So, after munching my way through at least 84 mince pies, slurping more than 31 gin and tonics, and showing my cellulite that I just don't care by troughing my own (considerable) weight in Quality Streets and Roses, it's been a long time coming to get back on track.
But I can't be bothered. It's too cold out there and we need to fatten up through the winter to stay warm - that's what I tell myself when I reach for the Tunnocks...(again).
I haven't blogged for a whole month. I've never been away from it for so long. I've just found myself being very busy in other ways I guess and haven't had the urge.
So, by way of update:
Christmas came and went in a flash at my parents. My brother and sister in law were over from Chicago so it was particularly special.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gny1dAjh9RNX_Onk_WgPvDK6rVwkWVXoJEbT-Ab8nfqMPH-r4lszY_9Ztd7gjfyRmsmKD5hLuMrOehB39gFqQ9iDToHFnIFiAk737fLhATMhhiGLSrddzsHElcntXp3WzP85ArGjrkI/s400/Christmas+and+New+Years+Eve+2012+010.jpg) |
Christmas Eve kicked off as usual with carols at the church
where my parents and then the Husband and I got married. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARCBUEMk_bKV-CY4PfqUytsL0gsCmOlmI-nnVUbl2HFGhAQid0Q4uUskkvcjYV7m-YUTKaXM1odUJ0Q_kJGlyPbrhjEFFX9S5SXUg2JcpC5I1ck4TgdWa1GTfsgbA_z3AWCi-vvsdrl8/s400/Christmas+2012+163.JPG) |
Much resting aplenty |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzEar03ZWYgWvwlJJsXUWMP59t6_O8cU8ErD5fEmROZnOCDiIcruXBdBX8IeJUBc8PjRaaD1-kmv3jESvvVN_fV3Zil9HmI-KdodWC8ZwqCVZK8uh0Mx-WRPNPA1v0BaONvheBQ8DbhI/s400/Christmas+2012+030.JPG) |
Someone was thrilled with their gift! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip28Hj_fl5Q1x9ZD6Pp-gaJIm8z6eERT7t0_voZHh5_Der7cXSeq3XVU_aHjSOikQNqAZyPetwGolHloe7GkS8GCiVgzzSeprb92w7rQwJuUr7UVlGQ9JZtl3cJaP83R2OQRn9bFdtY74/s400/Christmas+2012+039.JPG) |
This little chap became a talking point |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiblZ86gvaF-L3V0ysvkvSs_ktGAumosPqy2xIZUYnZQCZKvGIfI2Lj6WO5N9KDUEjgwo51EFlhQUIMpuu3sbNLjJ9z7_nDj9dnOF-GwIgHmlPuRB58Q4cRQ0ZO1HhxSMbKZVrQ3euhg/s400/Christmas+2012+077.JPG) |
We all ate well and were thankful for it |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e06gWBtrhjzig5Xq8L6zePx2PfFIfgp4kLOSRHb7zLnNUqMut_P9Ek2DjmPY1CS4nW3VvpEF6MUcsXLqI_t28VFN081zxXfrHcPam_fNARj4mmEe6EpT6k4nqgUxBP_bWZf2zZWGg-Y/s400/Christmas+2012+082.JPG) |
The Husband schmoozing with my sister and sister-in-law |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0sD2J5EerZLXvx0rVNaH2yyozxLGokl29L9Dafja3yNep9IWR3F6n8v1xJlEWojMkWMQg76kjz0JDbIPox0PIo_wW18z1D6JVkFlKRF06mrIEYUozAPfYqIenZsrpmvzgHbguum0pdA/s400/Christmas+2012+159.JPG) |
I was happy as Larry with life's simple pleasures... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZepdsmFaz_Gh9eRht7-cXOeGmfrBFkmfjPFPxGshTtLZr7UlwwQHiSB3Dd9zq7bemS7WswRxn9ZzgJvjQ4jUNkIUhGrWeIHbL0ne_jArUxfJJfwHKFYnNhGltAzukrq8wtgJsbyK94CI/s400/Christmas+2012+088.JPG) |
My beautiful mum and bro in law |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmd-C-cy4OYj8TjDyJoDAl9nmhR831kqTDBZSD6PM9mXOT_ExpZn9XgX246W-Y4QOLa8tkp59SQ_CfAEuypnImic3VAzmFGYXzCZI3x4OHfUtstQDh0vUuFrYJDyXxXROu857qeuDZtY/s400/Christmas+2012+119.JPG) |
Too much cake and tins stuffed with mince pies |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrhlnJ3GBTu6n4ANDv06Luw2KelnsjxhukLTDZD8Lj6nOG4tfzUm4Tk9Ha1i3Bx-ux5nnFQ8zVB6J5nBio6wA9gYY1yygfIvydRX4NtHzO3whtDH911Ja8S4d-s9t6T2MpQB9hjya76o/s400/Christmas+2012+152.JPG) |
Deciding what to watch each night |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1ClY20-bD9BxNvELRyYNrtX_Y_z6s52K8DnN01A1h7wLz42toCjvnUdJZFMU6KgQlc9AAtOyHyfc-LIlta4Ok8_SZjWSZk9HtFr1Pe8zpXi9Cij_heUFaTjjOECJqgCN9jBujnHirIg/s400/Christmas+and+New+Years+Eve+2012+022.jpg) |
We played games. I lost...every time |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUtwekMRJp8H5vEhGdV1k3S7HzH6wtn8JX1aqccgS_v7o34xpwifcDGG9fiy_Ik8q4gcUZ5aUI-P0vSS2AYk9L6v515N7nKFLSpeaZV7tSZ69yuyxZ1s-_NlGd3aU2gWr_hIuWdr586w/s400/Christmas+and+New+Years+Eve+2012+034.jpg) |
We walked off the turkey |
Then we returned home and went straight to see the sea. I didn't realise how much I missed it until we were back.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubjBnFl7E3Al2tWUU4wPnIN0ZJoSswTgKSFznEnXwOaR2R7CazXXXHDRp88-hQcEgh0QPGkTGA2mHe_F9UMdgvEm1BLhq4x7chWOERbZL4VEVoWU6cM9TkHYCwpFfoULLd6Imyi1hyys/s400/Beach+Jan+2012+027.JPG) |
Last week you could tell the snow was coming |
And indeed the snow did come! And lots of it too! We found an amazing place to go sledging. I had a fair few goes and only fell off once (in a skirt......slightly awkward for those in front of me)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S_oa2DVcS0SADMDMOZNJcffDEJ0-a9K5KI-UfRZmHlmaIh7p0zVYY1yhJxSCJSFIduGmKj5IV-cKTYtos3GwHgyv9e6EUYeiafnuFnAj6CexhLXmZdpQ6qECNS5apAZSbEy-MKtUGME/s400/Snow+day+Jan+2013+038.JPG) |
Brand new hat from the cherry tree shop. £1.50! |
We are lucky to live a few minutes' walk from one of the oldest villages in Britain. It was stunning in the snow.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzaV5AklJ1heL259sYa3VZohLg1zKN6km1_aYEYhuCXUJKp5O30RmM-gLpfwMg842Ydt18nU9g6QD5hjtc13B5_DX2K3R5tlWC2zkz0TIHW5U_go0OAP6cZRQULfoDggGnu6__cKV24Q/s400/snow+jan+2013+003.jpg) |
Our street |
Now things are very busy in the house. The husband has managed to cover the ENTIRE house in dust, from electrically sanding the lounge walls. I could have cried when I saw it. The whole house looked like it was covered in smoke.
Despite opening the windows and shutting the lounge door, the dust has still escaped and settled everywhere. I am more breathless than Meg Ryan...and not in a good way.
The Husband looked like one of the men in E.T.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelS9xnU3foLIXTSekt1wNmpw-uU42yNQpVl51221RmQrFWw8zPyyizQbJl09y5N3Sf_z7NI0RtFhn61RvAXpwpS9clo6YORotpd2K7xjdMJlmmR2kz1PwiRvgYowfDn9-TsPGWHPIgRk/s400/Snow+day+Jan+2013+046.JPG) |
Look at the air. Now feel my pain.
(Can I point out those testers on the wall are NOT our choices! We uncovered them!) |
I suffer from chronic asthma (only diagnosed about six years ago) and am now suffering as a result of the dust. So here are my trusty weapons which I am using daily again.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEbmkoewktM5v9zs1YSOnLarATl_e11qbTyVIW21apjjlxbORxS3QZX-hdmeGElg0XOaU3wlQ0pVtTgd7YtwBiOhtJlhdU3wwRuwNTjeuIj0Qg0ceaWivqyaSGla-8b1NiRYrZrwSCG4/s400/Christmas+2012+167.JPG) |
I'm all about the glamour, see? |
So while the Husband is ruining my home, and both the hoover and shower have chosen to pack in, I can hardly quit the chocolate now can I?
Mind you, I am keeping busy with my new friend Annie Sloan, although it's fair to say I am not a natural painter. I am also really into reading again and trying to get early nights, and baking for Cake Friday (where my friends and I get together for cake and gossip) which is probably why my blog is on the back burner a little.
Onto my main hobby in life, I'm hoping the cake stand in the cherry shop that I have been coveting since before Christmas is still in the window unsold on Thursday morning. If it is, the lady said I can have it for half price. Think she is sick of me popping in to look at it.....I'm like a broken record.