NEW YEAR ..... OLD ME !! ..........

So, we are well into January now, the excesses of the season are over and it's back to the old routine for us all  and, maybe time to take stock for some..........

The old year was rung out and the New Year rung in, ( with the help of our son of course !!!! Brag, brag . I shall probably use every opportunity to sneak that in where I can !.....haha ) .........

The members of the Windsor family are ensconced in Buckingham Palace arranging  some major event ..... I think that I heard something about a little wedding in the not too distant future !! .......... Kate is probably Googling everything from wedding dresses to wedding venues as we speak .......... NOT !!!!!! 

I'm not one for New Year's resolution's or change so .......... I will not be giving up wine, no matter what colour it is ..........

I shall not be cutting my hair short, even though I probably should at my age ( big birthday coming up in a few weeks ). I  have had long, straight hair virtually all of my life and, I don't know what I would do with it if it was short !! ..........

I shall not be giving up chocolate either ..........

That's how much I love chocolate ..........

I shall not be increasing the amount of exercise that I do anytime soon .....  perhaps a few arm exercises with a wine bottle in each hand and a walk to the pub now and again !! ..........

Shopping will be increased according to how the recession is going ..........

This is my newest purchase ..... All Saints Military jacket bought in the sale ..... All Saints is my second home. I am usually All  Saintsed up from head to toe ..... if any owners of All Saints are reading this,  feel free to offer me any freebies for my loyalty and my constant throwing of ££££££'s your way. 

................ and finally I will leave you with this little conundrum ( which has got nothing to do with anything really !!) ..........

Why is it that, whenever I go into the bathroom I am greeted with the above ? Does it happen to you ?!!!  It's rather odd that, the most intelligent of people do not have the ability to change the toilet roll !!!! Do you think that their brains have had a toilet roll changing by-pass ?

image 1 - Willie Vanderperre, image 2 - Bruno Vincent, image 3 - Robin Wood, image 4 - Rilrae, images 6, 7, 8, 9 - visualize.us,  image 10, 12, 13 - we heart it, image 11 - All Saints

REPRISE OF LAST POST........2011 .......... HERE'S TO A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR ..........

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone.

Here's to a wonderful 2011, filled with everything that you wish for.

Please indulge me in a boastful moment,..... the fireworks in London were the best EVER......and our son mixed and produced all of the music that accompanied them !!!! It was the first time that London had music with the firework display, which made it even more special We are very proud of him.

Well done Daniel.....you did a great job.

In my excitement, I deleted the whole of this post and had to redo it......I lost all of your lovely comments so, if you have a spare moment,  feel free to re-comment, as I know that Daniel would love to read them !!!!

image - Reuters

IT CAME, IT SETTLED..... and, IT'S MAGICAL ..........

SNOW !!!!! .......... within half and hour, the whole of the UK was covered in at least six inches of snow. Cars and people were stranded, trains and buses were cancelled.........we were supposed to have been going into London for dinner for our daughter-in-law's birthday, but there weren't any trains, Heathrow is at a standstill and many people are still trying to get home BUT, come and see how pretty it looks where I live .......... I'll clear up all that snow in our lounge later !! haha ..........

Mr Home and I went out for a walk , it was a long walk, hence the amount of photographs !! There were more but I have spared you !!........ this is our road, with the cemetery on the right......... into the cemetery..........

Doesn't it look beautiful ? I always thing that the bottle-shaped yew trees are like something from Alice in Wonderland. They look as if they might just come to life ..........

Down past the Council Offices. The tower is Victorian and the building next to it was built in the last ten years, and they mirrored the windows and shapes of the old Victorian building.

Opposite and built into the wall are these steps. These were to help people get onto the carriages in the 16th, 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.

Into  St Mary's church ..........

Past Church House ..........

This is the entrance to the park, opposite the church,

An iconic English postbox ..........

Round to the back of the church,

a front door looking festive, that we walked past ..........

We are expecting more snow over the next few days so, it looks as if we could be having a white Christmas which will be perfect. Back to my Christmas decorating and wrapping and cooking. Enjoy your preparations.

image 1 - via design wonderland, image 31 - Alessandra Ambrosio via Google, all other images by ME !!

PANIC STATIONS !!!! ..........

Well, as usual, I start off really well with my Christmas preparations, and usually, by the beginning of December, most things have been done........ and then I find that it's mid December, and those  last minute things are piling up..........

The tree has been bought but is still  in the back garden ..........

I should be at the above stage, with baubles and decorations down from the loft and decorating said tree with carefree  abandon but ..........

it looks more like this !!!!

These are some of my Christmas cards, all written I'm pleased to say but ...........

they are sitting on my desk, still not posted !!

No baking has been done, as I keep eating all of the raw ingredients !!!!

.......... and, we are expecting lots and lots more snow in the next few days, lasting until next year apparently so, there is every chance that the last of my online purchases are  not going to be delivered  !!!! Also, I was out to lunch on Monday.....and yesterday and I've got to go out to lunch today as well and a few more times next week !!
So, here is a little Christmas inspiration for you and for me and, hopefully, by the end of this week, our home will be looking festive, and we can begin to enjoy the magic that is Christmas.

I am hoping to enlist the help of some Christmas fairies to assist me in the last minute rush !! Does anyone know where I could find a few ?

images.... 1 - via Tiny White Daisies, 2 - via Holiday Haven, 3 - via KaliCartel, 4 - Lucyina Moodie, 5 & 9 - Vintage-Kompagniet, 6 - Jeanne d'Arc Living, 7, 11 & 14-we heart it, 8  - Alicja Rodzig, 10 - Camel & Yak, 12 & 13 - via Vintage Rose Garden.