Blown away....literally!

Went for another walk up and actually onto the Table Mountain today with a small gang and it was well worth the squally rain shower that assisted us as reaching the top was awesome!
The wind was so strong that we could lean right over and be kept buffered up by a natural wind tunnel.

Unknown to the children (which were kindly looked after by grandparents) we packed our rucksack with a load of their Christmas stocking chocolates....I felt I was doing them a favour....and their teeth.

Held up by nature!

I am Elizabeth Bennett!

Merry Christmas All - or Nadolig Llawen pawb!

After a relatively respectable start to Christmas morning and the search for presents left by Father Christmas (0715), followed by a morning carol service at the chapel in Llangattock, a mince pie post service at my Nan's and a lovely Christmas dinner created by my in-laws......I felt the need at 1600 to get some fresh air and burn off some calories.

The joy of being able to literally turn out of the house and belt up towards the mountain was so liberating. It was great to get out, be on my own and be "me"!  Not that I am not really ever me but I did have to laugh to myself whilst slip sliding up towards the Table Mountain in my ridiculous purple flower wellies, a spotty dress flapping around my knees (Hell - me in a dress!) and my new pink necklace from the children.

As I splodged through mud, glided through water courses and teetered next to the beautiful waterfalls , I really did feel that I was Elizabeth Bennett although I was unlikely to meet Mr Darcy as it was getting quite dark and to be honest I was up against it, to get to the top of the main footpath to the mountain before dislodging my ankle in complete darkness.

However, I made it back in one piece and now have to think about how to entice the children up there sometime over the next week (I am thinking rucksacks of Xmas chocolate) and the means to take a lovely photo at the top so that they can send it back to their old school friend in Cardiff.

Oops - only a few minutes left on the laptop battery so best sign off.....

Whooo Hooo - we are IN!

Its been a manic past few days but I can confirm that we are finally now living in a house that can comfortably accommodate us all for Christmas!

The actual move last Thursday was a mixture of usual packing up stress, doors open, myself smuggling peanuts as the house was so cold and frenetic cleaning once the removal guys had left.  (We used Vale Removals and Deliveries and would recommend.)

I was also taken aback with how sad I felt at leaving a home which has seen the arrival of all our children and many fond and happy memories of the start to our married life.  We arrived at that house as "young pups" and left as "proper grown-ups!"

The children decorated the Christmas tree with Grandma on the weekend and presents are slowly gathering around its base in preparation for the BIG DAY and we have assured them, that Father Christmas does know that we are now living at a new address.

And that's another thing about moving....the sheer faff of contacting all the organisations that need to know you have moved on....thank the lord for the internet.  Just imagine how slow the process would have been only a few years ago!

Right ho ho ho ho.  So tired I could sleep on a chicken's lip (one of my best friends sayings) so off to get some shut eye.

Will we stay or will we go?

Ahh - the joy that is the house sale.

We are now into week 4 of the sale process and whilst we have signed all the bits and bobs necessary, we are still waiting for the essential "Exchange" of contract which is looking more and more unlikely as the days creep towards the original anticipated completion date of the 16th.

I now have the unenviable task of packing but at the same time, it might all be put on hold until after Christmas.  Thankfully we have left some Christmas decorations up in the loft...(I think?!) or it will be a quick trip to Asda or the like for some cheap tat for the children to put up in our "shell" of a house this weekend.

As I glance across the room at #3, (who is trying desperately to mount the sofa to the remote control,) I realise that this festive period could well see the start of some serious crawling movements!

That is just not allowed at the moment so I'm off to sit her back up and put the kettle on for a cuppa to warm up  as I refuse to put the heating on with just two of us in the house.

Besides, I think I read somewhere that shivering helps you to lose weight??!!

Christmas cheer?

Ah - that will be shopping in Cardiff......

Sweet Potato Brownies.....its been one of those days!

Well the house move is looking like its back on and we'll be off before Xmas day, which means that I once again have to think about what I can realistically pack when the youngest is refusing to take a day sleep.

To aid my frayed nerves, I have just baked the easiest and most delicious chocolate brownies ever, which are actually quite healthy in some respects....well, there is sweet potato in them, which no doubt counts as 1 of your 5 a day.    Besides, I did one of Davinas's body buff sessions last night and went for a little jog on Sunday so its only fair to replace my spent energy with something tasty!

Here is the recipe -  Dan Lepards Sweet Potato Brownie  Enjoy.

The things children say!

Following a playground incident on the 1st December which resulted in Door 2 of the Advent calendar remaining shut, we have now moved on, negotiated and experienced improved behaviour which means we are all square with Door 5.

Last night, whilst enjoying our Sunday roast, #2 asked whether #1 could sleep in her bed for the night as the "many colour" monsters would be scaring her and she needed a cwtch.  (A Cwtch for those who don't know, is a welsh term used to describe a hug!).

We pointed out that they both have perfectly adequate beds and that it would be best if they slept in their own beds as it was school the next day.  She went on to add "But I don't mind if #2 farts in my bed because I do!", The stifling of laughter whilst trying to remain dead-pan took its toll and I had to knock back my last little bit of red wine

Needless to say that I today changed the sheets on her bed.

Oh Dear......Bad Behaviour

Well - we didn't even get to the end of 1st December before having to implement a punishment that has meant that Door 2 of the Hello Kitty Calendar has remained firmly shut today.

Negotiations are on-going about whether it can be opened tomorrow along with Door 3, but I think we will be running one calendar, at one day behind, up until Christmas.

Tonight = Mulled Wine and the start of one of the most laborious elements of Christmas preparation....the dreaded Christmas cards.   I could insert our new address slips into them and save time later but then I think I might be tempting fate as we are not sure whether we will actually exchange and complete before Christmas.  I cannot even be bothered to think about stressing over this right now so shall move swiftly on.

I today bought a further 30 Christmas cards and have around a total of about 80 to write out.  I am half tempted, as instructed by Janet Street Porter in her book "Life's too F***in short", to reduce this significantly and hack out some acquaintances that I am unlikely to ever see or speak to again but I always feel really guilty then when a card suddenly pops through the door from that very person who you have just "cut out!".

I have considered doing a "greener" email Christmas circular but having done a similar thing a few years ago, seriously offended one of my friends who made no bones about saying that Christmas is the one time of the year that everyone should make just that little effort to put pen to paper....I felt rather guilty and have done since.
  
Anyway, enough of whether I should be saving trees and writing lovely words of sentiment....lets get that mulled wine on the hob and find a Biro.

Christmas Countdown!

Ahhh - the start of Christmas!

For us it was the usual excitement of opening advent calendars (after breakfast however as they are chocolate ones) and then regular reminders that Father Christmas only delivers presents to children who listen and behave.

I have this morning baked some lovely Stem Ginger cookies which will form part of home-made present deliveries and I needed to do some baking anyway, as following a call from my estate agent, it looks as if we are not likely to be officially exchanging a contract on our house until January 2012 and I feel a bit flat.

On the positive side however, we can now at least put some decorations up in the house with the children over the next few weeks and Christmas will not feel so rushed with packing up a house and moving before the BIG DAY!

One thing I must share before heading off today, is my recent horror of seeing One Direction Dolls in a large supermarket, which were on display for Christmas shoppers.  I have never seen items that are so wrong and disturbing, not to mention plain ugly!   They are like Barbie "Kens" but worse as there are a pack of them.....I think I could create a better job from sculpting my own creation from a burnt candle!

I could see some benefits of owning one though....it could be the toy that "when you don't behave", comes to life at night and.......AARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Methinks I need a large coffee and one of those cookies......