Family Visits and Parental Dinner!

The 26th of December is a holiday here. We call it Boxing day and until now I didn't realize why! But after looking up Wikipedia I have found out that "The name derives from the fact that the day is traditionally marked by the giving of Christmas boxes, or gifts, to service workers (such as service staff, postal workers and trades people) in the United Kingdom." So there you go- you learn something new everyday!

Anyway Nathan and I used the day to visit my Grandma. She has not been well since falling and breaking her hip back in September. Although she is 81 she is pretty independent and knows what she likes! We had a great visit and thankfully we were there as her building had a fire alarm- so with an arm each we helped my Grandma get down stairs- only to be told to go back up as it was just 'Betty who'd burnt her toast!' There was even a fire engine there- the works! Oops!

When I was visiting my Grandma in hospital in September/ October I was wearing one of my favourite scarfs- made of rabbit fur (sorry to all animal lovers!) and every time I'd cuddle her goodbye she'd snuggle into it. So I got her one for Christmas- she was delighted! She looks beautiful in the red scarf and it brings colour back to her cheeks! I love when you know you got the right gift! I wish I'd taken photos but I forgot my camera- not like me!!

Saturday the 27th we headed into town and spent some of our gift vouchers from my parents. Nathan got a beautiful Gant blazer- much smarter and preppier than the current hillbilly look he's been sporting (more about that in the next post!)

Then we headed home and I assisted in cooking dinner for my parents. Nathan made turkey risotto (with the left overs) and I made a delicious walnut, satsuma and cranberry salad to accompany it. Then Nathan triumphed at cooking partridge- neither of us had tried to accomplish this before. They were birds that our friend Dan's Dad had shot- so locally sourced! It was delicious and not too gamey! He made game chips (yummy crouton like crisps) as a side dish and we heated up the red cabbage I'd frozen earlier in the month. Then we had the last of Christmas Pudding no 1 for dessert. It was all delicious and we had a great evening.

I used the same theme that we had on Christmas Day for the table. It looks more effective!

Walnut, Satsuma and Cranberry Salad

I separated the last of the Christmas Pudding into these cute dishes that are oven proof. Our microwave kindly broke just before Christmas so there has been no quick heat ups! But I covered them with foil and they were delicious and just as moist as Christmas day!

Our Christmas Feast!

Nathan and I were both amazed at how relaxed and calm it was when we were preparing our food. We had to remind ourselves that there were only the two of us so it wasn't too difficult plus we decided to stay in our pajamas all day so we didn't have to worry about getting dressed whilst cooking either!!

I love laying lovely tables and Christmas was no exception. I used our everyday plates as my inspiration and I managed to find crackers to match in the Pier (which has sadly now closed!)

My Dad laughed when he heard I'd made name cards- as he said- is that just encase you forget where you are sitting!! But it added to the look! With the red suede reindeer head card holders and then reindeer napkins with reindeer napkin holders. The main theme was the circles so I scattered multi coloured mini bells around the table and filled shot glasses with peanut m&m's as our favour!

Our first course was tomato and pesto soup- so easy and quick to make and very tasty!

Nathan's culinary seafood delight! I loved the detail he put into his presentation!! So cute!

This was one of my favourite side dishes. I'm not a big sprout fan but it was delicious! Sprouts with chestnuts and bacon... yummy!

Our turkey was a triumph! Even if we do say so ourselves!! (it looks a little pink here- think that's just the photo though!) It was so tender and juicy! We had loads left over which was great!

We laid all the side dishes on the table so we could help ourselves! I was really pleased with my cranberry sauce that I'd made ahead of time but not so much with the bread sauce!

It is traditional to pour lit brandy over your Christmas pudding once you've steamed it. It took us a few attempts to do this and a phone call to my Dad (he's always the pudding lighter in my parents house!) We didn't realize that you are meant to heat the brandy before you try and light it!! The pudding was a huge success!! Not too heavy and def one I will make again! I can't believe we ate so much food!! Later on Nathan even found room for a cheese course!!

In my parents house we have always had a tradition of having candles on the tree as well as fairy lights. This is how the Victorians would decorate their trees. I found some special tree candle holders that clip onto the branches this year.

So we started our own tradition. After our dinner whilst our tummy's settled we lit the candles and watched as they made the tree look magical!! It was a wonderful Christmas day and one I know we will look back on with very fond memories in years to come!!

Christmas Morning!

Our tree with lots of exciting presents under it on Christmas Eve.. and a glass of milk and cookies laid out for when Nathan returned from dinner.

The Living Room on Christmas Morning and the table laid out for our breakfast! (I love Chocolate Coins! I used to eat loads of them even before my breakfast when I was little!)

Last year and for a few years previous I have always felt like I have been running around like crazy on Christmas Day.

Last year Nathan and I had Christmas Day morning in the flat and then I dropped him at his parents and visited my Grandad and then I went to my own parents for dinner with my family. Returning to Nathan's parents after dinner for a visit and finally bringing Nathan back to my family home to finish the evening off before we went home!! It was so busy and flew by!

So this year with Nathan's parents away in Thailand and the Far East for the holidays we decided to be very selfish and have Christmas Day just the two of us!!

I had dinner with my family on Christmas Eve as Nathan was out with his boys from school. They have a traditional Christmas Eve dinner every year. It was really nice to be together with my parents and Becky and Dougie and we all had a lovely toast.

On Christmas morning I was pretty tired after my late night mirror painting so we didn't open presents till about midday.

We never even used the lovely table for our breakfast of ham and cheese croissants with bucks fizz (champagne and orange juice!)
Nathan and I's presents for each other.... me looking quite sleepy! We are always pretty sensible when it comes to presents for each other we don't spend a lot but always give thoughtful little gifts! My favourite gift from Nathan this year were electronic kitchen scales... they even measure fluid oz using advanced technology!! (I think I'm getting very old that I'm excited by that!!) Nathan's parents were really generous to us and I felt very spoilt!
This was the large surprise present we got from my Mum and Dad. Back in March when my Mum and I were in the Conran shop picking out Nathan's digital radio for his birthday I saw and lusted after this clock!! I was so surprised when I opened it up. It is by Milan-based designer Pascal Tarabay. The cute cuckoo bird can be hushed during night hours thanks to a small sensor that knows when the lights are off (and a bird call is unwelcome). When the lights are on, you can choose whether the bird pops out with a boisterous call or a gentle, softer tone—just what you need to wake you for a busy day.

Becky and Dougie's Mirror!

I had seen a stall at the Country Living Fair which personalized thick frames to go round mirrors, blackboards and pinboards. I loved the idea for Becky and Dougie's Christmas but it was £80 so I thought I could give it a try myself.

I found a wide framed mirror and painted it the same colour as the accent colour in their lounge and then asked them to give me 20 words related to them. Either both of them or them as individuals-I got back some random phrases!!

So I set to work on the layout and then started painting the letters in black (for a bit of a retro look!)

I was still up at 3.30am on Christmas Eve (talk about an Elf Workshop!) so I had to wrap it up unfinished!! I still haven't gotten to complete it but will over the next few days now Nathan is back to work.

They seemed really chuffed though and keen to put it up (a good sign that they like it!)
Here are some photos of it in the process- so you can get an idea of what it will look like!
Becky and Dougie popped into ours on Christmas Day morning when they were on their way to Mum and Dad's. We exchanged presents but they had to leave their mirror with me so I could finish it!! (oops!)

Packages, Cards and Presents!

I love doing my little elf workshop just before Christmas. It takes a lot of time and effort but it is so enjoyable for me and hopefully (I think it does) bring joy to those who recieve the gifts!

This year I was really behind as I had the flu but with the help of my Dad and Nathan I pulled it together on Christmas Eve. Every year I post a wee package to my lovely girls in the States. I won't tell you what I put in them this year (as I don't think they've got them yet) just a wee something! (I was so delayed in getting to the post office!) I also sent a wee package to the lovely Lucy in Australia who I miss loads! It's at Christmas especially that you wish everyone was closer! My Christmas cards this year were of the Galeries Lafayette that I took in Paris on gold card.

But my main Elf Workshop present was a Recipe Book. I figured that I have been loving blogging about all my recipes I have tried this year and I took a lot of inspiration from Susan Branch's book's. So I decided to illustrate my own book. The images don't photograph so well but I was really pleased with the outcome. I created 12 master sheets and then in my Dad's office on Christmas Eve I (with his and Nathan's help!) I photocopied and bound all the books together. Tying a red ribbon onto them to keep your place.
I also added a shopping list note pad to my gift and wrapped them in brown paper with red and white striped and gingham ribbon and to finish off a wooden decoration that I bought at the Christmas Market.The books have been very well received and I would definitely suggest them as presents for the future. If you didn't want to do drawings you could scrapbook the pages with papers and recipes and then photocopy (zerox) them.

Picking up our Christmas Tree!

After last years fiasco of the tree falling down on New Years Eve I promised Nathan and myself that I would not get such a large tree... but I couldn't resist when we went to get it.

We had to squeeze it into Nathan's Mum's car. It took these photos as we have two pretty much identical ones from las year!! (it's become a bit of a tradition!)

We kept the height from last year- our tree is about 7 foot + but we didn't have such a heavy tree. There are less branches which I decided lent it's self to the Scandinavian look of this year's tree.

I used the white decorations from last year but added red and natural ornaments and I also made some gingerbread with icing and red and white ribbon. My favourite part was also the real candles like they had in the Victorian times. This is not the best photo but it was the first photo we took on the night we put it up. It was a bit of a stress getting it straight and to stay still but once we perceivered (thanks to Nathan) we got it right!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Everyone!! I hope you had a wonderful festive season!

I had a great 2 weeks holiday and feel like I did a lot but it was all very relaxed which was great!

I think we are finally over our flu/ colds and looking forward to the New Year...

Nathan made me a lovely card for Christmas... (Martha Stewart he is not but it's the thought that counts!!) and inside he wrote that he thinks this will be our year!! His birthday is on the 11th day of the month and mine is in the 11th month... so his theory is that 2009= 2 + 9 = 11.... so we have to be lucky!! I don't know about his logic but I'm feeling positive!!

I have a few interviews lined up and some freelance jobs in the pipe line. So fingers crossed. If I don't get anything full time shortly I am thinking of setting up a business account and just going for it on the freelance front! (thinking of which I also need to sort out all my tax!!).. but we are thinking positive so back to nice thoughts!!!

I started to write out my New Years Resolutions the other day- it's a long list but I was so pleased over the weekend when on Saturday I managed to accomplish 4 in one day!!

I went to the gym with Nathan in the morning (only a gentle work out) but I was there... I calculated that last year I was a member for 10 months and I went twice- that's £220 a visit!!! Isn't that awful! Especially when I was having to tighten my purse strings elsewhere. So I am going to make up for it this year!!

Then we went to the Scottish National museum- that got two ticks- culture and a date with Nathan. Then afterwards we went to a cafe we hadn't been to before (-try new restaurants/ cafes) called Peter's Yard. They make artisan bread and cakes (very tasty!)

It was a great weekend all round but now I have to say I am pretty sad that the holidays are all over. I'm missing Nathan loads today. He was back to work this morning and cycled off at 8am- he had tried to get me to the gym at 6.30 this morning but that's a bit to much too soon!!

So here's to 2009 let's hope it's a happy, healthy and prosperous one!!