Christmas 2009

I eventually managed to track down the butcher who was most apologetic that he had made some sort of mistake with my order. Sadly there was no bacon but he presented me with a wonderful gammon instead and insisted that I would not have to pay. I then became suspicious about the provenance of this particular joint of pork. It was superb but I do not believe that it was from my own home-grown pig.

The few days before Christmas were spent wrapping, cooking, drinking sherry, watching Christmas movies as we had quite a lot of snow to enjoy. I caught up on paperwork and eventually finished the Christmas bargello but the workshop painting marathon did not quite get underway.

Christmas was a chilled out affair that was really relaxing – I ate far too much chocolate so this week it will be time to make an effort crack on with getting the workshop repainted and sorted out ready for the New Year.

Cheers!

  

My new haircut will take a while to grow in – at the moment I think I look as shorn as a convict! The wool tweed skirt and waistcoat that I had commissioned arrived from the dressmaker and was left on my doorstep in a shoddy carrier bag. I hugely disappointed since the skirt looked like an elasticated sack and the gilet would have better suited an elf assisting Mr Claus. I think I would have made a better job of it myself even though my dressmaking skills are poor.

After losing my old but trusty Kenwood Chefette somewhere in my pantry, I was thrilled to “win” a 1960’s replacement model on Ebay in time to be whipping up meringues and trifles, obviously feeling inspired by watching several Jamie Oliver Christmas cookery programmes.

I whizzed around doing last minute shopping and wrapping before the end of term and I aired the Yurt out so that it would be ready to receive Mo and Tania for sherry instead of coffee this week.

The end of term school carol service was delightful and as we left the Church to begin the holidays, snow began to fall silently as if on cue.

Let it Snow!

As usual in December, life seems to have been getting more and more hectic. I visited Angie in Northamptonshire to give her some longarm lessons. We had a detour to the Bramble Patch which was fully stocked with a super range of fabrics and great classroom spaces.

There was a major hold-up on the train in Birmingham and it was rather a squeeze as passengers all tied to get on the one train that was running. Everyone was good natured and it really was an opportunity to eavesdrop on all sorts of people. There was a couple drinking vodka straight out of a bottle and a girl received a marriage proposal from her boyfriend who even got down on one knee.

I was on my way to see Diana in Shrewsbury to check her machine over and give her some tuition too. Her shop is “Castle Court Quilter” and she had a super selection of fabric and threads.

I spent Monday sorting through a pile of mail and laundry. Frustratingly, the email was down for no particular reason which always drives me mad! I visited the butcher twice to collect my bespoke bacon but the first time he couldn’t find it and the second time he just wasn’t there which was more than a little irritating…

I continued working on the massive Christmas bargello and spent an afternoon at Durris School sewing with the P5-7 class. My new computer still had not arrived as it seemed to be stuck in the delivery depot at Aberdeen.

The workshop got a super, new glass door and the roof insulation was completed. There was a dusting of snow on the hills and everyone I meet is rushing around as if Christmas is coming! On top of that I had a birthday party for Fergus and I even managed to post all of my Christmas cards.