Christmas Stuff

I am sorry to use the 'C' word in September, but I am planning ahead.

For the last 2 years, I have made presents for people because as a retired lady I don't have the income that I previously had, living as I do on my pension.

What I do have is an unlimited imagination and time, so here we go again.  My friend Sarah and I are gardening this afternoon, planting pots that we will love and nurture until Christmas when they will be just ready to give as presents.

I have also started making Shamballa bracelets, and have to admit, I'm quite good at it.  Our local craft shop called 'No Two Things' run craft classes, and have booked me to lead a class teaching Shamballa work and folk painting.    Mmmm ...  back into teaching, but in a different way and a different client group but I am so looking forward to it.

If you live locally to Didcot in Oxfordshire, you may want to come along and learn how to make your own Christmas presents, at a fraction of the cost, but with a lot of love and time which makes them even more precious.

Well, off I go to get my gardening gloves and pots to get started.  Sarah will be here soon so better put the kettle on and tidy up a bit.   

Isn't if funny, I get more done in the 10 minutes before someone comes to visit than I do for the several hours previous to the visit.  

 

Thought you might like to see my babies, Jasper and Mica.  

They are exhaustipated (word that won the new word competition).

it means too tired to give a s**t!

I thought it was funny!

That welcome is calling to me

Whenever I visit my family in Wales, I enact a little ritual when I see the sign with the Welsh dragon.   I sing!     If you are Welsh, singing come a swift second after talking, so my poor husband just raises his eyebrows and lets me get on with it.    

We are holidaying in North Wales, and although Welsh by birth I have not visited this area before because I was born in the South.  I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains, the coastline, the wild life and the feeling of welcome that that surrounds me.    My lovely 'other half' even joined in with my song as we crossed the border.

We are staying in a lovely little cottage, (previously a granary which has been lovingly restored and is 'chocolate box' pretty inside and out).   I can't believe that we haven't tried this before, usually opting for an hotel or a cruise in the past.    We have changed our usual holiday accommodation for this cottage because we now have two little dogs, and felt that we want to share the holiday with them. 

We have walked on the beach (and I paddled in the sea with the dogs), and although cold we had such fun and laughter especially my 'other half' when I nearly fell into a very large rock pool.   Mica and Jasper, the dogs, loved every minute and were almost as exhausted as we were at the end of the day.

We have counted five castles, on our travels through North Wales, and intend visiting as many as we can before leaving this lovely place.

 Wales as a destination for your holidays?  Yes, most definitely.