Sunday, 17-12-23: Blogmas 17: longer post alert

(A bit further down there's a Strictly final spoiler - if you haven't watched and don't want to know yet, It might be better to come back after you have watched.  xx)

Morning, everyone!  It's Sunday and I'm sitting in front of the PC, warm and cosy, tap-tapping away and enjoying a lovely first coffee.  <  sips >  Aaaaaahhhhhhhh.

Yesterday was lovely.

I took the 8:30 bus into town with a handful of other passengers amd by the time I was off the bus there was just tine to get some cash from the bank (for the holiday) before the shops started opening.  I headed straight off to John Lewis where I trawled around the make-up/'beauty' counters, getting a feel for it all.  I had thought about Clinique but there wasn't one so I went for the Charlotte Tilbury counter because the assistants seemed to be engaging with customers very positively and also because amongst all the scarily smart youngsters, there was an older lady - I say old, probably in her forties - who looked a bit less scary to me; still smart but more approachable for me.

She was very good at her job.  I explained and she took me to one of the seats and talked me through the whole prep/foundation/contour thing as she demo-ed on me.  She was practical too, explaining stuff I really didn't need as well as what I - well, not exactly needed, I didn't 'need' any of it - what I could use.

I hope she felt she earned her commission - I thought she did.  It was all thoroughly enjoyable and a walked out with a small range of products that was well within the budget I had set myself and some freebies too - proper posh full sized freebies that make you realise how big the mark-up must be!
Now I need to practise!

I did a bit more shopping - a few bits and bobs in Boots and some new day and night cream that I put on my list after I realised how terribly old the stuff I found in my drawer actually was.
It's obviously the freebie season because they had a three for two thing on.  I didn't need anything else but they had a box that was the equivalent of a supermarket food bank box so I happily popped it in - I can't remember what I chose now but it was good to be able to gift it on.

Finally, as town was getting horrendously busy/crowded/noisy, I headed back to the bus through the market where I bought some yarn.  I know, don't shoot me - I wanted a small project to take with me and decided to make a little jumper for Chris' one year old grandson but I have been so successful; in using up my DK yarn, I didn't have enough so . . .
I'll show you when it's finished.

Given how crowded town was, I was very surprised at how empty the bus was.  I fully expected to be standing for part of the way home but no, there was plenty of room.  I'm so glad I'm using the bus service again.

In the afternoon, I first made a batch of Delia's not-sausage rolls for the freezer (I made the pastry yesterday) before I started sorting stuff out and it took all afternoon because I kept getting side-tracked into sorting out other stuff.  You know how it goes.  I felt it was a good afternoon's work though. 

And then it was the Strictly Final.  And what a final it was.  Some fantastic dancing and loads of tears;  some of it was so moving.  I'm glad Ellie won but I would have been happy for any of them to lift that glitterball and I wished they could all have won.  They were, as Strictly's strictest judge would say, a-ma-zing.

Everything is coming up roses with Body Shop today.  Yes, there's two a day from now on because it stops on the 20th.  I won't want to do it on the 21st and after that . . . I can't.

Today's was a rose scented 'fresh plumping mask' whatever that might be when it's at home.  The instructions are tiny so I need to either find my magnifying glass or look it up online.

The one for the 21st is a 'rose scented shower scrub, a soft and smoothing exfoliation'.  I can't say I have ever troubled with either face masks or body scrubs so it will be a new experience, maybe on Wednesday.

I feel very pampered right now.

Today feels kind of busy.  I have ironing to finish off, some tidying up, some sorting out, some kitchen stuff and Beth and Alex are round this afternoon for a gift exchange and a buffet.  No Dave and Anna, of course, sadly, but I have that to look forward to in January.

Better get going, hadn't I?  Have a great day.  xx

Today's Blogmas music is two of my favourite John Rutter carols.  His music generally is very accessible and likeable and it is so singable but there seems to be something about Christmas that really inspires him.  I had loads to choose from but have two particular favourites, Star Carol . . .

. . . and Nativity Carol.

As always, I'm adding all the Blogmas music into a playlist which I will share with you closer to Christmas.  I've added a few more Rutter carols that aren't in here to the mix .