What’s Been Going On?

Well, I know I've been away from the blog for a bit longer than usual but with all the preparations for Christmas and other distractions I just haven’t had the time or inclination to sit down in front of the laptop.  However I’m here  now and so without further ado I will attempt to fill in the last couple of weeks with photos and a few words.

One Sunday a couple of weekends ago William, Caroline, Charlie and I took a trip over to Bents Garden Centre.  Charlie loved the play area – look at his happy little face!  Their Christmas department was overflowing with goodies of all descriptions.  We spent a happy couple of hours browsing and buying too as it happens…

Our dogs got comfy new beds.  Lucky little canines don’t you think?

Caroline and I seem to be finding time on a regular basis for Starbucks Moments.  On a recent visit we were asked to take part in a coffee tasting.  Free coffee and chocolate?  Yes, please!  A very pleasant experience with two very sweet members of staff serving us.

I’ve been to the cinema again, the old fashioned Picture House in Hebden Bridge.  This time with my sweet friend, Lesley, to see Philomena.  Philomena is based on the true story of an Irish woman’s search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption in Ireland in the 1950s.  A heartbreaking story to say the least.  You can read her story by following this link.  After the cinema Lesley and I found our way to a little cafe for a bite to eat.  We had a lovely time didn’t we, Lesley?

One of the major distractions I’ve had, in a good way, has been my mission to finish the Christmas table topper I started.  My first ever patchwork project.  I was going great guns with it and was sure I’d finish it in time for Christmas but this week I discovered I’d bought the wrong thickness/type of wadding for it and, frustrated I’ve given up on it until the festivities are over when I’ll have more time to spend on it. :-(

Of course, Christmas decorations have been distributed about the house.  Here are a couple of my favourite ho ho ho things of the moment.  The boys always come round to help me decorate the house and the tree but those pics are still in the camera.  I’ll post them next time. 

 

George striking a pose in front of the tree for me.  He slept over on Saturday night.  His brother, Nicholas, slept over the night before and Charlie has had a couple of nights here this week.  All good fun and all in a day’s work for this lucky nan.

“Dashing away with the smoothing iron he stole my heart away!”  This little fellow did that 10 years ago.  Saturday afternoon George tried out a new skill.  He’s learning how to do the ironing.  It’s a life skill and boy or girl it’s necessary.

Christmas shopping at the Trafford Centre one day last week was fun with Caroline.  Poor Victoria misses out on a lot of these trips because she works Monday to Friday whereas Caroline gets days off midweek with her job and weekends are family time not dragging the boys round the busy shops time.   The Trafford Centre was buzzing, full of Christmas shoppers but not too hectic that it was unpleasant.  Like I said in the first place it was fun.  That’s Selfridges above.  I loved their honeycomb decorations.  Selfridges always looks good though.

Little Nicky Noo plays for his local football team.  Victoria brought him round after practise one night so that he could show us how professional he looks in his kit.  The football coach has done well for his team and they have sponsorship from both Redrow Homes and McDonalds which means they have a match kit and a training kit.  Lucky lads.

George’s class had a craft morning at school on Wednesday this week and he asked both his mum and I to go in and support him.  Cross stitching a bookmark was the object of the exercise.  George was making his for grandad.  George is a Man City fan and granddad a lifelong Man Utd fan.  The bookmark says MAN C.  The kid has got a sense of humour!

An afternoon a couple of weeks ago was spent with my sweet friend, Vanessa, in the pub overlooking the lake.  oh, drinking only coffee I might add.  The company was great and the scenery was glorious!

And finally, the donkeys.  They continue to delight me every time I walk past their field.  Adorable creatures!

I’ll be back before too long with pics from a recent weekend in Wales.