Well now, what a Christmas we have had! With nine inches of snow it was always going to be a challenge, but throw  a Motherly fall on ice that had her hobbling her way through the festivities, a thaw that caused the melting snow to pepper Mum and Dad’s house with holes (and caused drippy bedlam on boxing day), a few arguments and a birthday cake firework that exploded in my sisters hand, and what you have have got yourself is the kind of dramatics destined for a long run on Broadway.
Heck yeah, we don’t do anything by halves in this family! But alongside the murder and the mayhem were all the ingredients of a terribly traditional, awfully British Christmas: burnt parsnips, The Royal Family, and Marks and Spencers party food et al. And despite everything, it’s been fun, because there’s nothing like a crisis or ten to pull a family together, don’t you know. Especially when one of the mini dramas involves blowing up a paddling pool in the dining room to catch falling snow…
And of course there were presents galore! Look at all those books: Stitch and Sew from Cath Kidston, The Lady by Rachel Johnson, The Jane Austen Pocket Bible, The Fortnum and Mason Book of Tea and the latest Robbie Williams biography. Oh joy! And that was just for starters! There were cinnamon and vanilla candles, rolls of lacy and polka dot ribbon, a cupcake maker from Mark that I had long coveted, the gorgeous sewing box at the top of this post from Mum and Dad, Joules soap from Kath, a fabulous Domestic Goddess apron, chocolate galore, gold studded votives, the prettiest glass trinket box, spotty peg magnets, lots more besides, oooh and a partridge in a pear tree!
And oh my, did I mention the new mobile phone and iPod Touch?? Never was there a woman more thoroughly indulged than me. With a phone from my parents and the iPod from Rich I spent the entire Christmas lost in whole new virtual worlds, hunting out apps to thrill you within 2011 and sending my family around the twist choosing a ringtone that doesn’t make me spill my tea when it bursts into vibrating life…
And now it is New Years Eve and at two o’clock in the afternoon, there isn’t a child in the house washed. After a week spent in and out of mum’s, we are at home today and I am in a frenzy of laundry in my annual efforts to make sure I don’t drift into the New Year with a pile of dirty washing and thus inflict upon myself a mountain of laundry for the rest of the year: because even my daftest, most personal superstitions have a domestic bent…
Though I am full of cold and bloated with both sausages on sticks ( after my nephew Gabriels ninth birthday “Stick party” last night: where all food had to be served, rather fabulously, on a stick!) and PMT, I am floating around my twinkly house feeling calm. Richard is helping Finley set up his new desk in his bedroom, Mark has just popped in and stole one of the first batch of  cupcakes baked in the maker and Grease is playing on the DVD to an audience of anyone who happens to be passing and cares to indulge in a quick bout of festive Summer loving…
All is well. In many ways, 2010 has been a truly terrible, difficult year, and I’m not sure I am sorry to say goodbye to it.
But tomorrow marks the start of a New Year. New hope, new opportunities, and a new day and I for one, am ready for change.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Remember that drink I had at the continental market, the name of which evaded me? It’s Gluhwein, (Glow-Wine) a traditional German mulled tea with red wine, best drunk in the open air with cosy gloved fingers and rosy cheeks… Gluhwein… 250 ml…
Hello Darlings, now please don’t panic, because my See You Soon is there for a very good reason indeed. While it might at first glance seem as though I have quit the blogging party to go strutt my stuff at the nightclub…
Sometimes you read something, that plain old breaks your heart… "A friend sent your dad and I a Christmas card last year, wishing us peace and joy. Under the news of her two little ones, she wrote that the past year had…
So in effort to make myself that little bit fatter, that little bit more bloated, tonight I went into the kitchen and fried myself an egg. I served it retro style, sandwiched between two slices of thick white bread, and glued together…
Heavens! Apologies for two book posts on the room, but I happened across Rachel Ashwell’s new book and just had to share it… At a time when we’ve had to whisper goodbye to Shabby Chic, to the echo of a scrumptiously lyrical…
It is perfectly possible to wander about ignoring your entire life. You can in fact muddle through the most outrageous of days, sitting in the midst of the chaos you have hidden in candlelight, watching Coronation Street and nibbling on a garlic…
12 Comments
Whew! After reading that I feel like I need a nap…or a bath or something. I hope your 2011 brings nothing but vintage sweet fun!
What an enviable Christmas stash! You are one well-kitted out Domestic Goddess. Sorry to hear of your dramas, hope 2011 is a much smoother ride. Have a lovely New Year's Eve – here's to fresh starts and optimism!
I'm sorry but the vision of a paddling pool in the living room did make me chuckle. Sometimes the disaster events are the ones that seem to work out the best, or at least my Christmas did anyway! Hope you have a happy and successful new year! x
I'm sorry but the vision of a paddling pool in the living room did make me chuckle. Sometimes the disaster events are the ones that seem to work out the best, or at least my Christmas did anyway! Hope you have a happy and successful new year! x
I popped in from Vee's Friends list. What a delightful site you have here. So sorry to hear about the mishaps from your Christmas holidays. Hopefully everyone is on the mend. Here's to a cheery and wonderful 2011!
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Whew! After reading that I feel like I need a nap…or a bath or something. I hope your 2011 brings nothing but vintage sweet fun!
And more of the same to you. Have a wonderful new year Phyllis!x
Happy New Year, thank you for a year of inspiration, humor and delicious vintage domesticity!
And thank you for continuing to pop by. It is always a pleasure to have you here. Happy new year Hon!x
What an enviable Christmas stash! You are one well-kitted out Domestic Goddess. Sorry to hear of your dramas, hope 2011 is a much smoother ride. Have a lovely New Year's Eve – here's to fresh starts and optimism!
I'm sorry but the vision of a paddling pool in the living room did make me chuckle. Sometimes the disaster events are the ones that seem to work out the best, or at least my Christmas did anyway! Hope you have a happy and successful new year! x
I'm sorry but the vision of a paddling pool in the living room did make me chuckle. Sometimes the disaster events are the ones that seem to work out the best, or at least my Christmas did anyway! Hope you have a happy and successful new year! x
Happy New Year, and thanks for a great year of writing! The advent calendar was fab by the way! X
Oh you are truly blessed! how lucky you are! wishing you continued happiness in 2011!xx
Happy New Year! Wishing you a healthy, safe, and blessed one!!
Well said, Alison. I'm looking forward to more puttery, twinkly stuff in the year to come!
I popped in from Vee's Friends list. What a delightful site you have here. So sorry to hear about the mishaps from your Christmas holidays. Hopefully everyone is on the mend.
Here's to a cheery and wonderful 2011!