Family Christmas Tree

In the run up to Christmas we had a huge amount of snow. More than I can ever remember. It meant that it was not so easy to get around but it did make things look very pretty!

We still mananged to hold our Accies girls lunch the same Sunday as the boys had their Christmas Carols Lunch event. Pictured above is Becky holding little Katie Stuart.

We went to Hamiltons for lunch with the girls and while there we bumped into Caroline and Chick, who we were on holiday with in Cypres. We were telling them about the problem with getting Mum's tree since the Saab estate was off the road and we didn't have a car big enough. But by a happy considence the two guys they were having lunch with run a Christmas Tree company. They had a spare tree in their van that they hadn't yet delivered and it didn't have a home. We were a bit concerned but they assured us it was not a little scrawny tree. So we agreed to have them deliver their remaining tree to our Parents' house.

Once we left Hamiltons Becky and I went down to our Parents' house and when we arrived the tree was already there. So we worked for a few hours to set up the decorations in my Parents house.

The finished tree.

Decorations close up.

Hector and Katie Cook's Wedding Celebration

Back in December we were honoured to attend the celebration of Hector and Katie's wedding. Hector went to school with Nathan. They are both from Edinburgh but over the last few years have worked abroad. They are just such beautiful people- attractive with great personalities to match.

They were married earlier in 2010 on the beach in Malaysia where they are living and working. (They both work as teachers in Kuala Lumpa.) It was just the two of them on the day they were married and their photos look amazing... (I pinched a few from facebook!)

I love this shot and I love that even though it was warm and on the beach- Hector still wore his kilt (a true Scotsman!

I know Katie reads my blog back in KL... there is a large red dot in Malyasia on the counter at the bottom of my page... so I promised I would put up all the photos. (Sorry it's taken me so long!)

They hosted the wedding celebration at their old school hall. I was so very impressed. I had been in the hall once before to watch a play but set up for a party it looked brilliant- especially with the Christmas tree and all the lanterns Katie had brought back from Malysia to decorate. It is a great space perfectly set up for an evening of celebration. In traditional style speeches were given by Father of the Bride, the Groom and the Best Man.... My favourite was Hector's gift to his Mother... no flowers as is traditional, as his Mum views them as a waste of money... so instead he bought her bones from the local butcher to make stock.... and she was thrilled!! He clearly knows her so well. (She's quite a character!)

Katie and Hector's first dance.

Before the speeches and dancing we had a very tasty curry ... the theme was a ceilih & curry celebration evening. Again another room in the school was used... it looked fantastic (my camera flash doesn't do it justice) I didn't realise the school rented the rooms out.

The bar was self service and I had to laugh when Nathan and Stu were behind the bar in their matching shirts- looking like they belonged there!

Duncan was up from London but Rebecca his wife didn't travel up as she had given birth to their son Rory a few weeks before. Pictured above: Duncan, Benji and Catriona.

Benji (who had already been out to celebrate his brother's engagement) with Catriona.

Colin and Jarrien

Rosie and Donnie

Ian and Sinead

Rozz and Geoff

Boccers and Sally

Annie and Finnie (who get married a month before Nathan and I) ... the countdown his started!

Shelley and Stotty, who announced they are pregnant for the second time... so exciting!

Nathan and I in front of the dance floor where there was some crazy dancing going on.

My favourite part of the dancing was when Hector's Dad took us through the elimination game in couples- brilliant! We used to play it at balls and dances when we were younger! Nathan and I got knocked out on the second last round. We had to put one hand on the other persons earlobe and if we both had our hands on the right earlobe we were out. (Or something to that effect!)

In the last round was Colin and Jarrien and another couple. They had to make the longest line with their clothes. Jenny, Hector's Mum was appreciating the view of Colin in his boxer!

Every year on Christmas Eve Nathan's friend's from school have traditionally had a get together. This year as there were weddings and events happening they saved their activity of 'Cards of Christmas' for Hector and Katie's wedding. These are 12 Christmas cards that have a dare/ task inside that the recipient must preform. In the above photo one of the boys had a card where he had to chin a drink with all the boys.

The majority of the boys- back row: Duncan, Boccers, Benji, Dave, Hector, Stu and Nathan. Front row: Geoff, Finnie and Ian. Missing are Colin and Donnie.

Colin and Dave

Sally and I

Katie changed into a beautiful black dress for the later part of the evening. I loved dancing so much at this wedding. It was great fun.

The dance floor was packed for most of the night.

Ian, Boccers, Duncan, Stu and Nathan.

Duncan, Finnie, Stu, Nathan, Jarrien and Colin.

It was so lovely to see everyone and catch up on their news. I loved how much fun and relaxed this event was. I adored the Chinese lanterns and Katie gave us all the tassels from the bottom of the lanterns to take as favours. Nathan had a novel way of using them but we now have them hanging on our door handles to bring us luck!

Congratulation to Hector and Katie! x

Christmas Decorations

The last two years we have had white, silver and glass decorations on our tree. This year we went back to the decorations we used the first year we were in the flat together. Red, white, wooden and natural. I put up the same decorations around the living room with a few new additions.

I love the little fox decoration that my sister bought me last year. We also, as ever had real candles on the tree, which we lit on Christmas Eve.

The last three years we have had trees that are over 7 foot. They have taken over the living room as have been so wide. So although they have looked gorgeous Nathan asked that this year we bought a smaller tree. So we went for a 5 foot one... and it worked really well with the more natural decorations.

All the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve.

View from the couch in the living room. I loved the net of twinkly lights.

We moved the little coffee table into the window. Tucked underneath in the basket is my Santa Suit from the Santa Run... just encase anyone felt the need to dress up over the holidays!

I am loving bon bon jars at the moment. My sister bought me the one in the front for my birthday. It looked lovely filled with baubles.

Decorations on the shelves.

I loved the candle decoration I made for the coffee table. I bought a birch wreath and put artificial berries, christmas tree sprigs and pine cones into the wreath. I then placed a round vase with a candle in the middle. It worked well with the colour scheme.

Countdown Begins

I bought this cute board for my sister from a wee shop at the weekend. I thought it was very fitting as she gets very excited about how many 'sleeps' are left till Christmas. 

I took a day off last week to take my Grandma Christmas shopping with her niece, Anne. It was a lovely day out but we didn't get much done in the way of shopping. We had a tasty lunch and enjoyed window shopping. We had really good conversations and enjoyed each others company. So now I need to do lots of catch up shopping for my Grandma. 

Nathan and I are pretty much there with our own shopping. I need to get a few things in the next few days... and worryingly there are a few presents that  seem to be stuck in the mail which we ordered online. Due to the weather I am not sure if they will get here before Christmas. 

But putting it in perspective I am thankful that my Mum came up early - she flew up on Wednesday. If she had left it till this past weekend she never would have got here as most of the London airports are closed due to snow and ice. 

And at the end of the day... it's not the presents that matter- it's the people.

New Camera

My new camera arrived last week! Hooray! 

I am still getting used to it and there are a few things that I am not sure about. It is battery run- so lots of AA batteries will have to be purchased. I made a mistake and got the wrong ones so my camera didn't work on Sunday when we went to brunch with the girls. (gutted!)

The zoom is amazing and I think once I get the hang of it I will be happier. 

To read more about it see here.

Surgery all round!

The car isn't well!

2 weeks ago when we had horrendous snow I had a horrid skid and then when I drove into my office car park I went over a large lump of snow and ice. It knocked my steering out so last week I managed to get the car into the garage so they could have a look. Derek, the mechanic is a lovely man who my Dad has used for many years. He was so busy and backed up due to the weather but he made time for me. Sadly it wasn't good news. I had damaged the steering rack on the inside of the passenger wheel and it is going to be a costly job to fix. To buy new it is crazy money so Derek is looking to find a second hand part. Fingers crossed we find one. Even if we do the problem is the weather has now gotten worse again so TNT and other delivery companies are not promising deliveries to Scotland due to the weather... so it looks like it will be January before we can get the part! 

Lesson learned.... next time it snows that bad I am leaving the car at home... it's just not worth it!

Dental Surgery

On Tuesday the 14th I had dental surgery, which wasn't particularly pleasant. I had an abscess 14 years ago and it caused one of my teeth to die. 5 years ago I got the tooth bleached but now it is getting dark again I want to get it veneered... saving me from bleaching it again and again. However when I am run down my gum and the area above the tooth (where the abscess was) gets a bit sore... so we decided to open it up and check the tooth and gum were okay. Thank goodness we did as there was a little bit of infection in it. I have lots of horrid stitches in my gum now and it is pretty sore but I should be on the mend in a couple of weeks.... and in 3 months, as long as it all settles down, I should be able to get the tooth veneered. Not the nest just before Christmas but at was a necessary action. (hey it might even curb the overeating at Christmas- unlikely though!)

The Santa Run

On the 12th of December Hillary and I took part in the Santa Run. I have wanted to do this run for a couple of years but have always realised to late when it was happening. So this year we were organised and booked in. However the weather had other ideas and we weren't allowed to run. Due to the snow and ice and the events health and safety policy we had to walk the whole route... it was still fun to dress up as Santa and also catch up with Hillary.

 Hills and I in our Santa gear! The beards were very itchy!

We weren't the only crazy people who were taking part... there were many families taking part... and lots of cute kids dressed as elves and also mini Santas.

These two little dogs were very cute... dressed in lil' Grinch outfits. Although the salt that had been placed on the ground to help with the ice was hurting their paws- poor things!

Nathan and his parents came down to cheer us on. We then went for coffee and a catch up.

Later on in the afternoon of the 12th we went to lunch with Hillary, Emma G, her husband Sean and Emma B and her new fiance Ollie... it was a great celebration of Emma and Ollie's news. I didn't take any photos- missing my camera lots!!