For 2010

It's taken me far longer to put together my New Years Resolutions list than it has in previous years. I'd venture as far as to say that I suspect I actually forgot that the time for making resolutions is with us!

I've also noticed that every year, this list gets shorter. Being more realistic, perhaps? More goals than resolutions. Either way, here it is... my list for 2010:

1. Visit 2 new countries
2. (Mostly) run the 10k in May
3. Work on my Italian (this is on my list every year)
4. Have High Tea at the Ritz
5. Print my 'Memories from the Rock' photo book (and/or 'Road Trips - UK & Beyond')
6. Do some writing

Got any original resolutions yourselves, lovelies?

resolutely,

[img cred: sacramento365]

Blogger Secret Santa

Last month, Jennifer at The Novelista Barista organised a fantastic Blogger Secret Santa via Elfster.

Well, my Secret Santa was Sierra over at Ocean Dreams, and she sent me a gift voucher to spend at Ruche. This isn't a shop I'd ever used before (nor heard of), but they've got some gorgeous things and I can't quite decide what to treat myself to on Sierra's behalf! :)

These are the contenders:


1. Ivory Carved Rose Earrings
2. Storybook Elephant Long Necklace
3. Beige Rose Felt Hair Clip / Brooch

Decisions, decisions....!

A Family Christmas, UK version

I am happy to report that our attempt at a family Christmas in the UK was a complete success. The day in its entirety was wonderful, and Christmas lunch at my sister's was divine. Had we not all been completely stuffed, there'd have been no leftovers!

After we laughed till our bellies hurt (more) at Rebekah dressing my dad up in pink and purple and later teaching him and Daniel (my brother) dance moves to Goosy Goosy Gander (a once in a lifetime experience!!), David took a very long route home. We gave my 3 youngest siblings a private driving tour of London by night. It was exquisite, and the perfect weather for it too.

We then bought ice cream on the way and then cosied up to more laughs watching Omid Djalili Live in London, which was one of my Christmas presents. A fitting end to a very good day.



The family have now left and I am enjoying a bit of peace and quiet!
[Temporary link to picture highlights of their 10 day visit here]

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas ♥

snugly,

This Christmas Eve

The family came.
Closely followed by the snow.
And then ice.
Mulled wine.
Evenings of Scrabble.

Merry Christmas to all!

Are You Alone?

The other day a leaflet came through the post, randomly. Post like this usually goes straight into the bin, but this one struck a chord. And with 2 weeks until Christmas, I thought I'd spread some care and awareness...

Christmas Day. A time of happiness. Togetherness. The one day a year when you spend time with the people you love more than anything else in the world, laughing, celebrating, sharing.

Unless you're one of the millions of older people who'll be alone. People who've seen the brighter side of life, but now have no one. Some are considered a burden by their families. Others are separated by distance. But whatever the reason for their loneliness, the fact remains that for many, the only form of company on Christmas Day is the television. No one to make them Christmas Dinner. No one to pull a cracker with. And no one to talk to - maybe not even on the telephone. But if we all pull together, that can be changed for a few.

Help the Aged use donations to help transform Christmas for lonely older people. They are offered Christmas lunch at a community centre, bringing them warmth, entertainment, and much-needed relief from their loneliness. Throughout the rest of the year, Help the Aged runs a 24-hour helpline that people can call when they want a friendly chat, or in times of need. There is also a service that helps older people to and from day centres to meet friends and take part in activities.


If this tugs at your heartstrings as much as it did mine, hop on over to Help the Aged and give whatever little bit you can.

Just to Say...

I made the decision when I started working again that I didn't want to talk about work in this blog. But I'm going to break that rule just this once, because this needs to be said:

I feel so privileged to have found a job, colleagues and a work environment I could love and enjoy as much as I do now. After two years of (dare I say it?) total crap, it was a much-needed reminder that there are good and appreciative people in the world, and along with that, some great places to work in.

Whether this job remains the maternity cover contract I am currently on, or extends further than that, I will never stop being thankful for this opportunity, even long after it's ended. It'll always be the point at which everything turned around. And for that, I am grateful.

sincerely,

The One About British Weather

Allow me to address a common - and grating - misconception about
English weather...

England is a rather large country (compared to what I know - see below). David and I live in the South where, admittedly, weather is far more favourable than the North. And I suspect it is the North people mostly associate British weather with.

But, speaking for the part of the country I know, it is not always raining. It is not always gray. Take today, for example: a perfectly beautiful sunny day in December - perfect weather for people to be out galavanting in the streets dressed up in corsets for the Dickensian Christmas Festival. It is a high of 12 or 13 degrees celsius and no more than a few wisps of cirrus clouds for miles. And just like this one, there are plenty other days like it.

The summers are beautiful. And if I, coming from a hot Mediterranean island country, can say this, there must be some truth to it, non? Sure, there's more rain than there'd be in summer back home (read: none), but balance is a good thing, is it not?

So really... 'England = gray and rain' is not quite right. And frankly, even when it is gray and rainy, all you need to do is appreciate the plush green areas that would not be able to exist without some rain. So the next time someone in Malta or anywhere else passes a sarcastic remark about British weather when I mention that it's a gorgeous day, I'll simply be directing them to this post, and be done with it.

And as I sit here, with the central heating off and windows ajar to let the house breathe in the perfectly crisp air, I hope that this has been at least slightly educational. (And listen to me obsessing about the weather! Could I be any more British than this?!)

educationally,

Eddie Izzard at the O2

Hubby and I had tickets to watch Eddie Izzard at the O2 Arena last night. We bought these tickets a few weeks after we got back from honeymoon last year!! Talk about planning ahead... but they were great tickets and we had a pre-sales offer which we snapped up.

And our seats were, in fact, brilliant. The event was entirely sold out about 6 months ago... and Mr Izzard (dressed entirely in men's clothing, would you believe) was quite something. Some of the main themes of the night were:
* jesus
* wikipedia
* jazz
* raptors
* random animal facts
* ...what've I forgotten? (that's me actually asking)

We spent the intermission dodging the camera that was randomly showing close-ups of people on the big screen and waiting for my tweets to show up on the live stream. (they didn't o_O)

The show ran pretty late and we ended up catching (by sheer chance) what we later found out to be the last train of the evening, due to late-night engineering works. Oh how mad would *I* have been had we missed that train...!!



In other news, it's been a fantabulous week. I love feeling productive and being busy... and I was certainly that!! But on a personal level, my Christmas cards are all written and ready to go, the house won't let you forget Christmas is coming, my family is less than 2 weeks away, and we've a great relaxing weekend ahead (even if I do have a gigantic stye threatening to take over my face).

Life is good :) Have a lovely weekend! x

cheerily,

Carol of the Bells

Happy December!

And to officially kick off the season...



I just love this song ♥

"Carol of the Bells" (also known as the "Ukrainian Bell Carol") is a choral miniature work originally composed by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych. It premiered in December 1916 by a choral group made up of students at Kiev University. It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its concert tour of Europe and the Americas, where it premiered in the United States on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall.

There is an alternate English version, "Ring, Christmas Bells", which has more explicitly Nativity-based lyrics, and was written by Minna Louise Hohman in 1947. (wiki)


Hubby returns tonight! :D