts wrapped and under the tree, food prepared, guest safely collected.  After a rather frantic couple of days, Christmas Eve finds us surprisingly calm and at ease with ourselves.  

We had some fun baking Monday and yesterday, and have plenty of goodies to see us (and half an army, to be honest!) through the next few days.  I tried my hand at a stollen cake - well, it's huge but so superior to shop-bought.

 

N has made mince pies, and I've also baked cherry buns and chocolate chip cookies, adapting the ginger biscuit recipe I've had previous success with.  The grandchildren have tried them out and declared them to be better than the bakery ones so I think we may have cracked that one.

This afternoon, I made the most of the bright, sunny but somewhat chilly weather and took myself off for a walk.  N is still nursing a very troublesome knee (he had finally got an appointment to have it checked out) so he put his feet up and watched the original Robin Hood film with Errol Flynn (what a very well-dressed band of outlaws they were!!)  

My walk took me through the woods to the Quarr pigs - where else? - and it was lovely.  The low sun sent shafts of light through the trees, and it was beautifully clear across the Solent to the mainland.  

The pigs were very muddy but seemed to be blissfully content snuffling around.  Mama pig had seven youngsters to keep an eye on.

I walked through to Fishbourne and saw one of the car ferries loading before its return to Portsmouth.

I certainly wasn't alone on my walk, many people were out and about enjoying such a lovely winters' day, but it gave me some time to my own thoughts.  Being outside, enjoying the countryside always seems to bring some peace, and the opportunity for quiet reflection.  I have some things on my mind needing reconciliation and resolution, and my walk this afternoon at least allowed me to simply think.  It was good.

And tomorrow we will have a quiet, simple Christmas - with good home-cooked food and a few home-made gifts among the presents.  

Busy days

Nothing says 'Christmas' quite like a pointsettia

Apparently today was 'Panic Saturday' when every man and his dog went shopping for all those last-minute must-haves that are essential for Christmas.   Oh good grief!  I read an article on-line this morning and was gob-smacked by the figures (money) that were quoted.  

There's still quite a lot of making going on hereabouts.  The box N is working on is looking lovely; he will begin polishing it tomorrow to get the finishing sheen.  I've started my part of that particular present today, fingers are crossed that the measurements I'm working on are accurate.  

We have both been walking in and out of town quite a lot this week - the weather has been dry (hooray!) and chilly, ideal for brisk walking.  We reckon a round trip is probably four miles and generally takes about an hour and a half, maybe two.  I've done a trawl of the charity shops for puzzles, books and a DVD, and as there are, I think, 9 such shops, it takes a while to check them all out ;-)  However, bargains are there to be had if you're prepared to take the time, and I've been surprised just how busy those shops are at the moment.  Seems I'm not the only one happy to give them my custom.  

We've got a menu plan sorted for the next week, and some alternatives to hand should there be last minute changes.  The bread is baked and two of the three loaves are in the freezer; that will see us through next week.  I have a couple of cakes and some cookies to make, probably tomorrow or Monday.

There are many things on my mind and most, to be honest, are not Christmas-related.  I'm going to start jotting these things down as I think of them, because I need to come back to them in the New Year.  I need to give time to these issues, deal with them and allow myself to move on.  And there are lots of new challenges and ideas I'm looking forward to next year so a clear head will be a good start!

Festive makes

I've been retreating to the sewing room at every opportunity this week in an effort to finish off some festive makes.  In past years I have tried to make a little decoration for each of the children/grandchildren but in my gloomy mood this year, that didn't quite happen.  However, I have done a bit of sewing for us and our new home.

Every house needs Christmas bunting!

A bit of crazy patchwork in the process

The end result . . 

. . . and two more, one sparkly and golden, the other sporting more free machined snowflakes.

There will be three of us here for Christmas, and we now each have a cheerfully colourful stocking.  I may have a root around to find a few little bits and bobs to pop in them but even if they stay empty, I'm really happy with the way they have turned out.  And the best thing of all - they didn't cost me a penny to make.  All the fabric came out of my stash, the wadding was offcuts sewn together and all the trimmings I already had.  Even the tape for the bunting was home-made.  Yep, I enjoyed making these.

And I have certainly enjoyed eating these!  N made some delicious mince pies earlier in the week and they were just the thing with morning coffee, and afternoon tea!  We could do with some more.

I finally managed a tidy-up in the sewing room (after several days of stocking-making, the room was a tip, I confess) and discovered a secret present I'd forgotten about.  It just needs a pocket to finish it off, and hopefully, now I've cleared up a bit, I'll get around to doing that.  

We've got a busy day tomorrow - the car goes in for a service, bread to be made, grandkids collected from school and shopping for a few presents for each other.  We go for the useful, practical and therefore much appreciated gifts and we'll probably both have a tour of the charity shops as part of our search.  We'll be on a tight schedule (while the car is being serviced) so a list is crucial and I must make sure we have a supply of bags with us (we don't need any more plastic bags, thankyou).  It could be fun. 

Is it just me?

A bit of a moan . . . 

I am trying hard to embrace Christmas but I suspect I'm not really succeeding.  It's a time of year I always have difficulty with and that seems to get worse as I get older.  There's such a frenzy of pointless consumerism and 'must have' surrounding the whole season, an obligation and expectation on everyone to enjoy it all.  I think I must just be a real humbug, because I struggle with it.  I want to enjoy it, have fun like I'm supposed to but ...

I suspect much of my problem stems from a fragmented family.  I seem to be in the position of trying to please everyone, trying to do the right thing by everyone, worrying myself silly over what other people think, and of course the end result is that I'm the one that's left with that rather disappointed feeling.  There is a temptation, which has been voiced several times this week, that it would be quite nice to simply disappear over Christmas and come back when it's all over!  Not really a viable option, I guess, but still fun to contemplate.

I know the feeling will pass.  I give thanks that we are in a position to buy food and presents for one another as I am only too well aware that many do not have that option, but it's the waste that I think gets to me more than anything.  We are so fortunate that there really is very little we need and not a great deal we want; our small list includes sandpaper for N and a large reel of sewing thread for myself - items which may seem mundane and boring to many but which will be very gratefully received and be used by us.  Our voluntary work at the donation centre has really brought home to us the 'throw-away society' that we live in now; so much unwanted stuff, hardly, if ever, used.   N and I will both be scouring the charity shops for books and puzzles which will be read, completed and probably returned for someone else to enjoy again.

Anyway, enough of the wingeing.  I'm having fun making bunting and Christmas stockings.  We've found that our decorations were fine at a two-bedroomed flat but look a little thin on the ground in a much larger bungalow.  Any excuse to sew, I say.  There's an assortment of cards and wrapping paper strewn around (the cards should have gone in the post by now but it happens every year) and there are scrawled lists on scraps of paper, presumably to remind us to do something terribly important on the appropriate day.  It will all come right on the day, these things always do, and perhaps this indecision and uncertainty is all part of the build-up.  We will have food to eat, a few gifts to unwrap, and a warm house to cosy up in.   Many people would happily trade places.

Busy winter days

We seemed top have escaped the worst of the 'weather bomb' onslaught but did watch a video clip online of stormy seas and huge waves at Birsay, Orkney.  It's always a bit breezy in Orkney, even on a good day, but yesterday's weather certainly was dramatic.  Here it's just a bit windy, which is great for clothes drying!

We are loving the pine scent from the tree, and the droplet of resin that catch the light in the morning

After a bit of prevaricating, the tree is now decorated.  We try to keep things fairly simple and most of the ornaments are ones that have been around for quite a few years.  One or two sentimental bits, many others hand-made.  

Both of us are kept busy through the days, me generally sewing (mending, presents being made on the quiet, and things that we find we need but haven't got eg draught excluder), N busy with woodwork (cutlery canteen, emergency repairs to guest room door).  We're glad to have the time to do these things, and it connects us, little by little, to this new house.  Gradually we are moulding it to our requirements.  It was always going to take time, and so it is proving.  Yesterday we had to move a piece of furniture out of the hall (to accommodate the tree) and into the 'middle room' where we spend much of our time.  It was, we anticiapted, just a temporary measure over Christmas but it looks right at home in it's new location and will, I have no doubt, stay there come the new year.  I have no idea what will go in the empty space in the hall but I'm sure the solution will present itself.  

Through the shed window something is taking shape

We are fast approaching the shortest day and I had to switch the light on at 3.30 pm today, in order to see to sew.  

It seems strange to think that in a fortnight's time, Christmas Day will be drawing to a close.  As usual, it has caught up with us and I'm in a quiet panic.  Things to do and so little time left - my own fault.  Every year I fervently promise myself that next year I'll be better organised, that I will plan ahead, that I won't leave everything to the last minute.  I clearly don't listen to myself!  I wish I did.  Everything will be done, of course, but the rush will take the edge off the enjoyment just ever so slightly, and I rather wish it didn't.  So next year . . . .

A real tree

Gosh, it's all gone a bit twinkly round here.  Over the weekend, multi-coloured fairy lights have appeared in the gardens and around the houses of many of our neighbours.  Flashing lights, icicles, reindeer and sleighs, snowmen - they're all out in force.  In comparison, our house stands out in all it's unlit glory.  We've always known we were different ;-)

We did haul the boxes of Christmas decorations out of the loft yesterday and unpacked the tree.  Within a minute it had shed so many bits of greenery that we had to take serious stock of the problem.  It seemed to illustrate the 'love-hate' view I have of Christmas; there are many aspects of Christmas I love but so much has been spoilt by the rampant consumerism that seems to take over that there are times I struggle with it.  The idea of enjoying a simple Christmas seem completely out of synch with life today.  Well, I can't remember how or why we've made do with an artificial tree for so many years but seeing it in such a sorry state demanded action.  'We're getting a real tree this year' I announced.  N did a happy dance in the middle of the lounge floor and grinned like a little boy - it's made his Christmas!

So today we went to select our tree.  We did the usual thing of trying a few out for shape and size before we made our decision.  It got 'wrapped' and thankfully fitted very neatly into the car.  Back home we had some fun finding the appropriate container to stand it in and inevitably there was yet more furniture moving involved.  But we're there and the tree is now standing proudly in the hall.  The smell of pine is glorious.  

Today N has fitted a bedside shelf and a aerial socket in the guest room, and I have made a fitted sheet for the bed (from an old flat sheet).  There seems to be a never-ending list of things to do at the moment and while that keeps us busy (and we certainly prefer that to being bored) just occasionally we'd quite like to put our feet up for a few minutes!  

So that was Christmas . . .

Our visitor has returned to the big city (it was lovely to see her for a few days), the turkey and ham has been eaten (roasted, cold, in sarnies and in curry - entertaining nine hungry family members on Friday was a great way to use up all that food we bought 'just in case'!), the decorations have been taken down and packed away for another year and we're back to just the two of us.  

The early frost this morning cleared to a beautiful day, bright and clear but rather chilly.  We wrapped up and went for a walk along the front.  The railway line is being cleared and I think the trains may be running again by tomorrow.

We walked to the end of the pier and saw the catamaran leaving for Portsmouth

and soon after the hovercraft left en route for Southsea

I found Christmas a bit of a struggle this year.  It seems to have got bogged down in a spending frenzy, an obligation to buy stuff for the sake of it and to eat and drink to excess.   My Christmas spirit was sadly lacking and try as I could, I just didn't seem able to shed the feeling of sadness that threatened to engulf me on and off through the day.  We're not on Facebook, which meant we didn't do all the sharing of 'opening presents under the tree' photos on mobiles that seemed to continue all through the morning - that's something else that sets us apart from so many people, we don't have electronic devices in our hands constantly!  I worry sometimes that we are actually distancing ourselves from mainstream society but I just don't 'get' this compulsion to live life via social media.  Is it me?

On our walk this afternoon, N and I tried to find the answers to some questions that have been on our minds for a while.  Some of the problems are concerned with family issues that I choose not to discuss here, but they do, nevertheless, have a profound impact on our lives.  Then there are the perennial questions that raise their heads on a regular basis, usually beginning with "shall we move house?"
There is no doubt we are unsettled but we don't really know why.  However what is certain is that we need to do something.  Our lives have changed since we left work, and in many ways we could not foresee - not everything seems to suit as well as it did.  We need to find the answers, or at least have the courage to make changes, take risks and make decisions.  Life is too short not to.

Christmas floods

Floods are never good at any time, but at Christmas they are really not welcome.  Judging by the pictures we've seen on the television over the past few days, many folk have had a rough time of it, with flooded homes and no electricity over the festivities.  I feel for them.

Here, the weather all day Monday and into the early hours of Christmas Eve morning was as wet and windy as I can remember, and come daylight on Tuesday, the flooding and damage was plain for all to see.  Roads were closed, trees down, and buildings flooded.  

Brading marshes - usually green fields but on Christmas Eve completely under water (and still flooded today)

We have one stretch of railway line on the Island, from Shanklin to the end of the pier at Ryde.  On the final leg, the line passes through a tunnel approaching Ryde Esplande.  This is what it looked like on Christmas Eve:

Photo by Sara Richardson

And this is what the flood waters left behind when we were there today:

It's a terrible mess, and I don't think the trains will be running for a while!

N and I went for a walk along the seafront this afternoon - a glorious day just made for walking - and this is the aftermath of the clear-up operation.  A huge channel has been gouged in the sand down to the sea where all the flood waters were pumped away over the sea wall.  That's my shadow, so you get an idea of the scale.

I carried on walking along the sea wall to Seaview, and Apply Sands has a new feature - a shingle bank stretching, I guess, about half a mile along the beach and several feet in width.  All this used to be sand until Monday evening!  The storm had dredged up loads of old oyster shells; some of them were quite a size, about 5 or 6 inches in diameter.

I had to drive into Sandown Christmas Eve and again today.  The flooding between Brading and Sandown had closed the road, so a detour took us through Yaverland and along the sea road.  It was covered in sand, blown up over the wall.  I've not seen that before, and made for interesting driving!

Sandown Bay looking towards Shanklin on Christmas Eve

and today

From the same place (Yaverland) looking the opposite direction towards Culver Cliff on Christmas Eve:

and again this morning - lots of people making the most of good weather on Boxing Day to get out and about.

There's another storm brewing out in the Atlantic, heading our way tomorrow.  We'll have to wait to see what it has in store for us.

A tad wet and windy!

Through the lounge window this afternoon!

Goodness, we've had a bit of weather here today.  From mid-morning onwards, it has poured with rain and howled a gale non-stop, and is still wet and breezy even now.  At some point during the afternoon, we had the strongest winds (I think about 72mph) which is pretty strong for us.  I was tempted to don the waterproofs and go down to the beach to get some photos but two rather more sensible people advised me against it so I had to content myself with looking out the window.

The weather is supposed to quieten down a little over Christmas but come back with force on Friday.  I do feel for those people trying to travel to family for the festivites - trains and ferries are disrupted making travelling difficult.  Luckily my daughter got down to the island without much delay yesterday although she did say the ferry crossing was a little bumpy, and the pilot had a spot of bother berthing at the pier.

This is the view of the Solent from our bedroom window yesterday afternoon- the weather was beginning to close in already

The weather today was in such a contrast to yesterday - dry, clear blue skies - I even had washing on the line!  

Darker clouds building later in the afternoon

Here are the daffodil shoots; a little early, methinks, just hope they survive for a good show in the spring:

And finally, our finished Christmas cake, with slightly wonky icing, but that what it's all about.

Grafting on the shortest day!

It's the shortest day of the year today.  There were Winter Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, and here it rained and blew hard all day.  Damp, grey and dismal, but in my mind I can look forward to the days ahead getting longer, even if it is only by a few minutes each day.  And when I was in the garden yesterday, I caught sight of a daffodil shoot just breaking the surface of the soil - in December, for goodness sake!  But it is yet another little ray of hope that Spring follows the dark days of Winter.  We also give a thought to our 'second' home of Orkney, where the daylight is even less.  

So, onto the 'grafting'.  Hard work?  Well, yes, for me, as I'd not done this before.  I've finally reached the point of dealing with the shoulder seams of N's jumper, and as the body was done in the round, I felt the shoulder seams should be grafted, not sewn with a seam.  I had to look this method up, and after a couple of false starts (I really do need to pay attention!), I got the hang of it and have ended up with two grafted shoulder seams I am happy with.

I want the sleeves to be knitted up in the round too, but at the moment I'm trying to decide how many stitches to pick up around the armhole.  It's all very trial and error, as the whole jumper has been, and I think in future I ought to stick with a printed pattern; I'm finding the whole uncertainty surrounding the project rather unnerving =:o

We had a lovely time yesterday with friends, enjoying their hospitality and good food.  We seem to be on the same 'wavelength' about many things which is probably why we get on so well.  Without going into details, our get-together yesterday did all of us a lot of good - a bit of a kick-start that we were all looking for but had yet to quite find.  N and I so appreciated the effort that our friends had gone to - the decorations and attention to detail on the dinner table were beautiful, and made us realise that those little touches are important, and really do make a difference.  We both felt that is something we want to make more effort with at home.  It started us thinking about quite a few ideas and we feel that we will start the new year with many positives to take forward.  We have our friends to thank for that.  

We had Grandson No 1 with us this afternoon; he did a sterling job of keeping the two of us entertained!  Several rounds of I-Spy, Ludo (although that seems to go by a different name these days), a bit of footie on the television, and the afternoon whizzed by.  

We're keeping fingers crossed regarding the weather for tomorrow as my daughter is travelling to us for Christmas.  We'll check the ferry websites for any cancellations, but hopefully we'll see her tomorrow afternoon :))

An afternoon of festive concert music

It must be Christmas soon, the weather is now grey, wet and windy!  I know some places further north may well see a bit of snow over the holidays, but it seems that 'damp and overcast' is the norm for here.  I'll keep fingers crossed for snow in the new year - the shiny new snow-ploughs we saw back in September need to be put to proper work!

N and I enjoyed a wonderful festive concert on Sunday, performed by the Isle of Wight Youth Concert Band, a very talented and accomplished group of young musicians who have a huge following locally.  I have attended several of their concerts in the past, but this was N's first, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.  The programme was seasonal, with lots of opportunities for the audience to singalong with carols and Christmassy favourites.  

The senior band performed some wonderful pieces - the selection of music from 'The Nutcracker Suite' was particularly impressive, and I also really enjoyed the theme from the film 'The Polar Express'.  

In addition to the seniors (those at high school and of grade 5 proficiency and above), the concert band also has a junior section, and they took to the stage to do a couple of numbers by themselves.  They looked so tiny compared to the older teenagers; a little trombonist was actually shorter than his trombone; a tuba player who put a lot of puff into his playing; and a very talented percussionist who  was barely visible over the drum kit - the conductor couldn't see the lad over the music stand so that had to be rectified before the show could continue!  They all played with lots of enthusiasm, in fact it was obvious that everyone on stage was having a good time, as well as the audience.  The encore (a bit of a tradition, by all accounts) was 'Sleigh Ride', with seniors and juniors all together, and it was a fitting and rousing finale to a great afternoon of musical entertainment.  

On the sewing front, I am pleased to report that all reindeer have been made and are on their way to their new homes (and trees), and I have started machine quilting the borders to the quilt.  Progress is being made at last.

Christmas shouldn't have to break the bank

We have an angel for the tree-top!  A bit of card, gold pen, wadding, paper clips and some wired ribbon left over from a bouquet of flowers (yes, I keep all those bits and pieces; you never know when they might come in useful), and the top of the tree doesn't look quite so bare.  Things like that are great fun to make, and proof, yet again, that it isn't necessary to spend a fortune on decorating the house.  

Reindeer production is also in full swing - two have been sent by post to children living away, and hopefully the others will be finding new homes (and maybe trees!) in the next couple of days.

I spent much of yesterday focussing on the quilt borders, marking the pattern in preparation for machine quilting.  I've had to use a home-made stencil and white chalk pencil to mark the fabric, and got a crick in the neck for my troubles.  But the two short sides are fully marked, and I want to start quilting those tomorrow.  I didn't have enough backing fabric, as I suspected, so I've had to rummage through my stash to find something suitable, and it will just have to be pieced.  Ah well, a pieced back as well as a patchwork front! 

In amongst all this crafting, I have been ticking lots of odd jobs off the never-ending list.  I keep telling myself things are getting done but there always seems to be a certain panic around Christmas and the New Year season that's difficult to avoid.  I'd like to clear my head, if only for a short time, and spend some time in reflection of the past year and give some thought to the year to come (well, there's a wedding, for a start :-) ).  I think I must deliberately take some time out over the next few days to do just that.

We have quite a busy week ahead, friends to visit and share meals with, places to be and appointments to keep.  We may even buy a present or two - neither of us have actually bought anything yet, although certain things have been decided, just not paid for yet.  We have never succumbed whole-heartedly to the consumerist hype surrounding Christmas; that has meant, on occasions, that our small gifts have been overwhelmed by others more lavish and expensive.  I do believe it is important to stick to your principles rather than feel obligated to spend money you don't have on presents that aren't wanted.  That's just my view; for other people, the presents are an integral part of the Christmas celebrations and maybe they have it right.  But it's not for me.  I don't think Christmas needs to be a time to max out the credit card; it's more than possible to have a great time without spending a small fortune.  Home-made decorations are cheap and fun to make (and haven't been mass-produced in China), and home/hand-made gifts that someone has taken time and effort over should be cherished and appreciated every bit as much as the latest must-have gadget.  Enough said.