Ghost of Christmas past

 

Ellie and I are in London. We came for the Ideal Home Show - Christmas show and Cake & Bake show. Both were good though some of the stalls a little unexpected - solar panels for Christmas anyone? Also lots of dog food! They had a BBQ hut which came fully kitted out (including reindeer hides for the seats) and boy I was tempted, with Ellie encouraging me but it was lots of money which made it easier to resist - just! 

I adore Christmas but over the years there's been a couple of downers -

I would have been about 12 I think and my big sisters boyfriend dumped her on Christmas Day. That was not fun and I remember lots of tears over the turkey but I've had to forgive him as they've been happily married for 30 years! 

Then aged about 18 I was all alone. Mum and big sister were working. Middle sister had recently moved into a flat share and was having Christmas with them. Not sure where dad was, with friends I guess. I have to say this year was utter miserable. I drove to my grandparents and spent time with them which was nice but being alone without a room full of family wasn't my ideal. If anyone is alone this year just me a call and you can join me.

Then when I was about 19 I was out to my works Christmas party on 23 December. One of my friends/colleagues decided not to come but went clubbing with her cousin Penny. That night, into Boxing Day, Penny was glassed in the throat and died in Donna's arms. I'd only met Penny once I think but Donna was a good friend so that shocked that festive season. Donna really suffered and I think of it often. (The perpetrator, after running off to America the next day, was caught and imprisoned btw).

Next week I'll bring you all my wonderful Christmasses including having a baby! Lol

Leaving London today and heading to Worcestershire! What an eclectic travel life I lead. 

The photo is of the tree at Covent Garden.

It's not what's under the Christmas tree that matters, but who's around it. 

Like mother like son

 

I've just realised it's Friday, blog day. I'm busy having a shower then in suddenly dawned, so this will be quick. 

Apparently, I'm not the only one in my family to forget pants. Ellie is graduating today so we came to Dundee yesterday. Isaac didn't bring pants. He also forgot PJs (I'll just sleep in my pants - um, not if you only have the one pair!) he forgot socks. He was wearing the only footwear he had (in his own words 'tatty trainers') nice look with his shirt and tie (dad ironed his trousers and shirt and packed them with his suit in the suit carrier, otherwise Isaac would be in his far too baggy, and dirty, jeans!) So it's mum's job to QC him. Though as he's 24 he shouldn't need it. Obviously he does. After picking up the graduation tickets we went shopping. Isaac bought pants, socks, smart boots and new jeans. (He was poorly over the summer and lost weight which he hasn't put back on so needed a size smaller on jeans. His old ones hung off him). It cost him a small fortune which Mark called his forgetful tax! I said less because I kind of did the same, except it was only knickers and bras for me. 

Ellie was in London with work yesterday. She flew back to Aberdeen then hopped on the train to Dundee. She picked up her graduation gown (they don't do mortar boards here) and we went off out for dinner. She's very shy is my Ellie, not! Tapas and sangria with a cocktail thrown in for good measure. Lovely evening and so very proud of her. She did her masters in psychology whilst working full time as a home designer for John Lewis. She's being made redundant on 6th January so maybe her masters degree might feature, we'll see. 

Right I need to get dressed and look pretty. See you next week and sorry this is so late!

Rich people have labels on their clothes. Happy people have dog hairs on their clothes.

Mistakes

 

Everyone makes mistakes, is the old adage. And it's the truth. I've made and continue to make mistakes in my life. Some tiny, like getting an answer wrong in an exam because I didn't read the question properly and some bigger, like wearing a white line across my nose at an Adam Ant concert. My husband will tell you that I drive little old ladies off the road - there was no traffic, she should have left the roundabout! This was of course an accident kind of mistake. I regret my mistakes, obviously, like the time I broke Mark's favourite mug in a fit of rage. I once wrote some letters trying to amend a few of my errors (of judgement) and I believe I've been forgiven by those (who hadn't even noticed these misdemeanours) but my head still felt burdened. Whilst writing this week's blog I've been thinking back to all the types of mistakes I've made and some have actually made me feel quite sick! About 40 years ago I decided to have a drastic change of hair style and treated myself to a cut at Fenwick's. Later that day my usual mobile hairdresser turned up to an appointment I had completely forgotten about. I felt so bad! 

I can't remember why I decided to address this topic today. Only to say that you (yes, you too) must make some mistakes, possibly less as you get older (or more?) but please forgive yourself and get over it. It is a part of life. And here and now I will say sorry to anyone that might have been affected by my errors. If I'm sorry about it then I apologise.

I think my niece Kate might think this photo is a mistake, and letting me use it on this post! But it is funny and she is cute.

I didn't lose my mind. The people in my head stole it and won't give it back.

Too organised

 

Yes, there is a thing that is being too organised. I'm here in Fuerturventura with Ellie and my sister Beverley, her daughter Kate and my niece Sarah. I got back from Grenada and washed my clothes. They then sat on my bedroom floor for a wee bit but decided to pack my suitcase for my holiday here. So I swapped a couple of dresses and packed. I think my plan was to unpack and repack before setting off but I didn't quite manage this. The result? I'm here with zero knickers! Obviously I have the pair I wore during the journey so they have been washed in the sink and hung out to dry. I need to do this every day... Or go commando! I also only have the bra I was wearing on Wednesday plus a strapless which I packed for a specific dress! Oh well, there you go. 

And, I don't have any flip flops but luckily I threw, at the last minute to the order of my daughter, in some flat mules for the evening in case my high heels got sore, otherwise said high heels would be needed for beside the pool and down to the beach! A touch over dressed I think.

It's been over 24 hours and no one has fallen out yet so there's a plus. It's Kate's birthday on Tuesday so the whole week is just one big birthday party for us all. Like we need an excuse to party? 

Later on I shall post vlog #3 for those that like a wee video treat. No pressure if it's not your thing. Like my friend Lesley said, I'm doing a little bit of both to keep everyone happy. 

I saw this photo on Facebook today and just had to share. Enjoy

It doesn't matter where you are going, it's all about who is sat beside you.

Dementia

 

My mum says I don't have dementia. My mum says that I'm just doing too much. My mum says that mums are always right. But ...

In the past week I've got 3 dates completely wrong. My SiL has her birthday on Saturday and we were invited over for brunch. I told her I couldn't manage as I would be down south for my nephew's 30th. But that's the end of November not October. Then I told my mum we were driving to Newcastle on the Wednesday ready to fly to Spain on the Thursday! Nope, we fly on the Wednesday morning so need to drive Tuesday! And lastly, I was keen to meet up with my sister and BiL before Xmas. Mark and I have only 2 free dates. The weekend of 6 Dec or 13 Dec. Jane is going to visit mum on the 13th so we decided to book an Airbnb the same weekend and spend some time together in Newcastle. Except I booked Airbnb for 6th by accident! Luckily, I managed to change it. But that's my head calendar being very wrong 3 times in a very short period of time. Something is broken. 

My blackberries were delicious. Once we had mushrooms in the garden that Mark googled and was certain we're edible. Bella kept finding them and scoffing them and though she was fine I absolutely drew the line at trying lawn mushrooms. Google can be deceptive. And I didn't want to be high or ill. 

Yay, I've watched my first Christmas movie for this year. Just the usual festive sop but it starred Teri Hatcher and James Denton (both in Desperate Housewives) and I really enjoyed it. Give me a happy ending with baubles any day off the week. But only after October (or there abouts). 

This week's picture is Bella and how she likes to lie. Bless her. 

Have a lovely week everyone. Next week I'll be writing from Fuerturventura. Whoop whoop!

I often get mistaken for an adult because of my age.