Saturday: Blogmas day 3

 Good morning, one and all, and welcome to my blog.  You might have noticed that I have changed the name of my December entries - I'm not sure which of you lovely readers pointed out that December and Advent are not the same thing because it was anonymous, but you were right so from now on it is Blogmas instead < grin >.

Yesterday started off sunny, clouded over and, after dark, we had some rain.  It's dry (and chilly) right now but dry so fingers crossed.  I didn't get the tree stuff out of the garage yesterday; I remembered that the lovely cleaners come late afternoon and really would not be happy about working around such clutter and, also, I didn't fancy going down to the garage after dark - not that it's dangerous or anything, but it is outside my garden boundary and not well lit - so that's something for this morning's list.

I enjoyed Slimming World as much as I always do.  I wore a long Christmas jumper over leggings (no way would the old me have ever considered leggings) and got loads of nice comments which was lovely.  It has half a pound off this week which I am pleased about as last Tuesday evening was a bit blippy!!

I popped into Morrisons afterwards (more or less next door to the hall) to get a few things for today that I didn't find in Sainsbury's and, as I walked down the meat aisle, saw they had turkey legs and thighs at around a fiver.  I remember when they used to be £1.50 or £1.99 but I suppose that was a long time ago now.  Anyway, they were good and big so I got one.  I can slow roast the leg for lunch tomorrow and the thigh is in the freezer.  I know it isn't the white meat but the brown turkey meat is so flavoursome and is great for other meals like casseroles, pies, and so on.  The leftovers will go towards various meals during this next week.

Once home, I brought down more Festive stuff from the blue room and now the bunting is up and things like the Christmas tea towels (I know - silly) are in use.  I must look for the door mats - they have got to be up there somewhere.

I didn't watch Strictly - I knew it had changed day but decided to watch it on iPlayer later

Today, I have done the Advent Calendars.  The Cath Kidston one was some bubble bath which I am going to use today.  I love her stuff.   Also, I'm so enjoying the Jacquie Lawson calendar - today's was sweet but I couldn't find the Christmas gnome - unless it was the Santa on the little tree?  On the first two days, the gnomes did a little dance and disappeared but he did a wave and stayed put so I'm not sure.  If you have that calendar, what do you think?  Is he today's gnome?

Today is, as you must be fed up with me saying, Christmas Tree Day.  It's a family tradition that Beth, Alex and I have each year.  It started when Alex was little and very autistic and it was something he so enjoyed doing and it's just morphed into what it is now.  They come over, we put up the tree and decorate it, we have a buffet tea and watch Christmas movies.  Alex may well go home after tea but Beth is staying over.

This morning, once I am bathed and dressed, will be taken up with getting the boxes out of the garage and then getting as much ready for tea as I can.  Once that's done, I will do the usual houseworky stuff and then chill with my Kindle (still loving the new Fire and so glad I got it) and/or watch Strictly.

Today's Christmas music for you is a most beautiful piece from that master of Christmas song, John Rutter.  Not only are his works lovely to listen to, they are also rather lovely to sing.  I sung in this one as an alto in a ladies choir a long, long time ago when I was living in London.  I love everything about it.  I love the words, I love the melody and, most of all, I love the harmonies.

There are lots of performances of this carol on YouTube but I picked this one because I love the Kings College choir.

But then I thought - perhaps I should have chosen this one from John Rutter conducting the Cambridge Singers - after all, it is his music.  So you have both to choose from.  

I do hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I do.  xx