Flying solo

*Robin*

:xmastree: Happy Christmas Everyone , :hello: :xmastree:

It was a very productive Christmas Eve at the Nest, although my pleasure in a beautiful morning was dampened by the early morning news: Spotted a woebegone friend standing behind a reporter at Gatwick; he travelled a day too late - no chance of reaching family in Celtic lands (he's probably still at Gatwick, poor bloke ).

Thinking of the bad weather heading this way too, Divo Four and self leaped into action; our mission to replace the missing guttering. As expected, it was a tricky job. By the time the gutter was fixed racing clouds had swallowed the sunshine, and my new fairy lights were dancing as the tree-branches holding them were tossed around by gusty winds.
..Was very glad to get off that narrow ledge!

Tired after holding arms above head for too long, I slept while DS went off to visit his mates. Woke up refreshed; baked a stollen and batch of mince pies, boiled and shelled two kilos of chestnuts, prepped the ingredients for the veg roast, the stuffing balls and the duck - and am still awake [:D]!

Rain is lashing down outside now; I've already had to rescue one pot plant blown over by the wind.
..But happily content at the thought of secure gutters channelling the deluge away safely. :T

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Robin - we usually go to Lanzarote the first Thursday in January and see the parades on Three Kings Day. The one in Puerto del Carmen this January was lovely. I shall miss going - we would have flown out on 2 January this time.

Thanks for popping in, Sun.A! :T
Don't be sad about missing Three Kings in Lanzarote this time; you've been given a far better gift to start 2014 than watching a parade on holiday - probably huddled in a bar doorway, sheltering from the rain..

missrlr wrote:

Hi Robin just wanted to say I hope 2014 is kind to you. Happy Christmas and hope you have a lovely day

Hello Missrlr, thank you for your good wishes; hope you have an extra special Christmas with your family this year, cocooned by love. :grouphug:

:xmastree: Merry Christmas to everyone on MSE! :snow_grin

Right; off to dredge the stollen with warmed honey, almond flakes, cinnamon and icing sugar - ready for DS to have a slice for breakfast (another family tradition - easier than making croissants, lol ).
Just have time for another siesta before Divo Four wakes up (wonder how many of you have already been jumped-on by excited children? ..Glad mine are past that stage, tbh; with any luck DS will bring me a cuppa, then get on with peeling spuds! ).

tunathe_cat

merry christmas xx

Piquant_2

I hope you have a happy and relaxing Christmas robin. Love and best wishes to you.

Piq x

satchmo1

Best Christmas present? My brother's return to health after excoriating cancer treatment, and colleagues safe return to her family after being airlifted from South Sudan by the last UK flight, when the last US rescue flight was strafed by bullets. She may have lost her luggage along the way, but heck who cares!


A happy and a peaceful Christmas one and all.

amber03

Merry Christmas Robin,hope you had a relaxing one.

Good news Satchmo regarding your brother and friends,hope the good news continues.xx

please-let-me-be-lucky

Merry Christmas Robin! Hope you basked in Divo attention ALL day .

Brilliant news Satchmo! Xx

Piquant_2

That's really good news Satchmo, really pleased for you.

*Robin*

Hello dear friends and fellow Christmas celebrants, :hello:

Tempting to put 'fellow survivors' above, but that's just the cynical thick 'ead talking. Wonder how many began their morning by reaching for some kind of remedy against over-indulgence? :cool:

Tuna thank you for posting; I hope you are having a Happy Christmas, and very Best Wishes that both your and DH's health problems improve in 2014.

Piq thanks for your greetings. Has Colin left any baubles on your tree, or were they just too tempting? :xmastree:

Satchmo, Merry Christmas! Brilliant news about your brother - hope you're able to spend time together over the festive season - and what a relief to hear that your friend is safe! :beer:

Amber, Happy Christmas to you! :xmassign:

Lucky thanks for popping in. Bet my Divos have not been as rumbustious as yours today - hope they and you are having as good a holiday as we are (although further betting that our experiences of it are very different! ).

The Nest is peaceful today; no kids playing noisily with new toys or upset because said toys have already broken.. Lord knows I've had plenty of Boxing Days like that so ought to appreciate the peace and quiet; especially as yesterday's foul, tempestuous weather has fled leaving the sun playing hide and seek with tardy clouds.

This morning there were a pair of hoopoe birds in the garden, searching for insects [I think]. They were DH's favourite avian visitors:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EK2s6otWdsA/TInZHejcNaI/AAAAAAAACPM/aj-6klgyimM/s1600/hoopoe.jpg

:think: Perhaps here's the reason for my introspective mood? Christmas Day at the Nest must be counted a success, yet once again missing the most important person in my end-game world.
Clever Dog took DH's chair and shared our meal (no, she didn't actually eat at the table :rotfl: but her enthusiasm for cooked, 'human' vittles is clear; she'd rather have vegetarian nut roast than dog-food ).
Was surprised I enjoyed cooking the feast - proclaimed delicious - culinary honour upheld.
The whole occasion was delightfully non-materialistic, with engaging conversation and a complete lack of argument. :T

Sun_Addict

Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas Robin. It's only natural to reflect on dearly missed departed loved ones at this time of year. There for the grace of God go I on that one - I so very nearly didn't have Mr SA around this Christmas. Hope 2014 is a good one for you!

*Robin*

Hello Diary, :hello:

Quick visit this morning - am supposed to be getting van ready for it's re-scheduled technical inspection (so no NSD today)..

Positive vibes please as it could go either way** :smileyhea


** Government Traffic Dept., wrote to me last week suggesting I should buy a new vehicle (which would put 20% purchase tax in their pockets ).
Tbh was a bit miffed about that, as neither DS2 nor DIL1 got the same 'hint' - both their Spanish cars are about a decade older than the van (but admittedly, neither car has spent any time on salted UK roads)!