December …ing

Thank you for all your kind messages on my last post, when I told you about Lupin’s death. It gave me comfort to know that you are all so lovely and thoughtful.

I forgot to post my usual monthly round-up in November. Truth to be told, I didn’t feel like it. The first academic term is a bit of a killer and I didn’t have the energy to think about all the many things that happen in a single calendar month. The first two weeks of December were a bit of a blur, too, with a work calendar full up to the 18th. I had to run a workshop on that day and nobody who had signed up showed up. A bit annoying but also a relief because it meant that I could finish up some other things, then put my out of office on. 

I’ll start off with a few things that I didn’t do this December … 

:: Not baking traditional Christmas cookies. I just didn’t have it in me. 

:: Missing both work Christmas party and evening drinks with colleagues. I would have enjoyed the drinks but the date and time clashed with my pre-booked hair cut, which I really didn’t want to miss.

:: Not writing Christmas cards (nor receiving many, I must be right on trend with this). On that note, we still don’t know who sent us that card with a personal note of at least one dinner enjoyed together. It is killing me. 

On the other hand, here a few mostly positive …ings, primarily from the second half of December.

:: Missing Annie at Christmas. It turns out that she is the glue that holds our family Christmas together. The rest of us was too lazy to set a nice table, buy crackers or sing carols, work on a puzzle or anything else that over the years we have done. She called on Christmas Eve and asked Richard to read a few pages of the Grinch, which was sweet. We also spoke on Christmas morning, when it was already late on Christmas Day for her. She is having a fabulous time on the other side of the planet.

:: Also missing Lupin, our sweet cat. 

:: Ordering digital gift cards for the teens, to realise that James’ phone does not support the necessary app. It is not even an ancient phone. Sam showed him how to convert it to a physical card but James didn’t enter the full address … just the street. Because who needs house numbers?! It is not common practice to have a name plates on the front doors here. After some huffing and puffing, we think the address is now updated.

:: Celebrating Alistair’s sixteenth birthday. These last few months, Alistair has been a joy to live with. We had hardly any melt-downs at home although one at school, when he got into a physical fight with his resident bully (who takes issue with Alistair’s hair colour, being adopted and having a transgender friend, among others). Unfortunately, Alistair started the fight. 

:: Changing my nail colour every Sunday evening. I am still using the Glaize stick on gels, appreciating the mess free application. They still don’t last two weeks (as advertised) but I am fine with that. 

:: Eating French onion soup made from scratch, starting with a slow simmered stock (Richard made it). Also eating steak pie with vegetables on Christmas Day. And pavlova for pudding. I made a raspberry coulis for this, delicious. 

:: Stitching the final few blocks of my Ice Cream Soda quilt top together. This has been a long slog, the first photo of it dates back to September 2021. Good things can’t be rushed.  

:: Removing the papers from said (paper pieced) quilt top. All 1726 pieces. It took two evenings and a few daytime hours. A good way to spend the long hours of Christmas. I’ll have to hold it up against the light to see if any papers remain. 

:: Observing the robot hoover & mop slowly whirring around the downstairs whilst I myself sit idly on an armchair listening to a book. It is not as good a cleaner as I am but it is quite nice just sitting and watching. It sends me interesting messages, such as “Last time I checked, the kitchen floor was pure manky, you filthy animal. Please send me out to make it better.” 

:: Keeping the bird feeders topped up. It is relaxing to watch the birds during my working day. 

:: Spotting signs of the new growing season. The coconutty smell of gorse always surprises me. I want it to smell lemony. 

:: Loving my winter warmer scented candle by the Isle of Skye Candle Company. I also like the machair flowers candle. Machair, for those of you not familiar with this term, is a grassland habitat which you can find in the north and west of Scotland and western Ireland. 

:: Listening to Orbital by Samantha Harvey. I enjoyed it but it is not my favourite book of the year, I prefer books with a clear storyline. Also listening to Cracked Mirror by Christopher Brookmyre. I loved that, it has a good twist. I just started We Solve Murders by Richard Osman. 

:: Watching Rebecka Martinsson Arctic Murders on Channel Four. I read the book series a few years ago, which I think I enjoyed (although would have to check my Goodreads ratings to confirm).

:: Looking forward to Spring.

That’s it all really. I hope you had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrated. Wishing you all a fabulous new year!