Category: Christmas

Childhood Memories · Christmas · Family · Films · Music

Christmas Music – Stop The Cavalry

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Ok I’ve tried to hold off from being Christmassy but I can’t do it any longer – if I do I think I’ll burst!

Today in work we were talking about Christmas Films – I’ll keep that for another post ’cause Christmas really does make me smile so there’s LOADS to say about it.  Anyway back to office chat – the Muppets Christmas Carol was mentioned and after that the songs wouldn’t go away – can you hear it?  Does it feel like Christmas?

So I’m now at home playing with iTunes and I have my christmas music split into two – carols (church type music) and songs (chart type).  What I love about music is that there’s nearly always a story behind why you like songs – whether it’s because of a person, an event or a place – well for me the first christmas song that I want to post about is Jona Lewie – “Stop The Cavalry”  I can’t hear that song without thinking of Dad.  Specifically we’re in the car down at the traffic lights in Portmarnock village, we’re waiting for the lights to change, the song is after coming on the radio and he turns it up and we’re singing – Daddy has the same kind of singing voice as Jona Lewie and can hit the deeper notes – me?  I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket but that has never stopped me trying 🙂

Now press play and sing “duba-duba-dumdum duba-duba-dum wish I was at home…”

 

I know it’s mad but in my head I’m still singing it with Dad 😀

Hopefully this will be the first of many posts about all of the glorious things I love about Christmas

Christmas · craft

Good Intentions

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Well the end of the year is almost here and I am giving lots of thought to crafts for next year. As I type I am absolutely itching to stitch but I’m making a throw and I’m determined to finish it. In fairness I should have finished it AGES ago but as per usual it was put down – no that’s a lie – I didn’t put it down I did carry it around with me and did nothing else with it.
So the plan is finish the throw and and then look in to the big bag of patterns/kits I just so happened to buy at the knitting & stitching show in October. I should probably stop putting temptation in my way by looking up patterns on the internet – but they really are soo yummy. I think I will gently ease myself into stitching with a few biscornu – no shush! I’m getting distracted from my remaining 9 snowflakes – sure after that there’s only the background – it will be lovely for Christmas just which one???

Christmas

The First Sunday of Advent

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(I meant to post this this morning but I forgot – oops! )
As I sit here and type I have no real idea of what Advent is. Is that a terrible thing for me to admit? Anyway before I go off and figure out what Advent is let me tell you about my day so far (it’s only 9.40am!) Last night we were torn between watching the X-Factor (distinctly lack luster) and looking out the window waiting for snow. Snow didn’t come so we went to bed but woke at about 3am to see that yes like Father Christmas the snow was waiting for us to go to sleep before it came. I’m really amazed that I managed to go back to sleep as normally I’d be bouncing around like a hyperactive child fully of fizzy drinks – I think the 3am part had a lot to do with it. However joy of joys the snow was still on the ground when I got up and is still there – we don’t have this type of weather – it just doesn’t happen – however this is the earliest snow has fallen is a long time – according to the weather folk in the UK who are getting it much worse than here.

Out of our three cats only one of them wanted to go out. I was watching her and she seemed to go into slinking hunting mode immediately – I’m not sure what she could see but I did notice that there was snow falling from the washing line – so I’m guessing bird or possibly neighbouring cat testing the line.

Anyway time to go and figure out about Advent.

Books · Christmas · Home · Life

Learning

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Yesterday my email account was hacked and everybody in my address book was sent something – not sure what as I didn’t open it. Anyway three cheers for Google! They decided that it was spam and blocked it so the mails didn’t go anywhere. My only problem after that was to think of a new password and make the change so I looked to my bookshelves for inspiration. Eventually I came up with something so all is well with the world – however as I was looking at my books I noticed that I have a few books about learning some different languages. It really was an Oh Yeah! I have those books – so now I’m going to use those books! As I type I realise there is one other text book somewhere in the house – I will have to dig that one out although I can start with what I have. I have to admit that I’m rather looking forward to getting stuck in but it will require me to make sure that my desk is cleared – I have to get some stuff shredded 😉

I wonder if I will do any better by myself compared to school & a brief stint in college? At least there won’t be any exams – eek and bane of my life – you would think that as a grown up I’d be beyond that kind of thinking – I guess old habits die hard.

Speaking of looking at my shelves – I wonder if it really is the wrong time of year to dip in to one of my Christmas books? Possibly maybe I’ll save them for night time reading.
I’ve just realised that it is I’m going to dip into next – I started reading Maya by Jostein Gaarder but have never managed to finish it – I’m only hoping to get a little bit further on in it – yes finish what I’m reading and then have a look at that.

Christmas · Cooking · Food · Home · Television

December 8th

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Ok so the making a post every day isn’t really working out. There have been two reasons for this – the minor one is that I was away over the weekend doing my Christmas Visits and the major reason is that our internet at home is on the blink. Right now I’m on my lunch typing this on my little net book
So festively speaking what has been happening the last post? The houses on the bus route are finally lit up. OK maybe not as much as last year but there is a recession going on. Speaking of lights I put up some lights around the fireplace on Friday. They are really pretty so I plug them in first thing in the morning so I can look at them as I potter about getting ready for work. I have to say it works really well ’cause they are white lights against black marble so there is an element of reflection going on.
My mother, sister & myself were off for the weekend visiting and delivering cards & presents etc. However when we went to visit my aunt on Sunday I realised it was the first decorated house I’d been in and there really is something about it that makes you break out in a big smile. After that visit we had the 2.5 / 3 hour drive home so I spent the evening in a daze – recovering from the journey and also trying to figure out where will I put the Christmas Tree next weekend? I’m still not sure I have a feeling that it is going to be a case of putting it together and then seeing what will fit where!
The one thing I was looking forward to when I came back from my travels was the Christmas edition of The Radio Times! According to a previous edition it was due out on Saturday but no joy – perhaps it will be in on Tuesday?! I popped my head in the door of the news agents this morning – no joy 😦 However I’m hoping for the edition that has the two dancers on it and not the dalek. I’ve gone off that stuff and Dr Who doesn’t exactly scream Christmas to me. On the other hand we’ll be getting 2 copies of it – one for me and one for himself (don’t ask!)
Speaking of Radio Times that leads me nicely into the topic of seasonal viewing 🙂 Who was watching Delia? I only want a small part of her house – boy was it fabulous! and as for the food – I think there will be one or two of those recipes experimented on over the next while. Tonight I’ll be watching Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas. Mind you I think I’ll be recording it as I’m going out tomorrow evening and will miss it – so record them and watch them as I decorate the tree!! That is a plan I’ve just come up with as I’m typing. Now I really am looking forward to Saturday 😀
Well I must go as I have to clock back in and dedicate myself to the company for the afternoon ;P

Christmas

December 3rd

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Yesterday we went to the National Craft Fair after work. There were two stalls that we had to buy stuff from so when we arrived we made bee-lines for them. The first was a pottery stall – last year we bought two cups and a milk jug – they had a holly motif and it was Christmas! This year we got two bowls (soup/cereal) a sugar bowl and a tankard shaped mug.

Then we toddled off into the food hall. There we picked up our Christmas pudding from Food For Thought in Carlingford – we got this last year and it was delicious! I had a slice of it every time I walked past it!!

I managed to do two other things that really needed to be done: Our dinner from M&S has been ordered = Turkey, Chicken & Duck Ballotine with pork & apricot stuffing all wrapped in prosciutto, also we are getting the vegetable medley – Yumms!
The other thing I managed to do was pick up some make-up. I don’t normally wear makeup but this is powder so it’s alot lighter!

Oh dear – I’m running late for work as per usual – it doesn’t help that I’m listening to christmas radio!!

Christmas

December 2nd

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I had a notion that I would like to make a blog post everyday for the month of December. However I have been foiled at the first hurdle and our internet went down yesterday and still hasn’t returned. I’m writing via my little net book – 3 cheers for a back up!
So this is my first December blog post:
Today we are definitely allowed to talk about Christmas! All throughout November we’ve been studiously ignoring what the shops have been doing. Ok secretly I’ve been basking in all of the sparkle:)
December 1st sees all of the stalls setting up on Henry Street in Dublin and that for me means it’s started. I was sitting in a coffee shop yesterday and just seeing the decorations up sees me a heart jump of glee. So with me glee I hoped on the bus going home last night and all I could see were twinkles. Our bus route passes through estates where there are houses dotted here and there with lights on the houses. Others just don’t have their curtains closed and we can see their tree lights blinking and some have candle bridges. Don’t tell anybody but I’m softening to candlebridges.
Last night Christmas kicked off with Delia. OMG but that food looked to die for! To top it off so did the house. I would sell my granny for a house half that size! We also took in the decorations and tree from the shed. I don’t think they will be put up until next weekend as I’m away this weekend. Yikes! just realised I’m going to have to get pressies for that trip!
Best dash for now – talk to you all soon!

Christmas · Husband

Starting to emerge.

MsWalsh1 Comment

Well hello stranger!

I know, it’s been ages since I was here – I really am sorry.  I’ve been in a bit of a funk but in the last few days I’ve noticed that it seems to have lifted.  That means there are little traces of me to be found here and there.

So what is making me smile lately?  I saw a poster this morning on my way into work.  There is a play on in the Gate Theatre and I’m going to go.  I’m not too sure that himself wants to so I’m going to go all by myself to the Matinée on Saturday (providing there are tickets still available)  The play is The Birds – I’ve neither read the book nor seen the film – in the immortal words of Manuel “I know nawthing”  The main draw is that it has Ciarán Hinds in it.  I loved his portrayal of  Captain Wentworth in Persuasion and his Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre.  So to see him live on stage is a must in my book.  I’ve asked P. to keep an eye out for him in the shop but he’s told me he wouldn’t even recognise him if he was singing and dancing in front of him – harumph!  I don’t believe him ’cause my DVD of Persuasion is rarely put away it’s watched that often.

While looking up the website for the theatre I spotted that A Christmas Carol is also coming to the stage.  I’ve been to that particular theatre twice and both times it was to see A Christmas Carol and I’ll soon be able to say three times.  All I have to do now is decide how close to Christmas will we go? – not sure that makes sense but it does to me.

The other thing we are hoping to go and see is The Brother – starring Eamon Morrissey in Draíocht.

I’d better go as I’m supposed to be having an early night and there are still things to be done.

‘Night ‘Night

Christmas

I do miss them

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Yesterday I took down the Christmas tree and put away the lights and all of a sudden the room looks bare and empty.  There is something about a tree with it’s baubles and lights that make a room look happy – I don’t know what it is.  However last night saw me put them back in their boxes and this morning we took the tree apart.  I know it’s a little late but it would seem that visually Christmas is over for this season.  Mind you I have a note on my screen saying get ready for Christmas ’09 but if I know me I will ignore that until November and the headless chicken impression will kick in 😀

Christmas · Cooking · craft · Life

Thoughts for the New Year

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I don’t like to make resolutions but I do make lists of good intentions.  Unfortunately for me we all know about good intentions 😦

Anyway Christmas is always December 25th so why this year did it take me as such a surprise?  My preparedness was lacking to say the least and that is such a pity as I absolutely love Christmas.  Throughout the year I have my markers – I’ll recover until my birthday and the look forward from then on.  However I allow myself to think and get ready for Christmas very late – not 2009.  Any festive stitching and other crafty projects that I want to do will be done throughout the year come what may.

The other thing that I am hoping to do more of is baking.  Not sure what or why – do I mean baking or cooking – both I suppose.

I always look to the new year with great hope but then it zips by and I’ve managed to achieve nothing – well maybe not nothing but certainly not as much as I’d have liked.

The one thing I’m definitely going to do in 2009 is lose weight.  I’m nearly 2 stone above my goal weight so I’ve to knuckle down come the new year.