Blogmas day 24 and my gift to you.

Good morning, everybody.  Welcome to Christmas Eve at last!  It's very mild outside and the strong winds have died down - for now anyway.

I've just taken the leg of lamb out of the freezer - and promptly dropped it on my toe - ouch.  Nothing broken, but it did hurt for a few moment.  Hopefully, that is the worst thing that will happen today.

Circuits with Lindsey was great fun yesterday.  It was a sort of open house and there were eleven of us, including three youngsters.  There was such a great vibe - Lindsey told me ages ago that this was a sort of dream - go have a class where all ages, sizes and genders were exercising together and having a great time.  I think yesterday was pretty close.

Back at home, I pottered around, working through my list until it was all done.  I decided I would go to Morrisons at about five thirty rather than do it really early this morning so I did, it was bustling but not packed, I got everything on my list plus (don't all shout at me at once) another half price leg of lamb.  See, lamb is my favourite meat but I hardly ever have it because of the cost so it was a great opportunity.  They are both in the freezer, of course, and I will enjoy them scattered through the year.

And finally, my lovely Slim Win chat group had a sort of online party which was lots of fun although one of us received some bad new towards the end - no details, of course, but please would you think of Stephanie through the day when you can.  Thank you.

The puzzle is finished and here's the final photo.  This is the best I could manage as there's a lot of reflection off the pieces.

Now to break it us, section by section, and put the pieces back into their own numbered boxes.

The last Advent of Change is about Re-engage, a charity that is committed to older people being heard, valued and engaged.

It says:

Today you have given the gift of friendship to a lonely older person, enabling them to enjoy Christmas in the company of others.

I am so lucky to have both my children still living close by but not everyone is so fortunate and this sounds like a great charity.

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

There are so many charities, so many important causes.  I'm very grateful that this calendar has opened my eyes to some of them.  We can't support every good cause but this calendar is a way of spreading much needed financial support much wider than one would do individually and I think that's great.

And the penultimate gift from the M&S calendar is a little tube of L'Occitane hand cream for dry skin which is just perfect as my hands have felt very dry recently.  I've used a bit and it's lovely, much better than what I have been using which is more scent than anything else.

I think this might be one product I will go on buying.

I won't post about tomorrow's last product until boxing Day when my Twelve Days of Christmas starts.

In my Christmas survival book today it says:

shopping @ 6:00 - did yesterday

Lamb out first thing - done

Any housework? - none apart from the usual daily stuff so done

Groove - it's online and Christine is coming over to do it with me and then have a quick coffee and chat

make cheesecake for tomorrow's pud

Change water in flowers and use day 3 food

Prep lamb and veg

Make Med bread

Anything else?

It all sounds very nice and festive really.  And then, this evening, see below.

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone.  xxx

Today's Advent music has to be something I will be watching this evening,  the iconic Carols from Kings - here's the traditional starter where the soloist is only told just before it starts.  Sooner him than me, that's all I can say.

Here you are - Once in Royal David's city.

And here, fingers crossed, is the link to the whole playlist - it should contain every carol/song in this years Advent Calendar.  I will be playing it while I do the last minute stuff and then while I relax with my cuppa and my knitting.  Enjoy!

(and, if it doesn't work, please let me know.  Thanks.)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjBnYixEZmRf-WwI8CfsSeBkl197SOMPO

Edit:  I have changed the settings of the playlist - you should be able to play it now.  I think I made the same mistake last year:  it needs to be 'unlisted' not 'Private'.
Maybe a not in the Christmas Survival Book might help next year