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.
Sweet dreams to Shirley Temple, who has died today at the grand old age of 85. Helen and I will always treasure Shirley’s starring role in The Little Princess and those childhood Sunday mornings in my Nana’s little flat would not have…
Actually I’m not. I just love that grumpy girls face. Any excuse to use a good picture! I’m not fed up. I’m kind of twitchy. Anxious. Worried about worrying. And worried about worrying about worrying if you get my drift? Actually scrap…
With just three days to go to the New Year and the launch of BrocanteHome, I have tonight listed the bookclub choices for each month of 2005. (Left) While there are many lovely picture books dedicated to Vintage living, very few encompass…
Oh Martha. I do love you but… biting the hand that feeds you seems a little unkind mais non? Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome…
That my review of A Ghost Story should come with the caveat that even after watching it from start to finish I find myself bewildered by both its beauty and its meaning should tell you all you need to know to have…
I found these little cake pictures in the BestWay Cookery Book (Find it at Abebooks.com), from the 1930’s along with a few others depicting food to gruesome to mention (Steak and sausage cake anyone? Or how about a corned beef block?). And…
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!