A Pause in Advent 2012 - No4 (Fun)

Hello again

Just how quickly has this month gone by? Here we are at the last Sunday in Advent and time for one final pause before the main event on Tuesday.

I think we're just about ready here - a bit of veggie prep to do and another batch of mince pies to bake - one more session of carol playing for my brass players and then its time to hang stockings, leave a drink and mince pie out for the bearded fella.

My last pause is all about fun. The boys have had some fun things at school this week. Big Son's 6th form centre hold a charity dress-up day each year. Batches of 16/17/18 year olds forget their usual 'coolness' and dress up in silly costumes and visit 3 local towns to collect money for charity.

Big son along with 2 of his mates were the Thunderbirds - here he is as Brains;

The 6th form raised over £1,000 in about 3 hours which is pretty amazing.

Next it was Little Sons turn - his school were doing the Save the Children Christmas Jumper event - a week later than everyone else but a rather fun thing to do on the last day of term. Quite simple - wear a Christmas jumper - either bought, knitted or made - and pay 50p for the privilege;

Little Son hoped I'd be up for the challenge and between us ( he cut out - I did the sewing);

He jingled rather nicely!

I spent one morning this week in the kitchen - Christmas songs playing and a cloud of flour/icing sugar in the air - time to decorate my Christmas cake and make a batch of mince pies;

Vintage plaster carol singers were just 50p from my favourite little charity shop!

Now this is going to be my last post for a few days so I shall wish all my blog followers, commenter's and friends a very Merry Christmas;

See you soon

xxxx Vicki xxxx

A Pause In Advent 2012 - No 3

 

I had written another post for this third pause but it now seems wrong to use it this time after hearing the 

news from the US and seeing those news pictures.

Instead for this post - lets pause to remember the 26 innocent lives lost.

xxx Vicki xxx

A Pause In Advent 2012 - No 2

Hello again

It seems the hanging up of an advent calendar and the eating of chocolate or opening of doors makes the month go past quicker.

The boys have already munched their way through the top row of theirs;

 This weeks pause is about rituals/traditions - things which we do at the same time and the same way each advent/Christmas - am sure many of you are the same.

The first one is the hanging of the advent calendar. Bought when there was only one son from a Christmas charity shop. The pockets use to contain a few sweets and also a few treats and Christmas activities. It was meant to be a stop gap until I made something but that has never happened and now its probably too late. Those boys of mine are growing up fast and now need reminding about their chocolate each day!

The calendar hangs in the same place each year and I like to put it up on November 30th and fill it so its waiting for the next morning.

The other thing that happens at the same time is the first bits of Christmas find their way onto the dresser in the kitchen;

My calendar is stuck on the cupboard door, a candle is put out and lit when I have a few quiet moments to myself. I also gather together some of my Christmas ornaments.

Other things that have to happen are the cooking of a ham joint on Christmas eve so we can have it for dinner that night, always with baked potatoes, red cabbage and pickles.

This gets eaten after we've been to the open air carol service - though last year only 3 of us went - big son opted to stay home and make sure dinner was ready for when we got home!

Oh and for the carol service - a hip flask is filled with sloe gin and  when I meet with my friends and sing carols - we keep warm with the odd nip or two!

What special things do you family do?

xxx Vicki xxx

A Pause in Advent 2012 - No 1

Hello

I was reading back on old blog posts the other day - seeing what we'd be up to 12, 24 & 36 months ago - yep I've been blogging for that long! One thing I noticed was the Pause posts and I wondered if this would be happening for a 4th year. As I was wondering, Floss posted -as if like magic!

I've read my old posts and tried to think of 4 themes for 2012 - I make no apology for repeating myself slightly on some themes - I am after all a creature of habit.

My first theme is inspired by a newspaper article I read in the week - Time to ban Christmas presents??

No not those for our nearest and dearest but those for Uncle Tom Cobley & all.

Even within my family we've cut down on our buying rather dramatically over the past few years. Bear in mind I'm one of seven siblings - 6 of us live with partners, 3 of us have children and some have pets too. If we bought for every adult & child, that would mean for me - 14 presents plus those I buy for my parents, MrVV and the boys. Plus of course there's MrVV's family, much smaller but still 4 additional pressies.

Instead we have a Not-So-Secret-Santa between us siblings - one person to buy for instead of 6. We don't buy for the partners only the children. We came to an agreement with MrVV's brother that we just buy for children only - not the adults.

Therefore my Christmas shopping list looks lovely and small - my parents, my SS sibling, 3 nieces, 1 nephew, my MIL and my 2 Grandma's.

Much easier to manage and far less stressful than trying to remember what sizes each of my sisters are or what their taste in music/smellies etc is.

We have a get together as siblings one evening just before Christmas - we have music, food, drink and loud chat and pressies are exchanged and opened. This reminds us all of Christmas when we were small and we'd come downstairs on Christmas morning to open pressies from our aunts & uncles. OMG there were loads - my Dad is from a big family and the look of panic on my Mum's face each December when my Grandad would struggle up the path with 2 or 3 black sacks of pressies - the look - OMG where am I going to put this all? Come December 26th - the bathroom shelf would be groaning with bottle of bubbles and we'd enough soap-on-a-rope to last the next 12 months!! Rather these the pants that didn't fit or a schoolgirls diary for an 18 year old!!

Anyhow back to the main theme - do you really need to exchange boxes of biscuits with the neighbours each year? or buy every adult your child has contact with at school a pressie too?

Its never too late to jump off the over-consumerism bandwagon - perhaps 2012 could be your year??

Oh and if you get something you don't like - please donate to your local charity shop - even if you don't like it, someone else will!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Another month bites the dust!

Good morning

Another month is almost at the end - tomorrow is December the final month of 2012 - I can't believe how quickly this year has gone. So many events have taken place and we are now into the time of year that is littered with events that happen every year - mainly brass / family stuff. I love this sense of familiarity and routine - it suits me down to the ground.

Tomorrow is the Christmas event in our little town - the band will be leading a parade and playing in the town square. It promises to be cold but that's ok - those brass players of mine have thermals and there's a nearby pub where they can warm up when they are not playing!

The weather has changed from wet & windy to cold and crisp - I love this and especially views like this;

Low winter sunshine with clouds that look like snow covered mountains.

I shall be wrapping up warm today and I'm off to Southwold with my MIL - we are going Christmas shopping and probably finding a warm cafe for a coffee & cake.

I'll leave you for today with a mosaic for November;

Baking, late flowering roses, poppy wearing, band parading, Christmas cake making, bare branches, misty mornings, soggy leaves and advent chocolates ready to go into the calendar.

See you Sunday with my first Pause in Advent for 2012.

xxx Vicki xxx

The madness has started!

Good evening

Yep the festive madness has started. Firstly Saturday saw those brass players of mine at their first festive event - Christmas Lights Switch On in Aldeburgh. Oh dear the weather was pretty dire - wet & windy. However most of the band are a hardy bunch and there was an excellent turn out and they played their sets and then retired to the pub!! Therefore we missed Lenny Henry actually doing the switching on bit but I'm told he was lovely!!

Sunday was drier which was handy as I'd a hot date with Little Son. We headed on the train to Ipswich. He has his first proper girlfriend and wanted help choosing Christmas presents for her. There was also a list of other things that are needed both for Christmas and now including trainers for said teenager who is growing far too quickly.

What we didn't realise until the morning was it was the big lights on event there too - luckily we were in and out in a couple of hours before the hordes descended on the Cornhill. This picture from the local paper shows how busy it was after we'd left and also the Christmas tree which is dividing local opinion;

I don't think I need to go into any big town now until after Christmas - any remaining pressies can be bought locally or online :) Rather handy as there are now no spare weekend days left!

I treated myself to two things - firstly this cute gingerbread house which you can light up with a tealight;

Good old Poundland!

and secondly the Pretty Nostalgic book - its normally for sale for £25 but WH Smiths had it on offer for just £12 - an early pressie to me from me!!

Lots of lovely pictures and articles - I've started on the Winter section with pictures of vintage Christmas celebrations and decorations.

I've decided to join in with Floss's Pause In Advent for a 4th year - some might have noticed I accidentally published the draft of my first post yesterday - whoops - its now back in draft form till next weekend.

I hope none of my lovely readers and followers have been too affected by all the awful flooding? 

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Final Pause in Advent 2011

Wow - the final one - just one week from now it will be Christmas Day - doesn't seem like 12 months since the last one!

As this is now my 3rd year of taking part in the Pauses and in fact my 3rd Christmas of blogging, its hard to think of something new to write and I try hard not to repeat myself - I do that enough the rest of the year. I'm turning into my Mum and Grandma who tell one person the same thing 6 times and the others not at all!!

I think today's theme will be Christmas past - here's a couple of photos from Christmases when those boys of mine were much smaller than me - they are still as excitable though;

Little son at a toddler group Christmas party - he'd be nearly 3 and for the first time happy to see Father Christmas - I think he understood what Father Christmas meant that year.

My now giant big son as a cute almost 5 year old. That big plate of food - of course he finished it - if I get a chance I'll snap his lunch before he demolishes it next weekend!!

Enjoy your final week before the 'big' day. I've the boys at home to help with some of the preparations - they like to point out oh so often how much taller & stronger they are than me now - so I might as well take advantage of them!! We've a brass concert this week to look forward too and then there's the annual pressie swap with my sisters at the end of the week when everyone has finished work. The final bit is my favourite - open air carol service on Christmas Eve and then home for a family meal.

Oh one last picture - I know I've shown it to you before but its one of my most favourite memories of Christmas past - Little Son aged 9 as an Ugly Sister in the school panto;

xxx Vicki xxx

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Good morning

Are you feeling festive yet?? I think today I am. 

We tried hard at the weekend to bring some festive feeling into the VV household - we decided to put our tree up on Sunday. Things were gathered from the attic and cupboards and left in the front room till spare time was found. Once little son had been delivered to play carols in a little church in town, the remainder of us gathered in the front room. Big son has the attention of a gnat when it comes to low-tech stuff and soon wandered off to the safety of his gadget haven bedroom! This left just the 2 of us. The tree is easy - 3 parts and a stand. 

MrVV then turns to me and asks 'Where are the lights?' 

'In the box taped to the tree box' was my reply. 

'Oh no they're not' he says in his best panto voice.

'Blast, well where are they?'

Off he trots to the attic - actually he grumps and huffs about this ;)

The attic is searched and no lights are found. Perhaps they didn't survive last christmas? Who knows - I can't remember what I did last week let alone 11 months ago!!

So we down decorating and head off to the nearest place that might sell Christmas lights - the Factory Shop in the next town. Hurrah they had lights - only coloured ones but at just £5 they'll do - hopefully they'll last longer than one year!

Anyhow - the tree is finally up and the decorations have exploded on there in their usual random chaotic muddle :) I've even managed to put some other bits and pieces up too - that meant housework had to be done as well - trouble is once you tidy one bit it makes the rest look bad!!

I've tried to take pics of the tree lit up in the dark - not sure I've got the settings quite right - however I did like this weird effect I got when I move the camera - Christmas light candy canes;

Now there's a tree, it means that presents can go under it - but they've to be wrapped first - the first few have made it under there;

Nice and simple - brown paper, recycled card tags and crocheted ribbon.

Some presents can't go under yet as they are still unfinished. Two fairies came off the production line yesterday afternoon and as it was dry decided to pose outside in the ivy for you;

 Almost twins - there's a 3rd one that might get finished today.

Here's the rear view with the felt wings;

I don't think I'll be taking photos outside today - the weather is yuck - very wet, cold and windy. I'm happily staying indoors - plenty to do - both boring (housework) and fun (baking & sewing).

Right - I'd best be off - the pastry has chilled for long enough and I need to make mince pies for visitors later.

See you at the weekend for a final Pause in Advent - just how quickly is time flying by?

xxx Vicki xxx

3rd Pause In Advent 2011

 I was sorting out the old cards from last Christmas the other day when I found 2 that made me stop and think. Then my eyes began to leak - a card from a dear school friend who died in March and one from my FIL who died in January.

This weeks pause is a simple one - for all those who aren't with us this Christmas - we are still thinking about you and missing you very much.

xxx Vicki xxx

2nd Pause in Advent 2011

Good afternoon

Well the festive build up has crept up a notch - the biggest thing I've noticed is amount of brass engagements my 2 players have entered onto the calendar. This weekend there have been 3 - fortunately due to sharing them between the other players in their section they've only had to do 2 each. With this in mind, my theme for this weeks pause is Christmas Music;

For my 2 players - Christmas music starts being played the first practise after their Remembrance parade and concert. This means that by December 1st they've played rather a lot of carols plus started practising for their big concert the week before Christmas.

^^^ Those pictures were taken yesterday at the Christmas Fair in town - the band walked through the streets with Father Christmas to draw people to the bottom of the high street where stalls, games and fairground rides awaited them.

Yesterday was a bit chilly and the ground was damp so it didn't feel as festive as some years. Sometimes the ground is frozen and there's a sprinkling of snow;

Christmas 2010

and other years they've struggled through the snow to get to the same engagement at Snape Maltings;

 By the time Christmas Eve comes I think MrVV never wants to hear another carol - not quite the same for Little Son, he's still full of youthful enthusiasm - wonder if he'll feel the same after 30 years of playing (yep MrVV has played in the same band since he was Little Son's age!!).

Do you have a favourite piece of Christmas music? I'm torn between two - Once in Royal Davids City or Hark the Herald Angels Sing. When either of these get played - especially at the open air carol service on Christmas Eve, you'll find me singing along :)

See you later in the week - I've been to the most wonderful Cool Yule Christmas Market this morning with Dawn at Snape Maltings. We've both bought lovely things, had a good catch up over coffee and bumped into another blogger too :)

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Brrrrrrrrrr Monday

Good evening

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Another weekend rushed by>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This morning saw our first ground frost of the season;

As my dear bloggy (and RL friend) Dawn put it in her post earlier, the silly season has begun. The festive madness has started especially for my 2 brass playing menfolk. Saturday saw them playing in Aldeburgh for the switch on of their Christmas lights. Apparently it all went well and there are some pics on Dawn's blog - including one of Little Sons right ear!!

I opted out of that particular one as I knew it would be a long afternoon and the lack of comfy seating would mean I'd have to do loads of standing around.

However, I did make it out to Little Sons training band engagement at Minsmere Bird Reserve yesterday afternoon. It was lovely the band played really well. Not easy to get pictures as the space they played in was rather tight - but here's one of little son - as you can see the training band is rather more casual than the full band;

Looking at the gig list next weekend is even more hectic - 3 engagements - have a feeling he'll be sick of carols by Christmas Eve!!

Not sure if I've told you before but I've a bit of a thing about postcards - I seem to collect them from all over and have a hanger on my kitchen door which is changed over regularly.  The very clever Nina @ Tabiboo takes the most brilliant photos and she's turned some of her festive / wintry images into postcards - I couldn't resist;

 Even the packaging makes a nice picture.

Inside - these 3 gorgeous cards - not too Christmassy so they can stay up for a while.

Thanks for all the comments on yesterdays Pause post :)

Right see you later in the week for Novembers Scavenger Hunt pics and finally the contents of the lovely swap parcel. BTW still no housework fairy - I was planning on getting the boys to help on Wednesday when they are off school but they've gone and got themselves some paid work with MrVV!

xxx Vicki xxx

First Pause in Advent 2011

Thank you to Floss for organising another year of pauses in Advent. As other years there are lots joining in and the posters and their styles are all so different so if you've time, take a look at the list on Floss's blog and have a read.

I think by now most readers will know that I'm not a religious person - I pick and choose from lots of different beliefs and faiths. I know it seems strange evening taking part as Advent is such a part of the Christian calendar - I can't explain why I do this but I do enjoy it and I hope you do to. 

One of my posts from the last Advent series about Simplicity is one of my most read ones ever so I must have got something right.

Onto my first theme for this year, its about taking things for granted.

We here in the Western World take it for granted that when we turn on a tap that clean & safe drinking water will come out. If we go to a supermarket, the shelves will be full and the prices (even allowing for the current increases) will be fairly sensible - imagine finding out that a simple loaf of bread costs half a weeks wages! Its something we take for granted that won't happen here (make sure you're listening Messrs Cameron, Clegg & Osbourne).

Most of our children take it for granted that come the morning of December 25th, there will be presents for them - either from Father Christmas or family & friends. Also that there will be a meal of some sorts - whether its a traditional Christmas lunch or perhaps for those in the southern hemisphere a barbecue on the beach.

I know I take stuff for granted  - I did when I had this accident. I knew that I'd be looked after and that MrVV & the boys would rise to the challenge of looking after me and taking over many of the household tasks. 

Perhaps just for once we could all think about what would happen if those things & people we take for granted let us down. What would we do, how would we cope?? Perhaps we should all let those special to us know how much we love them and not just take it for granted that they know.

So I'll say now - Thank you P, E & W for all your help over these past 3 months - we're now half way through this and hopefully it won't be long before I'm back to 'normal' again.

xxx Vicki xxx

Progress and pretty things :)

Good morning

And yes it is a very good one today. The reason - I've had my first shoe wearing session outside the house in just over 12 weeks :) I've been to the physio and he'd very pleased with me. However it does mean next week I get more exercises added and more time in the gym. Its a lovely sunny morning here and when we got back I went for a kick in the leaves in the garden;

Its not been a bad week actually. I went out the other day with my MIL - we headed over to Saxmundham for a change of scenery. Firstly I traded loads of old bits of broken jewellery in for a lovely fat cheque. Then we headed down the high street for light retail therapy.

Firstly yarn - my leg gets cold and as I can't fit my boots on yet, I thought I'd knit legwarmers for around the house - after much pondering, I chose some Crofter yarn in a grey/deep pinks colourway. The ribbing proved a bit tricky as my knitting skills are rusty - once I cracked that it was fine - should have one by the weekend!!

A few other sewing essential were bought and then I glanced at the buttons - I spotted these and had to buy them - no plans for them yet though;

I found a wonderful shop that was stuffed full of pretty things - I need to go back there sometime soon as my MIL kept picking things up with wishful looks in her eyes - least now I've some ideas as to what she'd like for Christmas. This ring was too pretty to leave behind - its just costume not really silver/turquoise but very lovely;

My MIL gave me this little vintage OXO tin - she'd found it the other day in a sort out and was going to bin it but she thought I might like it - oh yes;

Time now for one small festive make - I love working in felt and each year make something new to add to my ever growing decoration collection - here's this years gingerbread house;

Do you remember the patchwork square I showed you that was going to be made into a big quilted hanging? Well it was finished and handed over at the party last weekend. My clever friend Lotti from our S&B group got the task of putting it all together - well she's blogged about it now so you can pop over and see the finished result here -  its stunning.

Finally, I had a late night last night - MrVV & I headed to Ipswich for an evening of laughter with Bill Bailey. A brilliant show - my sides ache for laughing so much. I spotted another blogger in the audience - hi Dawn, hope you enjoyed the show too and your ice-cream ;)

Right that's enough for now. I'll be back at the weekend with my first Pause in Advent post - this is organised by Floss - we're now into our third year which means I really need to think about what my themes will be this year.

Oh and I've the contents of a fab swap parcel to share with you too soon AND the results of another months Photo Scavenging!! Does anyone know of a housework fairy - at this rate I'll need one!!

xxx Vicki xxx

4th & Final Pause in Advent for 2010

Good morning

Just a quick post - a final pause in Advent. Can't believe there's just 5 days left. I am sticking to my keep calm and don't panic mind set but there's the occasional - panic & freak out thought rushing through my mind too!!

There is no theme to today's post - except maybe a loose festive one and one of family (my favourite theme).

We have escaped the heavy snow that everyone else seems to have had but it is still bitterly cold here. It was the same yesterday when we made our annual trip to Snape Maltings to watch Father Christmas arrive by barge. Looking back my final pause last year was about this event!! Guess I am really a creature of habit. However there were differences from last year - no snow, no big son (he was still in bed!!) and little son was not watching the band play but playing with it :)

Like father - like son

One very happy small boy - he's now the shortest member of the band and absolutely loves being out with them. He's got two more carol playing sessions this week and then he can put his hat & tunic away for several months till they start playing out again in the spring.

Here's the man of the moment arriving on a barge along the river - he was very vocal yesterday - was wondering whether he's got a part in a panto somewhere ;)

Right today's a manic Monday, hospital appointment, present wrapping and then a sisters get together tonight to exchange not-so-secret-santa pressies and have a glass or 2 of something!!

Keep warm & calm ;)

xxx Vicki xxx