Have been doing various things to the house in the last couple of weeks so thought I would share some pics here. The loft conversion is virtually finished so here are some pics of Jake’s pc and gaming area and his new shower room which he and Ellie really love.

The little bedroom is still to be done but I have been diverted by Xmas stitching most of which I cannot post here due to the need to keep it secret or the fact that my old camera is appalling at taking shots of anything close up – newer one still at the menders due to slight accident in Nepal with water bottle!

Have also had to have new kitchen equipment as cooker blew up (literally very big bang!) for third time this year. Decided that at £70 a time it was now no longer worth mending so downsized from the old range cooker to a very nice new one. Here it is looking very shiny and me doing an artistic shot ( a la Crazy Aunt Purl) reflected in the shiny mirror front.

Have also been doing some more exciting decorating as have put up all the Xmas decs. I love decorating for Christmas and have to really restrain myself not to go over the top!. Last year I made loads more things and posted pics of them but these are my current decorations on the mantel piece in my lounge

And of course the song goes – ‘so what have you done , another year over and a new one just begun’. I know it is not Christmas yet but here we have been celebrating early as we are off to Spain next weekend (hurrah) for some r and r in the warm. So this weekend we had our now traditional pre Xmas party and celebrated early with Xmas dinner and some of the pressies.

My brother Ben came to us today for pressies and dinner – sadly his partner Amanda had to work. They got the kids some fab Xmas pressies from them so big thanks. The first was a fajita cooker that you use on the table top – it’s a small griddle with pan included. Jake’s favourite food in the whole world is fajitas so he was thrilled.

They also bought them a raclette which is another table top grill which comes with little pans – you cut up meat, fish and veg,  top with cheeses and grill your own food at the table – a very sociable way of eating. They have had one for years and the kids love it so so they are very pleased to have their own. We are going to try it out tomorrow then use it for New Year when my sister and her kids are here.

Below are some pics from the party and our xmas dinner.

So another year over and what have we done – well loads and loads as usual, holidays, work, the build, Nepal the new life stuff – been a very, very busy year. I have also had this blog for just over a year – forgot to check when the date was but sometime last Nov I think.

Am really looking forward to next year which is nice to be able to say as there have been some bits of this year that have been very stressful!! But that is all over now – still got a bit of decorating to finish but that will get done. Have been having such a good time just recently and am looking forward to lots more of the same wonderful stuff.

So I hope that you all have a lovely festive season wherever you are! My best wishes to you and yours.

A couple of weeks ago I had a reunion in Yorkshire with some old friends – we all were at college here (we met 25 years ago) and have met up at intervals ever since but the last time was about 6 years ago so it was wonderful to see them all.

We had a great time revisiting old haunts on the University campus, doing a tour of the new pubs in town and having a curry and were very pleased to see that we can still hack it – we started at 2pm and were still going at 1am which is not bad for a group of forty somethings!

Here is a pic of the guys – most of whom are called Dave bizzarely enough – and girls in one of the local hostelries.

So a lovely few weekends – we are having a party here next week – my usual pre – Xmas event  – an excellent time is being had!!