Saturday 11th January

On Saturday the 11th of January Lee and I went to The Ink Station in Heckmondwike for Nini to do tattoos for both of us. She had happened to have a cancellation so I got us in so that we could both get Jasmine's paw print tattooed on us. So we went there first. The tattoos took no time at all and weren't even really that painful. 

By the time we had finished it was about 2pm so we headed home but decided to stop in Dewsbury on the way. It's ages since I've been and Lee hadn't ever been and thought there was a record shop, so we parked up near the market. It was absolutely freezing cold and quite a lot of the shops were shut, but we did have a wander round the market and into some charity shops. The record shop was shut which was a shame. But then on the market there was a stall selling fresh donuts so we got some to share. They were delicious! I got a couple of tops in one of the charity shops and we got some bhajis from a stall near the market before coming home. 

We then met my mum and stepdad in Barnsley at about 6pm for tea and the cinema for Lee and my stepdad and drinks for me and my mother. We ate in The Lounge; I had some tapas as I wasn't overly hungry at that point. Lee and my stepdad went off to see Nosferatu and my mum and I went in a couple of different bars for some drinks. She decided she would like some dessert so we went to Dolly's Desserts and had brownies and ice cream. Then we went into the Botanist where there was a musician playing, and he was making quite a good noise, so that was nice. My stepdad and Lee joined us after the film and then we took them home. It was a nice, chill day. 

Here's my tattoo of Jasmine's paw print, right next to my tattoo of our old cat Ivy's face. We miss both of them and I'm glad I can have these memorials to them

And this is Lee's one, underneath his Yoshi tattoo

I really liked this old signage above this building in Dewsbury

Donuts! They were like seaside ones and they were lovely

Some kind of ridiculous rum cocktail that I think I had in the Botanist 

Brownie and ice cream in Dolly's 

And a limoncello spritz I think in the Market Kitchen

December 27th 2024

On December the 27th my cousin, his wife, and their baby Theo came to visit us all. They had spent Christmas with Beth's parents so came up to my mum's house on the 27th. We all arrived at about 11.30, I'm guessing. We had lunch pretty soon after we arrived. Neil made it mostly, we had deconstructed toad in the hole. We swapped presents and played with Theo and had a lovely time basically. Theo refused to sleep so my aunt and uncle went out with him and Beth for a little walk. We had tea about 6pm or something, and then Rob, Beth and Theo all left, with Theo in his pyjamas all ready for bed! 

The rest of us played games and stuff in the evening, like you do at Christmas. I made Baby Guinesses for some of us but they were quite big so as someone said on Instagram, they were more like Teenage Guinesses to be honest... But delicious. 

We got a team photo as is tradition when my family is all together. It's a lovely photo though. I was wearing On December the 27th my cousin, his wife, and their baby Theo came to visit us all. They had spent Christmas with Beth's parents so came up to my mum's house on the 27th. We all arrived at about 11.30, I'm guessing. We had lunch pretty soon after we arrived. Neil made it mostly, we had deconstructed toad in the hole. We swapped presents and played with Theo and had a lovely time basically. Theo refused to sleep so my aunt and uncle went out with him and Beth for a little walk. We had tea about 6pm or something, and then Rob, Beth and Theo all left, with Theo in his pyjamas all ready for bed! 

The rest of us played games and stuff in the evening, like you do at Christmas. I made Baby Guinesses for some of us but they were quite big so as someone said on Instagram, they were more like Teenage Guinesses to be honest... But delicious. 

We got a team photo as is tradition when my family is all together. It's a lovely photo though. I was wearing this long red satin and black net skirt. It was handmade but I got it online ages ago - literally about ten years ago. I don't wear it very often but I love it. I just put a plain black t shirt on top to really show off the skirt. 

The rest of the photos are actually from after Christmas, but my next post is New Year so these will go here. First of all is a picture of all the alcohol I got given for Christmas. I like a drink and I think people know it! Secondly are the books I got in a Secret Santa - two of which I have already read which I like! Next are the other gifts I got in the swap, which were lovely and well thought out which I appreciate. Lastly are all the books I got in total - I am so excited to get to all of them! 

Here's Theo chilling out with his uncle Peter. He's such a cutie - a really happy little fella and a sweetie to be around. 

Here's the team photo of all of us, including my mum's black cat Millie 

Drinks in the evening

My outfit, I think it was nice for Christmas

All the alcohol I got given... I don't drink a lot any more so it will take me a while to get through these

Secret Santa books. All secondhand which I absolutely don't mind at all 

The rest of my swap presents

And finally all the books I got all together

Boxing Day 2024

And then it was Boxing Day! I didn't take many photos this day actually, which probably means that I was just too busy having a good time. We played games, drank wine, ate good food. We had Christmas dinner leftovers but with different vegetables. At lunchtime we must have had just sandwiches and dips and stuff. For pudding at lunchtime I had a warmed mince pie with clotted cream, which was delicious! I also opened the bottle of Pineau that my aunt and uncle bought me. It's a bit like port, it's from Charente in France and I had it over there in October and wanted some for myself here! 

We played the game Sky Jo which Lee and I bought in France. Well I sat and did some cross stitching but I was sitting at the table while others were playing it! We had our main meal at teatime and it was just as delicious as the day before. 

I was wearing my Sprinkle of Glitter tutu skirt that I've had absolutely years but which I don't often pull out. It's cute at Christmas though. With it I wore a top that I got from Evans, again an absolute age ago. I know I had it in 2013 because I wore it on holiday in Benidorm! I actually don't know why I don't wear it more though because it's very nice and easy to wear. The back of it is grey t shirt material so nice and soft and stretchy. 

It was a good, relaxing day. 

Mince pie and Christmas - pure indulgence and pure Christmas in a dish! 

My skirt and top combo later in the evening. My stepdad had been practicing on his bass

And here's me and my lovely cousin Peter

Christmas Day 2024

And now I am finally blogging about Christmas! Blogging is taking me so long at the moment that it is already past my birthday on January the 19th as I write this! It's almost a month since Christmas! But never mind, it is what it is. My blog is always there for me. 

So Christmas Day dawned and Lee, Peter and I were at our house. But Peter had had a visit from Father Christmas at our house in the shape of two stockings! Haha, he had never not had one so my aunt and uncle asked if we could make sure he still had one even though he was away. He had had a pretty rubbish year so my mum, aunt and I put together TWO stockings for him for him to open first thing. He wasn't expecting it at all so that was very sweet. He came and sat on the bed with Lee and I and opened his things, which of course included a chocolate orange or two which I know he loves. 

We got dressed and headed off to my mum's house. Caroline and Neil had gone to church but they weren't very long so we quickly broke out the Bucks Fizz. We had a lovely day all together. We had starter at lunchtime and our main course at about 5pm I think. Most everyone pitched in to help; we drank well and ate well and played games and played with all our gifts and such. I got a lot of lovely things - Lee bought me tickets to see The Pogues in May, my mum made me a dress which you'll see in a few weeks on my birthday post, and I got some lovely Secret Santa gifts. We had dessert at like 8pm or something; Peter and I again had lemon cheesecake because we are just devils like that. 

It was nice to spend Christmas with my aunt, uncle, and one of my cousins. It doesn't happen often! I was wearing my spangly dress that I bought for my cruise last year. My mum cut it shorter for me for my holiday, so I wore it with tights on Christmas Day although I was plenty warm enough. I was sprinkling sequins everywhere - oh well, it was Christmas joy!

In previous years I've had a replacement for the meat on my vegetarian Christmas dinner, but I've never enjoyed it that much so I decided this year I would just have stuffing (which I really like anyway) and all the trimmings. It worked out really well and I liked it. 

The stockings waiting for Peter at around 9am on Christmas morning

And here he is opening stuff. I like stockings and I'm glad he still got one even though he wasn't at home or with his parents

The table all set nicely before our starter - didn't it look lovely? it was a bit of a squash but it was fine

Here's my main course - stuffing, carrots, broccoli, sprouts, roast potatoes, veggie sausage and bacon, gravy, and bread sauce. My mum and I love bread sauce and look forward to it all year!

One of the book swaps I did came packaged really nicely in this lovely box. The gifts were lovely

Here I am in my sparkly cocktail dress later in the evening

And finally here are my hyacinths at home which had finally come out!

Christmas Eve 2024

As I said previously, my aunt, uncle and cousin were spending Christmas in Yorkshire with us. Peter was staying at our house, so on Christmas Eve morning we had a lie in and we had sausage sandwiches and leftovers for an early lunch. We were just chatting and stuff. Then I had to go to work. I don't often work Christmas Eve but I had a lot of things to do so I decided I would go in for just a couple of hours. Then there was a carol service at the church where I work and my mum had asked me to stay for that with her and my stepdad and my aunt and uncle so it made sense for me to go to work later. I took Lee and Peter to my mother's and they just hung out there. 

I finished working about 3.45 and went into the nave where the vicars were setting everything up. They had lit loads of candles and kept the lights low, so it felt really special. There was mulled wine and snacks. The rest of my family arrived and we sat down. It was a relaxed service and I enjoyed the singing. And as you can see, both the ministers were dressed up for the occasion!

After it had finished we went back to my mum's house. She made fajitas for tea - vegetarian for me of course. Plus while I was working my family had made a 7 layer dip! I saw the receipe absolutely ages ago and really wanted to try it. So everyone put it together for us all to share. It was black beans in the bottom and then avocado, salsa, sour cream, cheese, onions, tons of stuff! It was really yummy and lots of us really enjoyed it and said we would try it again. A triumph!

My mum had also made one of her famous lemon cheesecakes - it is SO good and I love it and so does my cousin, so we both had some of that. In the evening we played more games and got stuff ready for Christmas Day so that was good. My mum was in need of resting so we were all trying to take care of her. 

Peter and Kiki when he insisted on giving her a cuddle in the morning

The vicars all dressed up ready for the carol service

The lights looked so lovely especially as it was getting so dark outside. The wooden plinth is covering the baptismal and it has so many delightful things on it. I'm not a Christian but I love our nave - and of course the work I do because I do believe in the charity

Mulled wine when I was waiting for everyone else to arrive

All ready for Christmas at my mum's - she had to move all the furniture around but the tree looked so beautiful 

The table all set for fajitas - but with the best china haha 

The seven layer dip! It was really nice to try!

And the famous lemon cheesecake

December the 23rd

On the 23rd of December Christmas started for real! I went to craft club in the morning. The previous week we had had a fuddle/faith lunch/add whatever you call it and we often don't meet the week of Christmas itself, but a few people said they would still be there, so we had a meeting anyway. I went. I am working on a big cross stitch at the moment and have been doing it for months... it's big! 

In the afternoon Lee and I did some tidying up and got ready for family to come later. My aunt, uncle, and youngest cousin Peter were coming up to Yorkshire for Christmas. My aunt and uncle were staying at my mum's and Peter was staying with us! But they all wanted to come and meet our new cats, so we arranged to have tea at ours that day. 

Everyone arrived about 5pm, I'm guessing. Lee and I made roast chicken for the meat eaters and veggie sausages for me, along with bread and roast potatoes and lashings of gravy. I had got a Christmas cake from work so I had that out for pudding and probably something else too as Lee doesn't like Christmas cake. My uncle and I ate ours with Wensleydale cheese which is a very Yorkshire thing to do, I love it! 

We played some games and just generally chatted and had a nice time. My mum and stepdad and aunt and uncle left at some point and it was eventually time for bed! I was wearing a tartan skirt that my mum made for me years ago but which I don't wear often - I really should! On top I was wearing a silver sparkly top that I have also had a while but which was tucked away in the wardrobe and had been forgotten about! 

Katniss wouldn't come down to meet anyone, as she's still quite shy around anyone except Lee and me, but Kiki loves all strangers so she came down for fussing. Poppy loves people so she was around too. 

Christmas cake with Wensleydale cheese. I just put some stars on top of the cake. The only food colouring I had was orange so the stars are that colour. It wasn't perfect, but it was fine, it looked cute enough

Here's Peter and Kiki 

And here's my outfit! I think this looks good, I'll have to wear it again soon

Weekend in Durham

As is tradition, Lee and I went to Durham to visit his family the weekend before Christmas. Lee's mam and stepdad always throw a party for a bunch of people including his four siblings and their families, and we usually stay at Lee's dad's house and spend some time with him and Lee's stepmam too. We always have a lovely time. This year there was a family thing hanging over me so I wasn't at my best, but I had explained to people and I think people understood why I was a bit down. 

We set off on Saturday morning up the A1 and got to Lee's mam's at about 12 o'clock, I'm guessing. We had stopped for some coffee on the way up. I was wearing a blue velvet Simply Be dress that I only ever wear at Christmas, and tartan patterned tights. They were from Snag originally but I got them off Chloe I think. I definitely hadn't worn them before so they were new to me.

About 1pm Lee's siblings and co started turning up. Oh and our friends Paul and Lianne who are basically family now; we always love to spend time with them too. Lee's mam had done a bunch of food including vegan and vegetarian options, so there was plenty for me to choose from. 

Lee's brother Chris was forty the following day, so Lee's mam had got a chocolate orange cake for him and I had a piece; it was delicious! We took a photo of the whole clan and I got some photos with my niblings. There was plenty of wine. We also usually use this time to swap Christmas presents. However, this year Lee's brother Andrew had suggested that we did Secret Santa and each of us got one person to buy for and spend more money on. It worked out really well - we still got presents for the kids - so we all opened that stuff and all the adults were happy with what we got!

We left Lee's mam's house quite late on when most people had already left, and went to Lee's dad's. We talked to Michael and Mary for a bit before going to bed. On Sunday morning I got up and had a shower and Lee's stepmam made us breakfast. We sometimes go out with them at Christmas but we decided to stay in so Mary cooked a lovely lunch. One of her sons came over so we talked to him for a bit and I did some of my cross stitch. 

We finally said goodbye and headed back to Lee's mum's for a bit. His mam and stepdad and youngest brother were there, so we talked for a little bit before heading home. It wasn't too late when we got back but we were both knackered so we got into bed and watched TV. As you can see from my last photo, Katniss was lying with us and we had the Christmas bedding on which I always love! 

On Sunday I was wearing my festive star top and my maroon pleated skirt which came from New Look forever ago and which I weirdly only ever wear at Christmas too! 

It was a nice weekend, I always really like this tradition. 

Tights and boots when we were about to set off on the Saturday. I love these tights for looking festive!

Chocolate orange cake, delish!

I always try to get a photo of Bev and all her kids - that's Andrew, Chris, Daniel and Lee at the back, and Kim and Bev at the front. Gorgeous photo!

My eldest niece Leah who always poses for a photo with me. Hey boyfriend Mason came as well

My second niece Caitlin, she's a lovely kid

Caitlin's brother. I have another niece and another nephew but I didn't get round to asking them for photos

I am aware of how crap I look in these photos, but it is what it is

Lee's stepdad Gary took this of all of us including his parents and Lee's uncle

This was Lee's dad's Christmas tree on the Sunday morning in the new extension of their house

Sunday's outfit of festive top and skirt

Here's what I got in my Secret Santa - in  the box is a kit to make resin coasters so that'll be fun to do! And I love Cotes du Rhone Villages wine

And here's Katniss lying on me on the Sunday night