Merry Christmas to everyone.

I am wishing you a Merry Christmas today because from tomorrow onwards it will be all go.Our daughter,son I law and two granddaughters will arrive early afternoon on Christmas Eve and will stay,probably until the 27th.Most of the shopping is done apart from fresh food on Tuesday.Tomorrow will be house cleaning and checking crockery,cutlery etc .
We haven't done Christmas for years because we are usually at our son's or our daughter's .I can't believe how many times I have been shopping and I am bound to have forgotten something.Our daughter has offered to bring stuff but money is very tight with Mike's op coming up in Feb.If you remember he should have had it done earlier this month and had cancelled all his work contracts then the hospital cancelled so he has very little work in now and of course there will be none in Feb and March as he recovers.A double whammy on income.Hard times.
Anyway we are going to have a brilliant time ,play loads of games,eat lots of food and forget about Feb's op.
MERRY XMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. Barbaraxxxc

We won't see Ella for six months.

Our eldest granddaughter,Ella, who is 20 is at university in Manchester doing American Studies.Manchester is only an hours drive from here so we pop up regularly and take her out to lunch.Her home is in Cambridge which is four hours away so we have seen a lot more of her recently.However, as I have mentioned before she is off to Madison in Wisconsin for a semester as part of her course.Our son went with a hired van to pick Ella up plus all her stuff and they came to spend the night here.We had a lovely evening just chatting .They left at 11 this morning to call at our daughter's to see her and her family before heading home to Cambridge.She is excited about going but also a little nervous which is to be expected.Giving her a huge hug before they went was quite sad.It has to last me six months!!!!
Our daughter,husband and Emily and Ruby are coming here for Xmas.I am a bit worried because we have not "done" Xmas for a number of years.As I get older I am finding I get more anxious and also tire easily.
Mike has a new date for his brain tumour removal which is not until Feb 4th.We take this is a good sign that they don't think it is critical but it is hanging over us.Such a shame last weeks op got cancelled.
Take care in the run up to Xmas.Back soon.Barbarax

I bought a magazine today..

I bought Your Home magazine today.I started reading the Editor's letter and this is what it said...
"Now the Christmas decorations have been taken down,our homes can sometimes feel a bit sad and bare"

It is the 5th December and I have not even thought about putting UP decorations.Why do magazines always have to be a month ahead?I just don't get it.

My son in law was due to have his brain tumour removed next Tuesday and we were all geared up ready,presents bought and wrapped,food shopping done etc all ready to help.He had a phone call yesterday postponing the op .We don't know till when.It is so disappointing.So it will be hanging over us over Xmas and I am sure they will not do it until January.The only good thing is we now have three spare weeks!!

This a different Advent Calendar!

I never buy my OH an Advent calendar but when I spotted this one I could not resist it.A different sachet of chilli sauce for every day.He normally has a cup a soup with his lunch so these are quite handy to spice them up.He has had three(obviously) so far,all very different.What will they think of next.