Tuesday

Good morning.  It's mild and, for now, dry outside and the forecast is for ridiculously high temperatures for the next few days - in the mid teens and even into double figures overnight.  Bonkers!

Lindsey's Festive Blast yesterday was so good, perked me up, energised me and motivated me.  I'm looking forward to today's now.   I was also going to have personal training today but we've changed back to the usual time and day so I have that to look forward to tomorrow.

I sorted out my recipe folders and they are now all in good nick.  I need to go through the Christmas magazines and copy any recipes that I think will be useful for the future and then they can go on to my friend.  January's magazines should be in the shops by now so I will look out for them in due course.

I did some fridge sorting but there's a bit more to do.  It wasn't all that bad but I couldn't really be bothered.  I did enough to appease my conscience and no more!
I must do it today because I need to move the New Year's Eve turkey out of the freezer tomorrow to give it a sensible time in the fridge for thawing and I need some space for that.

Yesterday's Twelve Days gift was a reed diffuser.  It's in the kitchen at the moment because there's various Christmas smells in the living room but I might take it upstairs, possibly for the bathroom.  I think that will be nice.

Today's gift is sitting under the tree looking inviting.  I will open it later on, when I 'm relaxing after Festive Blast.

In her blog yesterday, Cherie said that she's thinking of doing Twelve Nights gifts, she and her husband, next year.  It's really nice when there's two because you can do each other's so it really is a surprise.  Of course, there's always the risk that they don't get what you would really like but heavy hints should help.

We finally managed the family buffet!  Cheers!  The freezer is definitely emptier now as I had bought in some of those 'party nibbles' boxes.  Very useful and actually quite nice but definitely on the beige side.  I thought I'd put way, way too much on the buffet table but by the time everyone went home there wasn't much left (apart from the Christmas cake - which is delicious) and what was left Alex took home.
We had a good time.  A round of Whot (last to 100 wins), two games of Scrabble (I was slaughtered in both games but it was fun, all the same) and Triple Yahtzee, which I won, mainly because I was lucky enough to get my three Yahtzees.
I'm definitely feeling muggy headed and lethargic this morning but Lindsey will wake me up, I am sure.

Today is an at home day with nothing in the diary but Festive Blast.
However, I would like to :

sort out the fridge properly
rearrange things in the freezer now there's more space again
catch up on more recorded telly

finish my current book and start my new one

Talking of books reminds me that I have a new cookery book arriving on Thursday, with any luck.  Ever since the success of the first Pinch of Nom book, other 'healthy recipe' bloggers have also been given the opportunity to publish, notably the Two Chubby Cubs and, most recently, Siobhan (had to check that spelling) of the Slimming Eats site, which I have found really useful so I was glad to preorder the book.  Between them all, I have a rich source of ideas and recipes that should help me get rid of the Christmas Gain and then keep me at target.
I'm looking forward to that one arriving.

I suppose I really ought to do some washing which means getting out my drying rack and ironing basket and board.  What a shame - but life continues, doesn't it?  How is your life getting back to normal again, now that Christmas is pretty much over?

So that's today - enough to make me feel I am being useful but with plenty of opportunities to R&R.  Stay happy, everyone, be safe and stay positive.  xx