CLEARLY...

... ITS TIME TO END THIS BLOG.

PAUL MOREBY!

So that's who sent the Baileys!! What a star he is. So thoughtful. We've had a bit of a giggle today about the timing of its arrival!

BEAUTIFUL SUNNY MORNING

Not a bit Christmassy thoug! Just waiting for Gilly from next door to collect her key from us - it's complicated - and then we're heading into town. Charles is doing the rounds of the fruit and veg stalls in the market and I'm going to my new hairdressers for a wash and blow dry. Might also have a little visit to Fenwicks Food Hall if it's not too busy! Then back home for some leisurely food prep! Oh... And a gorgeous bottle of chocolate Baileys has just been delivered. No idea who it's from but the timing could not have been better!!

STAR WARS.

Charles and James have gone to see it this afternoon. I hope they really enjoy it. It might cheer Charles up a bit. Anyway, he's made sure that he's thoroughly prepared by watching ALL the previous movies during the past week. While he's out I've wrapped presents for the neighbours two doors down - Sikh family who have brought us gifts many times since we moved in and who have just brought Christmas presents round this afternoon. so, I've made sure there's something for everyone, although the gifts are just tokens really. I've started James's birthday cake, but won't finish it until Christmas morning. I haven't cried so much today, so that's an improvement, although it was touch and go for a while this morning. I suspect we have fallen foul of the advice that we should be looking after our own mental and emotional health in order to get through this testing time. Thankfully, we have amazingly understanding neighbours, some of whom are very well versed in mental health issues and just knowing that they are around is a real consolation. I'm beginning to get over what happened the other night. It was probably the singular most unhelpful situation I've been in since Christina became ill and it has had a negative impact on both of us really. But we need to move on from it and, hopefully, the next few days will help us to do just that.

RANG SAKS...

... and cancelled my appointment next week. I felt awful, but have to confess that at half the price I am used to paying, the colour (no bleach) and styling that I had yesterday in town convinced me to make the change.

CHILLING WITH THE GIRLS!

Seriously. I'm lounging around watching rubbish on the telly, snuggled up with Lily and Rose. I just thought I'd have a go at experiencing what Charles h been doing for the last couple of days. Clearly he's decided to watch all the Star Wars films before he goes to see the new one on Tuesday. Must be nice to have nothing better to be getting on with...

WAITING...

... for five Christmas cakes to be picked up and then we'll have our meal. While we wait, we are watching the Newcastle game from last weekend. One that we an enjoy of course! Tomorrow I'm having my hair coloured AT A NEW HAIRDRESSERS! I am in two minds about doing this. I feel really guilty because I've been a customer at SAKs in Morpeth for decades and they know me and, more importantly, my hair. BUT the place I'm going to tomorrow is in town, so really handy, and half the price of SAKs and yet it appears to be very professional. We will see how it turns out! If it's a disaster, I do still have an appointment in Morpeth next week that I haven't been able to bring myself to cancel yet.

WOULD LIKE TO SAY...

... that I'm feeling much better today, but it wouldn't be true. I had another night of very disturbed sleep due to bouts of coughing, so hardly feel refreshed. Never mind, it can't last much longer.

ITS BEEN A GOOD DAY FOR...

... sorting out odds and sods of jobs that needed to be done, but which we kept putting off. Now I can happily cross lots of stuff off my list. I'm ready for a lie down now though!! It's only just gone 4pm, is a dark as night and I'm still getting over the cold/flu/bug. I didn't have the best nights sleep due to coughing, but have to say I don't think I'm quite as bad as I was yesterday, so I'm hopeful of a better sleep tonight. Lots of Christmas cakes are going to be collected tomorrow evening, so we should have a dining table again. I've just had an extra order for one from a customer who had two last week and wondered if I had any more to spare. Fortunately I did - OURS! Not to worry, I have another one ready to finish and we can have that. This time it's a ginger fruit cake, slightly lighter that the traditional Christmas cake, but I think that will make a nice change. Because it's more spongey in texture I'm going to keep it frozen until next week before covering it with marzipan and, possibly, shock horror, ROYAL ICING. Might change my mind about that, but you never know, it might be worth a try. OR - just thought - maybe marshmallow frosting? Who knows? The icing possibilities are endless...

FEELING LOUSY!

I've had a cold brewing for days and it has now manifested itself into full on, raised temperature, hacking cough, skin that hurts, sore ribs miserableness. All I want to do is curl up and sleep, but even that hurts and as soon as I lie down a start to cough... Oh woe is me!!

DIDNT SEE THAT COMING!

NUFC 2 SPURS 1 Great stuff. Might watch MOTD tonight!

YOU REMEMBER THE TREE...

... That we got from Chopwell Woods, Forestry Commission? Well it turned out to be completely rubbish. We got it into the house and ended up filling a bin liner with needles after emptying the Hoover twice! I think there were more needle on. The floor than at any time during the last ten years - maybe more - of Christmas trees. We ended up in a bit of a slanging match as we tried to decide what to do and ended up throwing it out and getting another from Gosforth. A letter of complaint will be sent to Chopwell Woods tomorrow and I sincerely hope we get our money back because it was absolutely not fit for purpose. However, we now have a lovely tree, all lit up and decorated. I'm currently sitting in the kitchen avoiding the NUFC/ spurs game. We won't get anything out of it, but we'll get even less if I go and watch!!

FULL OF COLD.

I have been all week to be fair, but I thought it was on it's way out. Sadly I was wrong and I feel pretty yuck now. We've had a full on day AND we've had snow. Went to see James and Claire after Charles had done an hour's tutoring. They are SO organised for the baby. Charles helped to move some of the furniture round so they could put their tree up this afternoon. We did a big shop on the way home and I've been busy in the kitchen ever since. I wanted to make lots of useful party bits and pieces to go in the freezer, to save time over Christmas. I also made a fabulous raspberry meringue buche de Noel for Christmas Day tea. Am now collapsed in a heap on the sofa. Charles wants to put the tree up in the morning, but I would have loved to have done it today as it really looks Christmassy outside. Never mind, it really doesn't matter one bit.

MIGHT HAVE TO....

... think about putting the tree up this weekend. I never like to do it too soon, but there's a fine balance between allowing time to appreciate all your expensive Christmas decorations, and them driving you mad because they clutter the house up. Once New Year's Eve is out of the way I cannot wait to take everything down and get back to normal! I'm not too sure how I feel about Christmas this year, mainly because we are unlikely to see Christina as she has effectively cut links between us. This leaves me feeling more sad than I could begin to explain, but it's her choice and we need to respect her decision. It will be the first time that she won't have been part of our Christmas and it hurts. Apart from that, we will be having a strange Christmas Day - just the two of us until mid-afternoon when James and Claire come to celebrate birthday AND Christmas. I think we're planning to have our actual Christmas meal on the Sunday, so that will be a huge departure from the norm as well as having implications on shopping!! BUT the most important thing, and I suppose the reason for Christmas feeling a little insignificant this year, is that the new baby is due any time around New Year and that certainly feels more important. Strangely, I remember feeling the same 31 years ago!!

SITTING DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME...

... this afternoon! Feel shattered actually. It's been a full on day of cake deliveries to Blyth, Christmas card posting and visiting ex-neighbours in Fram, shopping for quiche ingredients and baking like a mad thing all afternoon. I still have six quiche waiting to be baked. Thankfully, we have agreed on fish and chips for tonight's meal and then Charles is going round to Dave's to help with a rather exciting project that's just come in for him. Probably can't say too much at this stage but it involves a soundtrack and the Irish football team and an important tournament next year! Good on him!

GOT THE TREE!

Ended up in Chopwell Woods and found a Noble Fir that we both love. It's quite unusual, but a gorgeous blue green and very sturdy. Apparently it has an amazing fragrance as well. Anyway, it's in the garage for now. I've never been keen on getting the house decorated too early!! Just thawing out a bit and then I fully intend to spend the afternoon making gingerbread biscuits. I fully expect the house to smell divine with all the gingery warmth from the kitchen!!

CHARLES IS HOME

That's his last visit to the school in Birmingham. (We're having an Indian takeaway this evening because I can't face cooking and just fancy Indian - and once you've got the idea in your head, nothing else will do!) Managed to get all the cards written today. Hopefully we might choose a tree tomorrow. It is indeed beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

CHARLES IS IN BIRMINGHAM...

... For his final visit. Should be back by mid-afternoon tomorrow. It meant an extremely early start. We were all up at 5.00, but the girls and I went back to bed an hour later! The roofers have been to replace the two tiles that came down on Saturday night, and they don't appear to have discovered any other problems up there, so that's a relief. Just had the guy over the road pop in wanting a Nottingham Forest cake for his Dad for Christmas. That'll be a first! Right, I MUST make a start on Christmas cards!!!!

THATS IT THEN!

I don't go to the match. Newcastle win. Simple solution to the team's woes. Don't know why it didn't occur to me sooner.

THE RELIEF...

... that comes from deciding not to go to the match is indescribable. I have no butterflies, no interest in team selection, or, heaven forbid, likely line up. no desire whatsoever to hear anything about this disaster waiting to happen until Charles and James get back from the ground. I'm truly sorry Jim, but you are both going out later to a gig you will really enjoy, so a bit of pain and disappointment beforehand won't do you any harm. I intend to catch up on Strictly as we missed it yesterday. And I'm sure I'll be the one who has the most fun this afternoon.

KESWICK

Just seen the news. First item - the storm that's hit the North today and especially Cumbria where a major incident has been declared. Those poor people are just helpless. And the worst thing is the number of flood defences that are being breached.how can that happen? It'll be a real test for Morpeth if the Wansbeck continues to rise. Ad for us - it's the wind that's been really bad here. Seems set for tomorrow too. And it makes me very pleased that I'm not going to the match tomorrow!! Sorry James xxxx

WENT TO...

... the Metro Centre this morning. We were SUPPOSED to be meeting Charles's Mum and a group from the nursing home, but we had a phone call early on telling us that she had decided against going! Never mind, we went anyway. It must be YEARS since we last went and we fairly soon realised why. The shops in town are SO much better! Okay, it's easy to get round the Metro Centre, it's all undercover and there are plenty of loos, but the shops are pretty uninspiring So we probably won't be rushing back!

DIDNT WASTE ANY TIME DID THEY.

Jets were on their way to Syria WITHIN AN HOUR of the vote last night. Feel sickened by the whole saga. No good will come of it...BUT what IS the solution?

THE AYES HAVE IT

Predictable and tragic.

STRUGGLING TO STAY AWAKE!!

It's only 9pm, and I can hardly keep my eyes open. We intend to stay up to hear the result of the Parliamentary vote though. Even though it will almost certainly go Cameron's way, I want to hear it for myself. What a terrible dilemma the situation in Syria is. If any help feeling really concerned about Lucy's husband, Ata. I cannot imagine how he is feeling right now, especially knowing that his parents are still living there.

REALLY ENJOYED...

... spending the evening with James and Claire. They are such good company. My greatest wish though, is that we could one day have the same relaxed relationship with Christina. Sadly, that seems unlikely. Im not going to say more about it, except that the situation is about as bad as it's ever been - and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

Nothing beats the smell of gingerbread straight from the oven. It's worth baking it just for the smell. Fabulous!