Sunday 2 December 2018

It's Starting to Feel a Lot Like...

Yes, Christmas. So now we are here in December I cannot help myself feeling a lit bit excited. Already I imagine I can make all the presents, cook everything from scratch, decorate the house with homemade garlands etc. etc. but it's not going to happen because the truth is I'm already exhausted! This week began with a long overdue trip into London to catch up with a friend. I went in early not wanting to waste the opportunity of being in town and I saw the Anni Albers exhibition at the Tate Modern. It was good, but if I'm honest weaving is not really my thing and so after the first few exhibits they all started to look the same. Coming out it was lovely to see the city lit up on a cold but sparkling evening, already looking very festive.


Jude and I met at Comptoir Libanais, London Bridge which was a feast for the senses, a riot of colour and decorative detail. The fabulous Lebanese food was also a treat for the taste buds full of wonderful flavours. I had an Aubergine Fattet ( a sort of Moussaka) followed by an Orange blossom Mouhalabia ( a traditional milk pudding with a dried fruit compote). My Insta worthy photos of my half eaten food weren't really that good so I won't share them with you. Trust me... it was excellent!


Back at home there has been baking as I have made a start on the Christmas cakes... yes, that is cakes not cake as I have six to make this year. I'm not complaining as they are all orders and I enjoy making them. If we are lucky we might get to keep one of them too but I'm not that bothered. I can take it or leave it as I find I'm too full of everything else to want cake at this time of year.


There were also a batch of mini Christmas cakes too, made for the church market on Saturday. They usually sell like... well, hot cakes... but not this year. So if I don't get to keep a large cake for us there could well be several small ones instead.


The reindeer cookie pops however were a big hit and I sold out of those.


There was also a day this week looking after this little chap... it's hard to believe that he is almost two. He is on the move constantly and so busy and interested in everything. I think I must be getting old as I'm sure I never used to get this tired when my four were small! He's an absolute delight though. Maybe I wouldn't get so tired if I wasn't crawling around on all fours pretending to be a lion!


Stewart got a treat this week as I made him an advent calendar filled with twenty four different beers. Well I think they are all different but I did start to lose count of what I had already bought. It's a bit rickety and the doors don't quite fit but he was happy


This was me at the market yesterday, held in the local church. I have been doing this market for several years now and it feels like the start of Christmas for me. It's always a lovely morning catching up with lots of friends


Today I have been at work in the cafe, mostly in the kitchen where it has been non-stop all day. Back home I made another couple of Christmas cakes this evening, plus a pan of soup from all the veg lurking at the bottom of the fridge (it tastes much better than it sounds), a batch of granola for some quick breakfasts as well as tonight's dinner. Should keep us going for a few days I hope as I'm back in the cafe again at 8.45 tomorrow morning.

So bit of a boring post really as I catch up on this week. Plans of shorter more regular (and more entertaining) posts just don't seem to happen. Well they do in my head but as you can see there is too much else going on. At least I wasn't silly enough to attempt a daily post in December as in previous years! How are your Christmas plans going?

24 comments:

  1. Wow, Gina, no wonder you are feeling tired. I feel exhausted just reading what you did last night after you came home from work!!
    Sounds like you had a wonderful day in London though, the food sounds delicious. i can't imagine why you did not sell your mini Christmas cakes this year, makes you wonder about making them next year.
    I have actually made one Christmas cake and so far that is all I have done. I decided not to bother with a tree this year as we are going away for Christmas. On second thoughts I think that was a brilliant decision as I am quite certain Jess would have had it in pieces and have eaten all the decorations half an hour after we had put it up - if it even lasted that long!!! Good baking and your posts are never too long and certainly not boring XXX

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    1. This will be Hector's third Christmas with us and I can't recall him being particularly bothered by the tree... although he is never allowed in on his own to our lounge!

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  2. Glad you had a good time in London. Those cakes look scrumptious and what a clever advent calendar. Dare I ask what your husband made for you! Have fun being a lion :) B x

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    1. Grandchildren certainly keep you young!

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  3. You're never boring Gina. I just glad I'm not the only one who wishes everything could be handmade. That's where Christmas markets are a god send and if it helps raise funds for a good cause that's good.I wont be making a cake this year as everyone seems to be cutting back on indulgence although, there are requests for my mince pies so I will stick to that.

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    1. Thank you... I think as long as we don't get bogged down wishing for perfection then we'll be okay!

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  4. No wonder you are already exhausted! I'm not feeling Christmassy yet though I have bought some very natural looking holly and ivy! Cheat - I hear you say! And I've got the Christmas out on the table ready to be written. On top of that I have received invitations for Christmas Day and Boxing Day - just one of the benefits of getting older. So it's all sorted really.

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    1. I look forward to the time when someone else hosts Christmas although we are going to one of my newly married son's for Boxing Day, which is a real treat!

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  5. That should of course read; Christmas cards out on the table.

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  6. Never boring, always entertaining, eternally inspirational. I haven't even started on Christmas, desperately painting before flooring goes down. I really am not one of those people that want things done in time for Christmas..... but having ordered sea grass and runner over a year ago... it needs to go down! Chaos, clutter, and a rusty painful old rib cage! Bah Humbug!! Your posts cheer me lovely Gina . Thank you x

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    1. And you are always so kind and eternally lovely in your comments. Don't work too hard Liz... I hope we can meet up next year xx

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  7. I can testify to the fact that looking after little ones thirty years on is a lot more tiring!!!
    I always think your little cakes look wonderful and who cares about doors that don't quite fit when there's beer inside! :)

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    1. I think that was Stewart's response to his calendar too! 😁

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  8. Your littlest is getting so big! And yes, I know exactly what you mean about trying to keep up with a bundle of energy. I'm sure my two hardly moved when they were toddlers! Well done on all the festive baking. I was feeling rather chuffed that I'd made my Christmas cake and pudding. And then I read your blog post!

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  9. Such a joy being with little ones but certainly hard work!

    I wonder whether I should do what many of our neighbours do and put up the decorations early to get in the mood, but we always wait until the weekend before Christmas then leave it up until 12 th night. Plenty of time yet for baking!

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    1. I'm usually late putting up decorations (because I get tired of them too quickly) but think ours may go up this weekend as I'm hosting my bookclub party next week and it won't be very festive without them.

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  10. My word - and now you have to be a roary lion too!

    xx

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    1. Being a roary lion is my favourite bit 😉

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  11. What a great idea for an advent calendar! And you are right about little people- delightful but exhausting!

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    1. The advent calendar is being much appreciated!

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  12. Christmas! Is it that time of the year already? As for me I'm up to my ears in farm chores and battling snow, freezing weather and now ice rain. That and putting our three sheep in the freezer. No more sheep for us. So about the only preparation I have done is to have a jam packed freezer. No room or time for anything else.

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    1. i hope things calm down a little for you Joanna xx

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  13. It has thanks :) Now back into a more normal routine with the return of hubby :)

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