Blogmas, day 16

Morning, all, and welcome to Blogmas, day 16.  

I was a Bad Girl yesterday. 
After having to cancel two Christmas treats and, possibly, having to cancel two more this week, I thought 'I am NOT going to miss the Infant show so I dosed up, wrapped up, was careful not to breathe over anyone, had a reserved seat at the front, managed to only cough once and really enjoyed a delightful performance of the First Christmas, 'A Big Little Nativity' from the wonderful Out of the Ark company, which has been providing schools with the best shows, assembly songs, etc, complete with backing tracks, books, licences, overheads, etc, for a very long time.   Their Infant shows are perfect for very young children with simple words, catchy and easily learnt melodies with supportive backing tracks and a script for multiple performers.
(no sponsoring, I just have good cause to bless them over many years when I was music coordinator, took hymn practise and when I produced Infant shows).
The show was funny, lively and the nativity scene brought tears to my eyes and, I suspect, to most of the parents watching, judging by the atmosphere.

I feel as guilty as sin for going but, at the same time, I am glad I did. 
Bad me!!

I also popped over the road to an almost empty Morrisons for a few essentials.  I need to make fudge today (tell you why another time) and don't keep things like white chocolate and condensed milk in the cupboard.  While I was there, I  got things for Friday too when (hopefully) Alex is over for Festive food prep.

Earlier in the day, I finished Lindsey's loaf and, at her request, sliced it and froze it and will take it over for personal training tomorrow (assuming I go, but that's a decision for tomorrow).  I finished the washing and the ironing and I did a bit of housework but not enough.  lol

Let's move on to Adventy stuff.

Today's Advent of Change focuses on Big Change.  It's mission statement is a bit wordy so I've copied it direct from the site.

We find, support, and connect an intergenerational community of changemakers rethinking and reshaping the systems around young people. We nurture them as people, and as a collective, showing a new way is possible. Together we spark lasting change.

The bumph makes it clearer.

Today, you have helped a young, undiscovered leader gain new skills they can use to make a difference in their community in the calendar.

It sounds good.  I don't like the way young people seem to be defined by their exam results/academic performance so much.  This charity seeks to change that perception.

https://www.big-change.org/

The bag held quite a haul today.  The puzzle (although, to be honest, I am ahead of the numbers and am looking forward to starting my second one in a few days), the candle in a tin, a 'Revive me' tea bag, a bath bomb AND some Christmas earrings.

I did all the extra rounds on all the squares done so far on the blanket.  Today I think I will have a go at the reindeer one which looks as if it will be a more tricky one.  
With the cross stitch, there's a few little pictures I don't like very much so I might try to make up a few alternatives.  A candle should be easy enough, for a start!

Today, the diary is empty.  I have a List though, of course I do.

make fudge (a really easy Thermomix recipe)

tidy up (much needed)

dust and sweep

make cranberry sauce - that's on and doing as I type but I think I have added too much sugar so I need to get some more cranberries, if there's none in the freezer, cook them without sugar and add them to the first lot.  

It freezes, I use it all year round, it won't go to waste.

For anyone interested, I use cranberries, demerara sugar, orange juice, orange zest and mixed spice.   It's really nice with port but I don't have any.

I watched one saved episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea yesterday evening - wow, what an ending . . .   I am so looking forward to the next one this evening now, also saved.

(for those who don't know, it is a Doctor Who spinoff, more for teens/adults than children)

And the music advent calendar

I've got to the point in this calendar when I'm just cramming in my favourites.  I'm sure you don't mind though.

So today's link is two versions of Carol of the Bells, one from Libera . . .

. . . and the other from Pentatonix.

Both are just lovely!  

Blogmas, day 15

Good morning, all.

Well, I was so glad I didn't attempt the RAH yesterday.  Not many aches, etc, no dizzy head but, oh, the coughs.  My poor, aging pelvic floor took a right battering, I can tell you!!  And I was done by the evening!

However, I did eat healthily pretty much all day for the first time in over a week so I'm very happy about that.

Now I just hope I throw off the symptoms quickly because I have two things on this week, both of which involve people with fragile immunity, meaning I will pull out if there's the slightest uncertainly.  Fingers are crossed. 

I also managed to get stuff done.

Lindsey's sourdough dough decided to go-slow so I left it overnight to do a proper rise.  I'm baking it in a tin so over fermentation won't be a problem.  

I caught up with the washing and, while I didn't actually do the ironing, I sorted everything out.

I made three nutritious meals.

I cleared and cleaned the kitchen - and promptly messed it up again!  C'est la vie!

And I didn't have a daytime snooze.  Yay!

Now I have addressed the reason for my closed other blog in comments, I would like to thank Melanie and June for their kind words about it.  I didn't do that blog for comments but when you hardly get any, you just wonder . . . and the spammy stuff was worrying, as, indeed, it is designed to be to scare your money out of you.

And thanks to the rest of you for your concern re. this cold.   I have such a lovely community here and I'm so grateful.

On to festive stuff.

I redid the baubles.  They may not look any better in the photo but they do in Real Life.

I put some squares together.  Goodness, what an eyeful.  Sunglasses needed!!

Seriously, it looks better in real life again but I have decided they all need another row of the 'gold' - tedious, but I do have the time so let's go for it.  And, going forward, maybe the granny squares should be all one pattern?  I'm pondering that one as it is doable.  I can use the others for something else.

Good use of colour has never been my strong point.

Today's Advent collection is:

the puzzle

the tea light in a tin

the tea bag - Energise Me, it is called.  I need energy!  :-)

a wee pot of raspberry jam - I am making buckwheat pancakes for breakfast to use it.

a bath bomb

the blanket and the cross stitch

. . . and the Advent of Change which, today, supports Farms for City Children.  Immersive farm experiences for children who have spent their lives in big cities with very little, if any, exposure to the countryside.

It says:  Today you have helped a child discover the countryside for the very first time

https://farmsforcitychildren.org/

On to today and . . .

Here's the dough!  Very, very alive having more than doubled in size overnight and can you see that bubble?  Over-fermented doesn't begin to describe it and it would make grand focaccia!

It's sending up bubbles like a witch's cauldron, the oven is heating up as I type and I will need a collar around the loaf tin to stop it from getting a muffin top.
Goodness knows how big the holes will be!

I have cancelled circuits this morning.  Yes, I am a wimp but the coughing is genuinely causing a few pelvic floor issues and I don't want to take the risk.  Lindsey was very sympathetic and this block has been the pits really, what with the earlier virus and now this cold.  Fingers crossed that it will be loads better in the New Year.

So I'm stuck at home but the house is a tip, downstairs needs a good clean and it is not a Kay-week this week, there's ironing, a bed to change . . . oh, all the stuff I neglected last week.  I'm hoping that getting my environment in good nick again will rub off on my mood.  I am sure it will.
I will put on my Christmas playlist (made using what I put in the Advent Calendar below) and that will jolly me along.

When that's done, I have Game of Wool and two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea to catch up on, as well as various YouTube offering.  And the crafting.  And making healthy meals again . . .

Have a great day, everyone and, again, thank you.  You are all much appreciated.  xx

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I think I need something jolly and bright for today's Advent Calendar music so I am going for the fantastic Mike Oldfield version of In Dulci Jubilo.  It makes me want to dance.

And, because I always do, here's a complete contrast, the gorgeous Pearsall version of the same carol, edited because the link I posted was blocked for some reason.  Sorry if you've already tried and fingers crossed this one works.

Blogmas, day 14

It's Sunday.  In church terms, the third week of Advent starts so I looked it up and . . .

Today, Sunday, December 14, 2025, is the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, so the candle lit is the pink or rose-colored candle, symbolizing Joy, marking a shift from penitence to rejoicing as Christmas nears. This Joy candle represents the gladness of the shepherds and the approaching arrival of Jesus, the "Light of the World". 

(says' Google AI)

I should have kept Gaudete until today, shouldn't I.  Maybe I will link to the meaning of the Advent candles a bit more - if I remember, and I probably won't.

Let's talk about the blanket!
Here's the baubles - again, a bit wonky and not quite the same size. Yarns from the same stable aren't always exactly the same and that's true of the sparkly green and the sparkly red from King Cole.  It's not a problem!

I decided to stitch on (like the cross stitch) so . . .

I made the next two as well, the wreaths.  Now I am very chuffed with these, two the same, with tiny little metallic jingle bells stitched on and I looked on YouTube for how to make the bow (it's not a real bow, of course).

What have I got left to make? - two reindeer, candy canes, stars and poinsettias and one stable for the middle.  And the grannies, of course.

As you know, I'm not following a specific pattern and, if I do this again at any time, I think I will make each square one more round bigger.

I also feel that the ones that are integral to the square are more effective than the ones where the shape is sewn on top - the wreath is much better than the baubles, for example, and I could have done the baubles as part of the square - in fact, I might go back and redo the baubles!

Anyway, it has set me thinking about next Advent.  
(no hate, please - that's just me and crochet!!   I get ideas.  < grin > )

Here's the rest.

The tea bag is called 'happy me'.  What???  There's info about each flavour and it is a right old mix of spices, citrus and apple.  It actually sounds really nice.  I'll let you know.

Two bath bombs - not sure why I put two in and I'm not even having a bath today, I'm washing my hair in the shower!  Oh, well . . .

There's the section of puzzle.  Again I'm ahead as it's very boring feeling unwell and not going out so I have actually done this bit.

The candle in a tin.  I have this burning all day as I have loads of tea light candles that need using - and that little flicker is lovely.

And the Advent of Change: Think Equal.

I've not heard of this before so I copied their mission statement from their site (link below):

Our mission is to achieve a global system change in education introducing Social and Emotional Learning as a compulsory new subject on national curricula around the world.

And the info in the calendar says:
Today you have given an early years teacher  the tools needed to help teach their class about kindness, diversity and empathy

(so sad this this is needed, but it is.)

https://thinkequal.org/about-us/

I'm definitely starting to feel better now.  Yesterday I managed to:

make the Christmas vegetarian sausage rolls which are now in the freezer

feed Bubbles and start Lindsey's sourdough

the usual knitting, crochet and cross stitch

do a load of washing (it's been building up frighteningly)

write my own Christmas shopping list and action plan

OK, so I did fade out come the evening but it's definitely better and I am very relieved as I was starting to wonder if it was proper flu rather than a cold.  I mean, how can you tell except for feelings?

This morning is definitely better than yesterday morning but I am heartfelt glad that I'm staying warm and cosy inside.  I am sorry that I missed bother Thursford and will miss the Royal Albert Hall but not sad, if that makes sense.  I'm better off at home keeping myself and other well.

Today I want to do some more washing and some necessary (yes, it is!) ironing, finish Lindsey's loaf and get my action plan into my diary.  Nothing very energetic so it's very doable and I will feel better when it's done.

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On to today's Advent Calendar music and, given it is the Third Sunday in Advent, I have to focus on those shepherds, don't I?
I'm not falling into the trap of 'While Shepherds Watched . . .' with its myriad alternative versions sung by children all over the country though.

Instead, I have two offerings for you.

The first is John Rutter's 'Shepherd's Pipe Carol', and I've chosen this version because it has the score and maybe some of you who know this well might like to follow the score.  I know I do anyway!  It is quite old (19920 so I will add a simple link to a more modern version where the sound is, probably, a lot better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ousLBf0q1y8

The second is the beautiful 'Shepherds' Farewell' from Berlioz' 'L'enfance du Christ' where he imagines the shepherds waving farewell to the holy family as they escape to Egypt.  Another gorgeous piece of music and a total contrast to the Rutter carol.

Blogmas, day 13

A very good morning to you this Saturday . . .  yes, Saturday . . .  morning.  I had to think twice about that!

The Advent blanket is coming on.  Yes, the hearts are slightly squiffy but I'm really not fussed.  In the overall brightness and colour, it won't show and if it does - no worries!!  I'm having fun.

All the others are underneath, all on my lovely blocking board.  As some of them would be tricky to actually steam iron, the blocking board is doing a great job.

Today's and tomorrows are baubles!

And here's today's collection.

I realised that I didn't tell you about yesterday's Advent of Change so here we go.

Yesterday's (Day 12) supported Tommy, the pregnancy and baby charity, and it says:

Today you have helped expectant parents to hear the sound of their long awaited baby's heartbeat for the first time.

https://www.tommys.org/about-us 

And today's is for The Rainbow Trust, which supports families with a seriously ill child.

Today you have helped and family afford the transport they need to take a seriously ill child to hospital for vital medical appointments.

https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/

The rest is a wee pot of chutney, the candle in a tin, a bath bomb and a rooibos, acai and pomegranate tea bag.  I'm really enjoying these tea bags - tea is great when you have a cold!

Thank you so much for your lovely comments yesterday.  After reading Janice's comment about nine day colds I thought what a good point it was so, sadly, I have pulled out of the RAH carols tomorrow.  It's not just about me infecting others, it's being vulnerable and maybe picking something else up too - and I actually don't feel up to it this morning anyway so am sure it's the right decision.  

I am absolutely gutted about it but it is what it is and at least I got to Edinburgh and had a fab time there.  And someone else has my place so I got a full refund.
As I said to Ray and Jan - there's always next year!

Beth and I had a nice online face to face chat yesterday and sorted out who is doing what for Christmas this year.  We had some idea but now we have a proper list and action plan.  Beth's like me - being organised makes her happy!

I just need to complete my shopping list and Bob's your uncle, although I won't do the shop until next week - Christmas week, I mean.

Today - well, I'm not feeling great but plenty of hot drinks, paracetamol-type stuff and Vick help a lot.  I have some cough linctus stuff but am a bit wary because coughing is the body's way of getting gunk out so I have to find a balance really.
The big question is - do I re-watch the Harry Potter films, catch up on Sort Out Your Life or get into some Christmas film DVDs.  Decisions, decisions!!   😉

Have a great Saturday, everyone.  Take care, stay as well as you can and be happy!  xx

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And here we are at Day 13's Advent music.  Another Kendrick one, I think, and one I did with my choir in the long distant days when I was the 'Piano Lady' at school!

The Candle Song from The Gift., a set of Christmas songs by Graham Kendrick

And the lyrics . . .  https://grahamkendrick.co.uk/the-candle-song-like-a-candle-flame/

Blogmas, day 12

Good morning again.  It is Friday; two more weeks and Christmas will pretty much be over apart from the leftovers!  

Thank you for your lovely comments yesterday.  I'm definitely not well enough to be going anywhere today, either on my own or in a crowd of vulnerable elderlies - some of them are anyway!  
It's just a cold, not flu - disgusting but not dangerous in anyway.  After a rough day yesterday, I slept really well for the first time in a week and didn't properly wake until nearly seven.  Bliss . . .  Getting up was rough (you know what colds are like) but it's OK, just yucky!!  I have a nice fresh cuppa tea beside me and I will follow that up at some point with a coffee.  Perfect!

I spent a lot of time doing cross stitch yesterday because that's what I fancied doing, so the advent bit of it is out of sync, but there'd a lot of border to do so I expect it will take me until Christmas day to do all of that anyway, and maybe through the Twelve Days as well.

I caught up with Sunday's Game of Wool.  I know it has taken some stick but I am enjoying it and the most recent one was great - making yarn jewellery and a panel of lace.  I( have always found knitted lace fiendishly difficult and this was a very complicated pattern, both in the following and in the unravelling and picking up when a mistake was made.   I feel it has now found its feet.

Dear Chris went and got me some throat/cough sweets and some Vick (Morrisons cheapo version) and they helped considerably.  She's asked me if I need anything else and I think some cough stuff might be a Good Idea.  I thought I had some but then remembered I saw it was out of date a while ago so chucked it out.

So here we go with today's stuff.

Today's tea bag is cranberry, rose hip and hibiscus - that sounds really nice.

There's the usual candle, tin and puzzle section plus a pair of tine Christmas stocking earrings.

The crochet is another heart.

All good, all usable, I'm keeping up with the candles and using the tins.  One of them is going to be for these Christmas earrings!!

Is anyone else totally baffled by the fuss over last week's Strictly elimination and the amount of toxic hate there is around.  Yes, a good dancer went but he had a worse dance both on the day and in the dance off.  And it's a Game/competition, for goodness sakes!!  

Today is going to be a lot like yesterday, I think, but crochet instead of cross stitch.  I have a couple of box sets to watch, should I need something, and I'm feeling tired.  They say sleep is the best medicine, don't they?

I really want to feel better by Sunday.

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Today's Advent music is the beautiful Thorns in the Straw, written and performed by Graham Kendrick.

Here's a link to the lyrics. 
https://grahamkendrick.co.uk/thorns-in-the-straw-since-the-day-the-angel-came/

Blogmas, day 11

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to day eleven of Blogmas.

I am starting with an apology - The Tuesday aches morphed into a bit of a cold - sore throat and, yesterday, a fuzzy head and blocked nose.  I couldn't get my head around writing about Edinburgh but I will at some point.

I went to the meeting which was very productive.  However, I had planned to pull out of Personal Training and would have done except that Lindsey sent a message round to say she was poorly so couldn't teach classes today.  

On a positive note, I was able to sit and concentrate on my cross stitch . . .  

. . . and my blanket squares.

Now I am up to date with both.

Advent goodies are . . .

the candle in a tin (I am already using the tins for things like stitch markers, etc)

today's bit of the puzzle

a white tea, coconut and passion fruit tea bag

and a slightly sticky mini-jar of strawberry jam

The crochet square for today (and tomorrow) is a heart.

Chris and I are having our coffee and chat online - I'm probably not infectious now (it's worse before it 'comes out', I believe) but it seems more sensible.

Val and I were going to meet for our Christmas lunch but a few days ago she contacted to cancel as - guess what - she had a bad cold.  I messaged her yesterday to say if she hadn't had to cancel, I would, and she said now Mike has it too so one way or another it's a bit yuck for them.
We will have something in the New Year instead - that will be nice.

So it is another day chilling which means I can get ahead with the blanket, cross stitch and puzzle as, fingers crossed, I am out tomorrow, going to the Thursford Spectacular - although I will have to make a judgement on it tomorrow morning.  I do hope I can go but one has to be sensible.
I will get ahead with the crafting anyway.

Slightly later edit:  I've pondered and it just wouldn't be right to potentially share my germs - it's pretty much retired people on these coach trips, more vulnerable, and I'm gutted but mustn't be selfish.  So I have emailed Jan and Ray, pulling out, and maybe next year I will go.  Perhaps someone else can have my place.)

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Today's Advent Calendar music is another I really love, a beautiful performance of 'Mary, Did You Know', sung by One Voice children's choir.

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know

That your baby boy

Has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered

Will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Will give sight to the blind man?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Would calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know

That your baby boy

Has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby

You've kissed the face of God?

Mary, did you know?

Oo, Mary, did you know?

The blind will see

The deaf will hear;

The dead will live again!

The lame will leap

The dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb!

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Is the Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Will one day rule the nations?

Did you know

That your baby boy

Was heaven's perfect Lamb?

And the sleeping Child you're holdin'

Is the Great I Am!

Blogmas, day 10

Good morning, everyone.  How's the week going?

Today's Advent stuff - the candle in a tin, some hand cream (I'm getting through a lot of hand cream at the moment), a chai black tea bag, some cute Christmas tree earrings and today's Advent of Change charity is Re-engage:
Today you have enabled a lonely older person to join a local social group, giving them companionship and community for years to come.

This reminds me how fortunate I am to live in a social and sociable area and to be fit enough to go out and about, enjoying life.

https://reengage.org.uk/about-us/

Catch up for 7-12-25 which was Willow, a charity that supports seriously ill young adults.  
Today you have given a seriously ill young adult and their family precious memories together on a special day out.

https://www.willowfoundation.org.uk/

I didn't do any of the cross stitch yesterday so need to double up today and the blanket square is the second snowflake.
Yesterday's puzzle section was, I think, the hardest yet but I got it done eventually.

I had a pleasant time with my friend yesterday morning and spent the afternoon resting/snoozing.  After having to wake early on Friday morning for the coach, I am now waking that early every day which is becoming a bit on the boring side.   I hope that particular habit breaks soon.

Today I have a meeting in school, wearing my governor's hat and this afternoon it is personal training so there should be time for the Christmas crafting and the puzzle.  Fingers crossed anyway.

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And finally, the Advent calendar music for day ten.

I thought it was about time for a carol something traditional.  So I have chosen Away in a Manger sung by Libera.  Wonderful.