30 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 27th December 2010 - The Big Sleep

The first morning with a proper lie in, although slightly later than maybe we should have allowed. The one problem with being at someones house over a long period of time is that sleeping arrangements can prove difficult.

This year we are squeezing into the small bedroom in mum's house. OH on the high bed, I am on the double air bed on the floor. We have to shift all the bags about morning and night, and keep up with the mattress pumping but it is worth it to have a lie in and not be worried about falling from a great height.

We have punctuated the holiday with 2 nights at my brothers. In the living room so you get woken up, but on a proper sofa bed. Tomorrow we'll sleep at the mother-in-laws. Proper bed and a room to ourselves. Obviously the best nights sleep will be the few days we have at home before we go back to work but it's something I'm willing to put up with to spend time with friends and family.

JYC 2010 26th December - Harry Day

I would like to use this post to introduce you all to the wonderful concept of a Harry day. The institution is named for and invented by the father of a family friend. The premise is that for the whole day if you want feeding, you feed yourself. Whatever you want, whenever you want. Ideal for Boxing day with such a variety of leftovers available. Harry Days have given rise to the stuffing and gherkin sandwich and a twist this year, smoked salmon and gherkin.

Boxing Day is a day to relax and chill. To get out presents and have a proper play. And if you are anything like me, finish the book you started on Christmas afternoon.

JYC 2010 25th December 2010 - "It's Chriiiiissssttttmmmmaaas";

"So this is Christmas. And what have you done..."

Had a lovely breakfast at my brothers
Had a cuddle with my nephew on his first Christmas and helped him open his presents
Had a lovely dinner and lots of laughs with my family and OH.

What more can anyone ask for?

JYC 2010 24th December - "Twas the night before Christmas..."

Christmas Eve always feels more magical to me than Christmas does. After all it's the last moment before the special day, what could be more exciting than that???

Christmas eve has taken many forms depending on age and circumstances. When we were younger it was a Chinese takeaway in front of whatever film was on tv that year. Later on my friends and I would squeeze ourselves into the pub and then get bored and go to someones house until the clock struck 12.

Now that the visiting years are here, it is normally the time that we see Dad, just popping round for supper, drinks and an argumentative game of Scattergories. It's a nice way to kick-start proceedings ready for the all important day. We get some presents and raid his ever expanding collection of Christmas songs and the cocktail cabinet.

1 more sleep to go....

26 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 23rd December - Early Morning Pressies

So, the great stocking debate. When we were children we had pillow cases at the bottom of our beds. Nice big pillow cases full of little presents to play with in the morning and keep us quiet until a sensible time for everyone else to wake. We were normally in the same room due to the number of relatives staying over so we could wake each other up without too much bother. It was satisfying to wake in the early hours of the morning to feel a lump at the bottom of the bed.

As we got older the pillowcases disappeared and a present on Christmas Eve was the order of the day. A couple of years ago we got some lovely stockings but to be honest I found them limiting for fitting a lot of presents in. So when we have children of our own I will have pillow cases, but I will try to personalise them to be long term keepsakes.

24 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 22nd December - TV Queen

Most of the year we can plod through the year with no tv guide, stumbling across programmes as we find them. But Christmas always necessitates a copy of the Radio Times.

It's partly for the features but mainly because Christmas seems to bring out the best in "terrestrial" tv and all channels are vying for attention so shows can often overlap. The v+/sky+ generation means that 2 things can be taped and this does cut down on some arguments, when there are very different viewing pretences this is a saviour.

What amused me more was that given the variety of channels available to pick my Christmas viewing from, none of the specialist digital channels got a look in. In fact most did not change their schedules to account for the season.

Of course the end of a year will throw up the traditional talking head countdown shows which kill off an hour or three. Perfect to start and finish a box of something sweet.

Love Elliefantasy xxx

JYC 2010 21st December - Tidy House

Dropped a clanger on this entry. I was supposed to take a lovely picture of the house as it was before we left, all nice and tidy but I forgot. So we'll see what we manage when I return.

Tidying for trips is always a bit of a chore but this time was not quite so bad, as this year we
managed to acquire a dishwasher. I could rhapsodise on for hours another the wonder of this machine. But it does make a last min tidy so much quicker when you know that you can just load and go. This meant that I was able to get other jobs done that did need doing so the house will be lovely on our return.

Love Elliefantasy xx

22 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 20th December - Let it Snow


Big surprise this week in that Saturday we had a massive and totally unexpected snow fall, then again some today. Didn't go to work as I also managed to catch OH cold so had a chance to get things done that got missed on Sunday whilst lying on the sofa in pjs feeling sorry for myself.

The snow did make everything look lovely and festive but has caused more than a few headaches to the Christmas plans. But we are on track again so long as we remember to pack the snow gear. The amusing part is that despite a very heavy snowfall across the country, we are not set to have an official "White Christmas" this year.

Love Elliefantasy xxx

JYC 2010 19th December - Letter to Santa

Dear Father Christmas

Please may I have:

A cuddle from my nephew
Beauty and the Beast
All the roads to be clear for our trip
Gherkin and stuffing sandwich with salad cream
Lovely times with friends and family
Lots of pretty scrapbook paper and crafty things
A win on the Euro Millions
Jelly Babies
A nice relaxing New year with my OH

Love Elliefantasy xxx

JYC 2010 18th December - Food Glorious Food

There is nothing so lovely as Christmas Dinner. The one point of the year when you are permitted to gorge yourself silly. 2 years ago I ate so much food at lunchtime that I had to change into PJ bottoms as they were my only comfortable trousers.

And it's not just the dinner. There is the cake and mince pies, sweets, crisps and nuts. Normally a selection box will appear to be divided up with least favourite bars still in the fridge in July

This year we have come to a good compromise. My step dad is cooking dinner and has made a Christmas pudding, all of which will be sublime. I have made the Christmas cake and some stollen. My sister in law will be providing me with a lovely breakfast of scrambled egg, smoked salmon and bucks fizz and as a tea time treat I have a jar of gherkins for my stuffing and gherkin sandwich.

I have elasticated trousers to take this year so that my OH will not be disgraced again. Oh, and some indigestion tablets. Just in case ......

Love Elliefantasy xxx

21 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 17 December - I saw this and I thought of you

Most years I have a few presents that I see that are absolutely perfect for recipients. This year has been some marmite related kitchen goods for a real fan.

I always try to give thought to gifts that I buy, regardless of the recipient and their relationship to myself. I believe that if you are putting your name to something then that thing should represent at the very least some thought and preference of the recipient. I won't ignore their wishes in the sort of gift that they want, one year I brought my Dad napkin rings, as that was what he wanted. And this year I have brought things that several people would call unexciting but that are the particular wish of members of my family.

As for my presents, well I'm not expecting much. The one gift I know will be under the tree is Beauty and the Beast on DVD. Perfect for Christmas evening viewing.

Love Elliefantasy xx

16 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 16th December - Being Thankful

Things I am grateful for:

OH for helping me to see that once again that I am doing too much in too short a space of time.

The weather for being more Christmassy than normal.

My friends for being supportive of me press ganging them into slave labour at the pub

My manic workload dropping off so that I was able to have a full day of achieving things for once.

Having the whole of Christmas off work to enjoy time with friends and family.

Love Elliefantasy xx

15 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 15th December - Visiting

I'm not going to write a big post today, after all we're keeping it short. But here is a list of people we will be seeing over the holidays. Just so you can see how manic things are.

My Brother and GF
My Mum and BF
His Daughters, their BF and my Nephew
My Nan, Grandad & Uncle, with my Mum and Bro
My Dad & GF, with my Bro & GF

My OH Dad and Partner, with OH Brother & GF
My OH Mum & BF, his sons and 1x GF with OH Bro & GF
My OH Nan & Grandad, with my OH Bro and GF


As many of my friends as possible.
As many of OH Friends as possible.


All packed into a busy and fun few days. 

10 more sleeps to go. Can't wait!


Love Elliefantasy xx

14 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 14th December - Pressies!!!!

There is nothing so perfect as to see a tree on Christmas morning, with presents spilling out from underneath. Almost better than the actual opening, if that is possible. The manner of opening depends on the company present in my family. 

When I was a child, it was imperative that they be opened as soon as possible, even breakfast was a chore that needed to be rushed. When I was in my teens, we would be just able to wait until my grandparents arrived, normally about 11ish, and could manage just a snippet of polite conversation and drink gathering before sitting down to the main event. When I was about 16, my mum had the worst cold on Christmas Day. So it was up to my brother and I (with a lot of help from Nanny and Grandad) to cook Christmas Dinner. Presents were delayed until after lunch as I wasn't going to be diving in and out of the kitchen. That year we came to the wonderous conclusion that maybe, just maybe it was better to wait. 

So for the next few years we did. When my step-sisters arrived on the scene for Christmas, we made them wait the first year, and then the second year we opened everything in the morning. Which left the day a little bit flat.  For us, it is very much a case of dish out and get unwrapping. Maybe with the years I have slowed up a little, especially as the gifts I gave became just as important as those that I received. 

With my OH family, it was different. MIL likes everyone to open a present, 1 at a time so that everyone can see. When you have 8 people and a lot of presents, this can lead to a slightly tiresome afternoon. As we have got older and the family has increased due to more step-siblings, we have got her down to opening all presents from one person, it makes it much quicker and less of a performance. 

Christmas last year was at my house, with my dad and partner. And there we indugled in a slow opening of presents, throughout the day and evening, with special presents for Christmas eve. Very grown up and enjoyable, but somehow, not quite like Christmas. 

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 13th December - Christmas Carols

As previously mentioned, one of my most favourite Christmas Carols is "Do you hear what I hear". This is what Wikipedia has to say on the subject..

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a Christmas song written in October 1962 with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker.[1] The pair were married at the time, and wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[2] It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of different artists.[2]

This is the first time that I have taken the time to find out anything about it. I can see how it would relate to the missile crisis, however for me and my brother, who were born in the 80's and well past this time, the lyrics always seemed to be a little bit on the strange side. Here they are:


Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."


Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the the sea,
With a voice as big as the the sea."


Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold--
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

The chain of communication is just a little bit far fetched. Going back to Wiki, they have a list of everyone who has sung this carol, and it did surprise me. We used to have it on a tape, "Christmas Songs" which had a lovely picture of a candle on the front. We played the tape over and over until it was worn; every year, the same tape as soon as the decorations were brought down from the loft. I had a copy made for me by my Dad one year as I was to sing in a carol concert and it also had a copy of Johnny Mathis - A Child is Born, another Christmas Favourite. 

Some others include

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Only You - The Flying Pickets. This was Christms No 1 the year I was born
Do they know its Christmas - Band Aid (expanding on my love for Simon Le Bon)
A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris De Burgh
12 Days of Christmas - The Spinners
Lonely Pup in a Christmas Shop - Adam Faith
White Christmas / Peace on Earth - The King of Christmas, Mr Bing Crosby


I also am quite partial to properly sung Carols, and had a lovely experience this weekend of being at a wedding where the bride and groom had embraced the season and had carols instead of hymns. There is something very satisfying about singing carols in a church on a lovely winters day or night. I have done it on a few occasions, one of my favourites being in Bath Cathedral during my university years. 


Love Elliefantasy xx

12 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 12th December - Ghosts of Christmases Yet to Come

This year is the first Christmas for my 10 month old nephew. Which means that we will start to do the same Christmasy things that our parents did for us. With the patter of tiny feet not being in the too distant future, but still at least 2 Christmas's away, it will be interesting to see which traditions are kept and which are not. 

Surprises and the magic of Christmas are things that we will not get to expand upon for at least another 3 years, and it is fun to see the grown-ups getting more excited than my nephew, who is completely oblivious and will no doubt enjoy the wrapping paper more than the gift inside. 

I find myself now wondering about the moral issues of introducing the idea of Father Christmas, does it matter that he isn't real? This was a discussion recently had at work; I couldn't remember finding out, one colleague told her brother, another was told by his older sister at the fairly young age of 6. Now with children of his own at similar ages, he has put a very restrictive ban on his daughter so that his son does not suffer the same crushing disappointment. 

When looking further on to the future, it is the excitement and the magic for the children that I am most looking forward to. The hope that they will appreciate the season and the loveliness of the day as much as the presents that they receive. I am hoping that these are the ghosts of things that will definately be, rather than things that might be only. 


And to finish - my definative version of A Christmas Carol, has to be that performed by The Muppets. Without a doubt, a true Christmas Classic. 


Love Elliefantasy xxx

JYC 2010 11th December - "O Christmas Tree"

I do love a good Christmas Tree. According to the definition in todays post, I am a sentimental person. Certainly I do not have a super co-ordintated "out of a box" tree - I don't agree with them outsite of hotels and shopping centres. 

I always remember the magic of childhood to come downstairs one morning and the tree would be decorated and lit. Later on, it was mine and my mum's job to do the tree, whilst my dad and brother would put up all the streamers. We had certain decorations that went up every year, though we never ever had a star or a fairy to go on top. Later still it was my job to light the tree, mainly because it was my fault that we had a string of 240 multi-functional lights to wrap around. It is now my sole job to do the tree and any other decorations in our house, and it goes up on the first free weekend in December, with as many lights as possible (despite them being a royal pain to put up), some paper chains and misc baubles and decorations. I am slowly collecting my own hanging ornaments, and this is something that will probably last me a lifetime. 


For me, it has to be artificial. For all those who love the smell of fresh pine, I love the smell of dusty tree straight from the loft. That is the real smell of Christmas. 


Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 10th December - Christmas Wrapping

Some quick notes on wrapping gifts:

  • It should always be as neat as you can make it.
  • It is acceptable to cover all ends with sellotape - this increases the anticipation of the recipient and is very funny to watch.
  • I like where possible to get paper that is fun and cute. Winnie the Pooh paper is a must where possible.
  • I am not a bit bow fan. They tend to fall off far too early.
  • Bottle bags are one of the greatest inventions ever.
Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 9th December - Traditions

There are a few traditions in our family, some of which might have passed into obscurity. One such tradition, which was discussed again at the weekend, was the traditional Christmas Eve game of Monopoly between my brother and I. This was the only time of the year that he would play the game with me, and we would sit down with a large quantity of food for rather a long game. Mum always declined to play, but would sit nearby to listen, and if possible fend off any arguments that erupted.

The game was always played in the same way, buying streets, hotels and houses as soon as possible. Mayfair and Park Lane were always the prime buying targets, but we were not so fussy so long as we had lots of sets of colours and the means to build massive housing and hotel empires. I was always partial to buying Old Kent Road and Whitechapel. They might be small fry for basic rent, but get a couple of hotels on, and they become quite vicious. 

The game would normally reach a crisis point when we were forced to make a deal to get a set and I inevitably lost on the deal, which would start the bad language. Monopoly is not a game that I should play around small children. Proceedings ended when we had both manged to get the board in such a state that only income tax squares were safe and that landing on the wrong square was lethal. The one year that my OH played with us, we wiped the floor with him. He hoarded his money, only buying certain roads and then had to play a precarious dice rolling game, which ended quickly. 

We haven't played for years, but my sister-in-law informed me that she has a nice copy of the new version, which we might dust off in a couple of weeks time! 

Love Elliefantasy xx

8 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 8th December - "Do you see what I see"

Which is a line from one of my favourite carols, however bonkers it might actually be. 
(Think about it; The wind tells the sheep, who tells a boy, who tells a king, who tells everyone??)

Here are my pictures for today. Admire/Advise as you see fit. 

 Bauble
 Snowman purchased from Centre Parcs 3 years ago on our honeymoon
 PartyLite vase with baubles in, tree is not focused
Christmas Tree reflected in the oven door. 


Yes they are a bit arty farty but who cares :-D


Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 7th December - Lists

I do have in front of me here, the completed list of presents I have brought. But as I know that there are snoopy relations who read my blog, I'm not going to share it!

Instead, a list of those things that need to be done before the big day, with all the done bits crossed out:

  • Ring Dad re Christmas Eve
  • Ring OH's Dad re 27th
  • Write Christmas cards already made
  • Make extra cards
  • Make Family cards
  • Buy presents
  • Get money to pay for MOT
  • Get money for next years holiday
  • Pay in tax cheque
  • Wrap presents
  • Do wedding card for Oli & Laura
  • Do Hen Day DVD for Laura
  • Get eyes checked
Some things are Christmassy, some things are not. And some things, like having to buy a new pair of glasses 3 weeks before Christmas are a royal pain up the a**e. But one thing that we all have to remember is that Life doesn't stop just because its Christmas. 

Hoping that your lists are getting smaller by the day and not bigger

Love Elliefantasy xxx

JYC 2010 6th December - A Tale of Two Christmas's

As a child I remember Christmas being very much set in stone and merging together, with only two years being completely different and therefore more memorable. We normally stayed at home and had my mum's parents around for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with my uncle to stay for the whole 3 days. There was 1 year when I was five or six, when we went to their house, and one year when I was eight, when we went to stay with Dad's parents for a week. They were very pleasant years, and there are very good memories, although some are from things that people have told me, rather than ones I remember. Like the year my grandad made me a dolls house and I had managed to rip the front door off by the end of the day. 

The strangest Christmas I remember was the first one after my parents had split up. We went to the grandparents for the day, and had a lovely time and lots of wonderful presents but I remember that it didn't quite feel right. For starters that was the first year that we had to do multiple Christmas lists and find ways amidst the normal routine to try and see Dad. Overall, my least favourite. 

The addition of a long term boyfriend also caused a change, the first 2 years we did our own thing, and from the third year onwards we have stuck together, just moving about the different houses as necessary. My brother always said that my OH had a certain look about him on Christmas Day, which was normally resigned and tired; a look that I have tried not too successfully to eradicate.

But now my Christmas's are completely different, and rather than things being over in 1 day, the holiday lasts for many days, as we try to fit in all the different parents. Being married to someone whose parents are also divorced, means that you do get 4 different days to celebrate, and normally 4 different ways to celebrate. Each different year now sticks out clearly to me. And though I do look back in fondness at the childhood rituals, I enjoy this prolonging of the season and the festive spirit just a little bit more. Though less driving would be prefered, thank you! 

Love Elliefantasy xxx

JYC 2010 4th December - Perfect Christmas

Hmmm, a tricky tricky thing to pin down really. For me, a perfect Christmas really is the happy bouncy tingly feeling that lasts through the holiday. But below is a list of things that would help contribute to the perfect Christmas:

  • Seeing all the family groups in 1 place at 1 time, even if it is for just a while.
  • Having a cuddle with my nephew on his first Christmas Day.
  • Spending a relaxed Christmas Day with my OH.
  • Having lovely presents.
  • Having a lovely Christmas dinner and getting up from the table feeling like I couldn't eat for the next week.
  • Having a stuffing and gherkin sandwich for Christmas Day tea. 
  • Spending time with all my family and friends.
  • Not feeling like I'm trying to hit a series of appointments, but instead drift from day to day enjoying the company. 
  • Having sparklers to play with on New Years Eve. 
  • Watching Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas morning. 

Looking at the list, most things are new to this years Christmas, except for the feeling of rushing from person to person. And next year, I imagine that this definition will change. But all that means is that a perfect Christmas is easily in my grasp, year after year.


Love Elliefantasy xxxx

JYC 2010 5th December - Advent

I have to admit to being one of those very lucky children whose parents brought them a Chocolate Advent calendar. There was always something wonderful about coming home from school on cold December days and having a guaranteed chocolate waiting for you. There were some years that we had Mars calendars, which had 3 fun-sized bars in at certain lucky points of the month. Weekends where always a waiting game to see how long my brother and I could last out before we ate our chocolate for the day. 

I remember there being a few years that it was decided that we were too old for advent calendars, and then I passed through to that point where it was up to boyfriends to buy them rather than my mum. I also remember having an advent calendar at junior school, and the magic of being able to light it, and the wonderful glow it gave whilst having a lesson.

Since I have been with my OH, most years his mum has brought us a calendar, or we have got them ourselves (and a couple of years we did both.) That led to a discussion over the different ways to deal with an advent calendar. I am a traditionalist; I open each door for that day, eat the chocolate and then leave the door open. My OH likes to close the door up at the end of the day so that he can open all the doors up to the current day every day. 

Last year I broached out and brought a Karen Foster countdown calendar, 25 little drawers that you can put sweets into. I went to our Cadbury outlet store and brought Roses chocolates only to find that the drawers weren't big enough. It will got used, but unfortunately was damaged by the leaky garage roof we had at our previous house. I didn't have time to make a new one this year, so I have a Malteasers calendar with a satisfyingly large box for the 24th. But I intend to make a new, personal one for next year to be re-used and become part of our Christmas tradition.

Love Elliefantasy xxx

5 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 3rd December - Christmas Greetings

I am a crafter, cards and scrapbooks and other bits in between. So I do feel that for birthdays and Christmas I should be making cards to send. In 2008, when I was just starting out, I made a few designs and loads of them. Last year, I went in for card making massively, starting loads of designs, complicated ones that needed the Robo, and covering the dining room table with all my stash. I had so many, that in January of this year, my first crafting project was to finish off as many as I could manage before my Christmas Spirit ran dry. So this year, I had a lovely stash already made, some that needed small finishing touches, but not a lot of work for me at a period when time is restricted.

Most of them are now written. I dug out a pen and sat for 2 hours, writing standard greetings and a fair few notes. We have had another big year for weddings, and the first big year for babies so there are lots of wishes for lovely first christmas's, either as a married couple or as parents. This year included a family wedding, so there are lots notes to say, "glad to see you at the wedding, it was lovely,  hope to see you soon" A few notes to distant friends to tell the news of the year, "busy year, but we've finally brought our own house" and lots and lots and lots of love, winging its way across the county. 

I do like to write the Christmas cards. It allows me small periods of time to think about the people that I am writing to, if I have had much opportunity to think of them during the year. Either wishes that I had seen them more, or remembering the wonderful times that we have spent during the year. 

Of course amidst all this whimsey, there is a very organised system. A spreadsheet with everyones address exists, as a throwback from the wedding three years ago. This year I have added a column so that I know which design everyone had so can differ for the following year. There will be a flurry of facebook and text messages enquiring about address changes, which will last me for a whole year of birthdays too. 

So that chore is mostly done for another year. An hour spent adding addresses sometime this week, a large purchase of stamps and my little beauties will be flying across to their intended, spreading our love and best wishes for another year. 



Love Elliefantasy xx

2 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 2nd December - "Winter Wonderland"

Weather for the south-west today :

Mainly dry, but cold, frosty and icy.

Picture was taken this evening. The snow fell on Tuesday in the early hours, first snow of the year, even before December had even started. Most of the ice has gone, the main roads and motorways are safe to drive but there is still a lovely wintery feel to the start of this december. 


Hats, scarves and mittens are daily accessories, and the snow boots have been pulled from under the stairs. My personal preference is for the mittens that have the fingers underneath, easy for driving but they look cute to wear. I had to change to black mittens this year as my lovely cream ones ended up with black palms from the disintergration of the rubber on the steering wheel :-( 


To end, a quote from Muppet Christmas Carol (which I am currently watching) - 
"Our pens have turned to Inkscicles." "Our assets are frozen!" Rat Clerks


Hope you are enjoying your weather, whatever it might be.

Love Elliefantasy xxx

1 Dec 2010

JYC 2010 1st December - Manifesto

So, why am I dedicating a whole month and then some to a daily journal when a) I seem to make an extra effort to make myself superhumanly busy in December and b) I only got halfway through the last daily journal that I tried. 

Because a) I believe that I can do everything and b) this is such a Christmas of firsts for me that I want tto get things down. They are a lot of little firsts, but worth documenting all the same. 

This whole daily journalling/extra and self-inflicted task issue raised itself again today when I realised with foreboding and horror that it was my responsibility to run our company Christmas Raffle. I could have gotten out of it this year, claiming that I didn't have enough time with the commitments that I already had. But I love our Christmas Raffle and so put forth the extra effort during and after work and now its all sorted and will run itself for a couple of weeks. 

And that is my manifesto for this Journal. I love Christmas and would like to put forth the extra effort to document and remember it. I have an album sort of made and a few pockets here and there to make it up. But I have today decided that most of the journalling will be done by my blog, which can be accessed anywhere, so I make sure that I catch all the memories in between the parties and the work and the family time. So enjoy what will be a month of regular posts and a look into the madcap world that is me at Christmas. 

And for those that wondered, here is a hipstamatic picture taken 5 minutes ago, with my elephant who stars on my blog and as my avatar and who is patiently waiting for me to get the decorations up so that she can get into her elf costume.

Happy December 1st, I'm off to start the advent calendar!

Love Elliefantasy (& Elephant) xxx