JYC 2010 6th January - And so to end

Twelfth Night at last. So to celebrate, here is a completely unrelated quote from the great playwright himself:

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
Twelfth Night, 3. 1

I have never been into the magic of twelfth night, being in an age where as soon as New Years is over then reality comes crashing back in completely unwanted. Our decorations are away and we are slipping back into that time where it feels like the holidays were just a dream. I also was never impressed with the idea that you had to wait until the last possible moment of the holidays to exchange gifts. 

I have enjoyed writing this journal though, as it has made me stop and think about the holidays and the season a little bit more. I have a record of what I did and when I did it so that it wont just become a blur in the coming months. I have not yet taken the opportunity to read through the posts and will probably do so when I come to construct the album proper in the next two months. Certainly the 1st of December seems an age away, rather than just 37 days. 

So, as far as JYC goes,  I will bid you farewell for the moment, and look forward to seeing you here on December 1st 2011.

JYC 2010 5th January - Clean up

This post is a bit previous to be honest, as my decorations were all packed away Sunday. Although I like to have them up, putting them down again is always a bit of a chore and nothing that I want to tackle after struggling through work. Its always a bit sad when they come down and the rooms look so bare and cold without them. But I also like to start the New Year fresh and clear so despite the chore, I get them down as soon as is decently possible. We have the luxury of having a loft to put the decorations in, and this year the tree has been upgraded from the tatty box to "the cricket bag of no fixed purpose." This was a much better idea as the box couldn't fit the tree and the garland in and was beyond rubbish for getting up into the loft. The cricket bag has wheels and handles at both ends, plus enough room for the tree, garland, a spare hanging rail and the bear clothes. I have also splashed out on a new piece of cardboard to wrap the lights around, though I think there might only be 1 more year left in them.

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 4th January - Being Useful

Things to remember for next year

• Do cake and do 2 lots of stollen. Don't forget to do it in little loaf tins
• Do the Christmas shopping in November
• Don't forget to get stamps so that the cards will actually get posted.
• Do a bigger album and start it early November and not late late November
• Stick to just 1 design of Christmas Card for friends and family
• Write cards and addresses at the same time
• Don't forget to get indigestion tablets before Christmas Day. 

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 3rd January - An Andrews Family Christmas

One of the over-riding themes this year was that nearly all of us had a stomach bug at one point or another. My step-dad suffered on Christmas Day but managed to procure a tub of Andrews salts which set him right. 

From that point onwards, no matter what ailment you had, Andrews was his answer to it. I had some, my OH had some, I don't know if anyone else got stuck with a dose or not but for every minor complaint, there was the inevitable cry of "Some Andrews would sort you out!!"

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 2nd January - Innocence

A trickly little subject really. Sort of boils down to why I like Christmas and that is a hard thing to pin down. Its reassuring to think that no matter who might have driven me mad throughout the year, I still relish the thought of giving everyone a gift that they might like and spending a little bit of time with them, just because its Christmas. And that everyone is just a bit more patient and a bit more good spirited, just because its Christmas.  That is the meaning of it for me, a chance to make amends for forgetting that message throught the rest of the year. (i.e. a chance to make up for being crabby and judgemental for 11 months of the year) 

New Year has its own message, just a fresh clean sheet and a few days to try and put some plans into action so that by the time it comes around next year, I might have learned or improved on something. This year I still have a few prompts of Learn Something New to do, so I intend to start again on the 7th when I've finished here.

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 1st January - What will this year bring?

This is a bit of a question as there is one very specific thing that I want to happen this year, but it is something that wont even begin to happen until the later half of the year. Resolutions for me aren't always the best, but I'll have a go. So the list below contains things I hope to happen and things I hope to improve on

• Resolution - try to spend more time doing things I should do rather than things I want to do
• I will be going on holiday in June, something to look forward to.
• Resolution - try to be better with money
• I hope that I can finally get my Dolls House finished, if only so I stop using it as temporary craft storage
• Resolution - try to do a bit of exercise
• I would like to finish a few long term projects and do a few jobs that have been hanging around for ages
• I would like all the roadworks between here and my mum's to go away!
• Resolution - get a good balance between what I want to do and can actually acheive 

So there we go. A few goals to aim at so I don't get bogged down in the big issue of the year. 

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 31st December - "What are you doing New Years Eve"

The title of a song by Mary Margaret O Hara on one of my Christmas Albums. New Year for me should always be spent with friends rather than family. Christmas is a family time but there should be some dedicated celebration time for friends to enjoy as well. Even as children, we never spent New Years with family; we have a large group of friends that we see a few times a year and a lot of NYE's were spent with them, children and parents together, all children sleeping on the floor in one room (when we were small enough to fit) 

On memory that sticks in the mind is when we played full-sized Cluedo. We had 7 out of the nine rooms covered and sort of shouted from room to room as we moved about. It was very amusing and perfectly suited to the small amount of guests that we had that year.

As an "adult" I've done the pub thing and found it wanting. Like Christmas Eve, its a lot of fuss and cramped conditions for not a lot of benefit when the clock strikes 12. We now pick a house and head over with offerings of food and drink and play on the consoles or play party games as we so choose. Its a good opportunity to catch up with people that aren't about much in the year and make outrageous plans for the following year. It doesn't matter if you don't have a "special person" to kiss at Midnight either, we are all special to each other and normally there is a 5 minute period of emphatic hugging and kissing while the bells chime. This year was no exeption, although a little quieter due to illness. But we had an enjoyable time watching the firework display on tv, glad that we were in the warm.

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 30th December - Year in Review

7 babies born to close friends or family
4 weddings of friends and family
1 house brought
4 months of having my own craft room
7 months of blogging
10 trips back home
1 trip to Roller Disco
1 theatre trip
1 Aqua-sphereing experience
Lots and lots of good times

JYC 2010 29th December - Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake.

So we haven't  yet documented the Christmas Cake as yet. I like to make a homemade cake. It starts the Christmas mood off nice and early in October and its a traditional Christmas thing that I can actually do. I have a recipie that works year in year out, no matter what size I might like to make. 

I do make a lovely heavy fruit cake, but I am not so big on the soaking in copious amounts of brandy. So I compromise by letting it mature for the full 2 months but not adding any more brandy so that the cake still takes like cake. I do put cherries in, I don't put nuts in, which makes for a cake that the whole family can eat, from step-siblings through to grandparents. Last year, I made 3, 1 proper sized and 2 loaf tins. This year I went for just the one 10" round, which actually was massive when we cut into it. That did for a lot of people with a nice chunk in for us to take home. 

The cake will get marizpaned and fondant iced, as per orders from my OH. As children we didn't have icing as neither parent is a big fan, but it is a mandatory requirement for a happy marriage, and those who don't like it can always peel it off. I am not a professional cake maker, and mine normally are a little scruffy at the edges. I try for some decoration but it is a little hit and miss; the taste for me is the most important bit. 

I have again this year scored a 10/10 from all but my OH. He maintains that the 9/10 I get is a perfectly good score, and the only problem with my cake, is that it is not our wedding cake, made by his step-grandmother 3 years ago. I do put on a bit of affronted pride for amusement, but really I also know that our wedding cake was the most yummy cake I have ever eaten, and as I will never get the recipie, I will never get the one extra point. 

Love Elliefantasy xx

JYC 2010 28th December - A little bit of what you fancy

Ahh, that wonderful period between Christmas and New Year. We normally have a few visits still to potter through and actually the day was spent with the Mother-In-Law this year. But wherever we end up, its still nice to pop in and see sweets on the table to be picked at all day, plus cake and leftovers for tea. Its nice to have these days to wind down and have a play with the presents, but the biggest indulgence for me is just the freedom of being able to eat whatever and whenever, especially as there is normally so much left-over by this point that people are positively encouraging you to stuff your face. 

Having said that, I managed to get the sicky bug which is doing the rounds of the family, plus having fallen part way down the stairs actually led to a food-free day, the first of 4, so not much in the way of good food and leftovers for me this year. 


Love Elliefantasy xx

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....

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.

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

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