Blogmas, day 7

Morning, everyone.
First of all, I want to say that I hope very much that those of you over the other side of the UK - Wales and the South West (and anywhere else in the Red Warning area) are safe and sound this morning with minimal or, preferably, no damaged to property or person.  I gather it has been a shocker of a storm.
It's gusty here as far as I can tell but the egg chair is still standing.  I haven't checked the bins yet.

Yesterday was a day of ups and downs.

I was thrilled with just a one pound gain at Slimming World, meaning I am still comfortably in my happy zone - phew.
However, after that and a bit of shopping (really not much but even a little costs an arm and a leg nowadays, doesn't it?), when I got home I was pretty wiped out and had a couple of sleeps during the afternoon in between other stuff not too heavy.

Steve, bless him, took Chris and me to the County Hotel for the Shimmy 'n' Groove afternoon tea and we had a great old time.

I forgot to take any photos of the food until we had made a fair inroad into the sandwiches and scones - both very fresh and the scones were still warm - lovely!

Most of us couldn't manage the cakes as well so the staff brought in some doggy boxes and people loaded up.  
I didn't - it's not really my sort of thing and by then the aches and headache had started again anyway.  Now - if it had been bags of salt and vinegar crisps or nuts - quite a different story!
And we were driven home again which was very pleasant indeed.

However, it just showed me that the decision not to go on Sunday was right although when I checked my mailbox, there was email from Ray and Jan to say that Rochester had cancelled the Christmas Market and Dickensian Festival for both today and tomorrow so we wouldn't have gone anyway.
Poor Ray and Jan - two full coaches to notify - one hundred and four people to contact!  
Refunding will be a fair old job but they suggested that it become a credit note towards the next trip and I was very glad to agree to that.  So they will hold the money until it is claimed.
And the coach company will have insurance for that sort of thing too, I am sure, if necessary.

So I didn't need to pull out but the outcome is the same - better, probably, as it's a definite refund rather than a definite non-refund!

Moving on to my advent stuff and I've done the puzzle for day seven so let's start with that.

Day six which I found trickier, despite the two straight edges.

Not that tricky though!

And day seven which I think is really pretty.

The Advent of Change today spotlights Willow which supports seriously ill young adults.  It says:

Today you have sent a box full of special treats to brighten the day of a young adult receiving palliative care.

Another good one and here's the link for more information:

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

As for the M&S calendar, today was a posh one - well, posh for me who usually uses Aldi stuff - when I remember.

It's a little pot of Clinique cleansing balm.  If feels lovely and I will definitely be using it in the run up to Christmas.  

I can see why they have sung the praises of this calendar.  There's been some really good stuff so far.  OK, so I won't use the nail varnish, but I will be very happy to gift on to someone who does and, if you just think about face value, it must be getting reasonably close to what I paid for it already.

Today, there's very little in the diary apart from the rescheduled personal training with Lindsey this morning.  I know Lindsey will accept whatever I can do and will understand if I flake out so I'm happy to go and do some exercise after a week of none.  I'm going to catch up with her Advent Calendar too.  Each day is very short and, again, you do what you can.

There's washing to do, I didn't get the dusting done yesterday, and the kitchen needs some attention (when does it ever not?) and I want to make some crackers that I can then pop in the freezer for Christmas - edible ones, I mean, not pull-bang ones.

Have a lovely day, everyone and, even more than usual, I wish you safety and wellness.  Take care and be sensible today.  xx

Today's Advent Calendar song is a very lovely one.  It is The Candle Song (or Candlesong as it was originally called), by Graham Kendrick, from 'The Gift - Make Way For Christmas and sung beautifully by the Gaitway brothers.

This goes straight to my heart . . .