Category: christmas

Blogmas: 5 Christmas reads

The last couple of years I have tried to read christmas themed books in December.

1. In December 2018 I read:

Mistletoe kisses by Katie Flyn,  I bought this book from a shelf of Christmas books at Oxfam. It was not very Christmas as it in a book that spanned about a decade the kiss was only a small part. It was about life before and during the 2nd world war in Liverpool, an era I enjoy reading about, but this book was mediocre

2. Christmas at the little bakery by Jenny Colgon which I found very average.

In December 2019 I read:

3. A December wedding and a 4. book of short stories by Paige Toone; neither of which were particularly christmassy. See Here for full reviews.

So far in 2020. I have read 4. Christmas with the Bomb Girls by Daisy Styles. As the name suggests it was a wartime book. There was some tragedy and lots of romance. Christmas only came into the book right at the end.

5. Nobody cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley. This seemed an appropriate title for this uncertain year. As it was only £1 it would have been rude not to buy. I can not complete for a £1; it was all set around Christmas, had some snow and some romance. Readable if not scintillating.

I’m now reading Christmas at Liberty’s by Fiona Ford.

Are there any Christmas themed books that you would recommend? Given I do not feel I have hit on a perfect Christmas book yet!

Blogmas Introduction

This year I’m going to be doing Blogmas which I have participated in before. It is basically increased posts in the the run up to christmas.

Writing these posts have given me something to do in the strange Autumn 🍂/ Winter of 2020 when time needed filling!

Coming up there will be posts about Christmas and also reflection posts. December 26 is my blog anniversary.

If we were having coffee ☕️ between Christmas and New Year

 ☕️ The time between Christmas and New Year is a great time for catching up with people because so many people have time off work. Are you off all week or have you got to work some of it? I’m just working the Thursday between Christmas and New Year.

☕️ I would have hot chocolate. After trying festive hot chocolate from the three big coffee chains in the UK and writing blog posts about them, if I had to chose between them I would go for Cafe Nero. But I would prefer to go to Marks and Spencer’s as better value which as I mentioned in review you also get to a mini Christmas tree shortbread . Or if in Sheffield would want to go to Cocoa for best hot chocolate in Sheffield or Cafe Ella or Marmadukes.

☕️ What drink would you have?

If we were having coffee ☕️ 

I would ask you what highlights of 2017, have been.

If we were having coffee ☕️ 

I would say have enjoyed visiting the UK 2017 capital of culture Hull. I particularly enjoyed the moth trail and would have liked to complete it / see them all. Similarly I enjoyed the Lincoln knights trial this year, following permanent trail of cats in York and Sheffield elephant trail last year. I still wonder where the Sculptures from all three  temporary trials are now. I would like to do another similar trail this year.

If we were having coffee ☕️ 

I would ask you what you were looking forward to in 2018.

A day in the life 25.12.17

00:00 As the bell chimes midnight  signalling the end of 24th December and the start of 25th December I was in the church at midnight mass to hear the bells.

00:45 arrived home and went to bed. Read a bit of Christmas book.

💤

08:00 -09:00 Woke about 8am when heard parents up. Dozed for a while, got up at 9. Dressed in Christmas Robin t-shirt, denim dress and red tights. Was already wearing Christmas earrings and nails.


The nails were from Primark reduced from £2 to £1. I first stuck them on Thursday night. By Saturday night had only 2 left. Yesterday (Christmas eve / Sunday stuck then all back on). This morning caught right thumb on bathroom door handle so stuck it back on as dressed.


I tore page off calendar my sister bought me last year.


09:15 Went downstairs. Boiled kettle and poured water on tea bag and grilled a muffin. Ate a muffin with blackcurrent jam then a scotch pancake with golden syrup.  Drank 2 small glasses of fresh orange.

09:30 moved into living room with camomile tea. Checked phone and started writing this post. My brother got up about 10:00 he came downstairs whilst girlfriend was in shower.

10:40 opened presents.

11:00-12:30 Dad drove us all to my sisters and back so we could see her and my nephew and niece.

12.30 back at my parents but new Noel Gallagher album on that I opened earlier.

13:30 apperative of red martini.

14:00 Christmas dinner. Started with scampi salad then on to the turkey. I just had a little bit of turkey as not my favourite bit. My favourite bit is devils in horseback (sausage meat wrapped in bacon). Also had stuffing, mash potatoe, roast potatoe, carrot, peas, sprouts, apple sauce, bread sauce and gravy. Drank red wine . Then Christmas pudding and brandy sauce. Cheese and biscuits. Then mints and liquors. I had creame Catalan which is similar to baileys. Then a white creamy liquor my brother had bought back from Spanish holiday.

15.55 watched Queen’s speech, which was broadcast at 15:00 whilst we were still at the table. My brother and his girlfriend left after we had watched the speech, to go to her parents.

16:15 – 16:30. Loading  dishwasher.

16.30 we were meant to be going for a walk, my Dad and I sat on sofa to wait for my Mum. My Dad flicked on Carry on Camping. My Mum ended up sitting down with us, so we never got out for a walk.

Next we had strictly on at about 6. I unloaded dishwasher during it, so missed who won.

About 7 watched Call the Midwife.

9:00 put Victoria on. It was 2 hours long. I flicked through tv paper and found a crossword at the back. My Mum grew interested in it after Victoria she helped with some clues. Did not get it finished but decided best go to bed.

11:45  Read some more of Christmas book.
💤

Christmas Gift’s from Sheffield 2017

Santa is coming to Sheffield book

I bought this booked for my nephew and niece a few years ago, I then wanted to get it for my friend’s Sheffield boy but; the shop did not have it. I was delighted to find it for him in the Millenuim gallery shop before Christmas. It has beautiful illustrations and mentions Sheffield places.



Sheffield food hamper

I compiled a Sheffield food hamper from my parents as Sheffield has lots of breweries and they like beer, it’s predominately beer.

I got these after tour of Senitnal Brewary. 


I got all these from Sheffield beer shop in Moor market.


Unfortunately the lid came off one of the bottles, so lost that brewery’s beer and made some of the labels a bit tatty.


The other problem I had was I had wanted to get a cheese, that has started to be made in 2017 in Kelham Island from our cow Molly cheese, but  they had sold out.

From Millenuim Gallery Sheffield, I bought honey from Dungworth farm and Simpson’s sweets that are made in Hillsborough.


I bought Henderson’s relish from a local supermarket.


I bought chocolate from Cocoa where I go for book club.