love those cupcakes

New Year's Eve

When I was growing up, New Year's Eve night was spent, along with a couple of cousins, at my grandma and Aunty M's little house, waiting for my mum and dad and other relatives to return from their celebrations in the cocktail lounge at a hotel in town.  One of my uncles, a railway porter and the only dark haired family member, was always first footer, after which the Christmas cake would be cut, served always with white Stilton cheese and accompanied by glasses of whisky for the men and sherry for the ladies.  Then everyone trooped out to let in the new year at my aunts' houses in the same terraced street as grandma's, often by way of a conga, which we kids just loved. 

I remember one New Year's Eve when I was about six, everyone congregated on the nearby marketplace, all facing the parish church.  As the clock struck midnight, a figure dressed in a white robe appeared at the top of the church, between the two steeples, waving to the crowd.  I learned many years later he was a returning missionary.  On the night itself I was convinced we'd seen God!

Tonight will be just the three of us and a bottle of the fizzy stuff.  (We had this particularly yummy one last night as the Girlie is returning home to Manchester today and no, we haven't won the lottery!) 

As 2011 trickles away, I'd like to raise my virtual glass and wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.  See you in 2012.

Bits of our Christmas

Well, it all came together in the end, as it always does.  The festivities were set off with a carol service on Christmas Eve, followed by some last minute preparations (like icing the cake).  There were five of us on Christmas Day and there was much present swapping, eating and quaffing of the fizzy stuff (though I didn't manage to eat my Christmas dinner.  That was a first.)  One of the cats, probably high on catnip, disgraced himself by deciding to run up the Christmas tree, almost to the top, as we were about to have tea, rearranging the baubles on his way.  Boo, on the other hand, was quite well behaved and a stocking filled with treats and new toys kept him occupied most of the time.  Subsequent days have been spent lazing on sofas, having a proper look at presents, watching telly (I'm still catching up on episodes of The Killing 2) and eating chocolate gingers.  Cobwebs were well and truly blown away with a walk on the beach on Wednesday, with a late lunch of bags of freshly cooked chips eaten in the car afterwards.  Last night we had a trip to the panto (oh yes we did!) and a cheese fondue supper, another first.

Yes, it's all been so very good.

Christmas Eve

 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas.

 

Two more sleeps

 

The Christmas food shopping was done in town first thing yesterday and we only forgot the Blue Stilton and Toblerone.  Once it was all put away, I settled down to present wrapping.  

Not including a break for a chip supper, and a trip to the supermarket nearby for the Blue Stilton, Toblerone and yet another roll of sellotape, it took nine hours.  Nine back breaking hours.  

It started off quite well, with tinsel ties and decorations and neat handwriting. 

But enthusiasm soon waned and some presents will need to be opened in very subdued lighting.

I tend to use different wrapping paper for each person (there aren't many people to buy for but I buy quite a lot for each person) but discovered I'd used the same for two people.  Hopefully, the Girlie's betrothed will be happy with any 'intended for aged aunt' gifts which come his way. 

Whilst I was wrapping, the mister was fixing the lights on the outside tree.  This was after I'd suggested we have it chopped down if it was not decorated for a second year, snow having intervened last year.  (Well, it's an otherwise not particularly attractive conifer that hinders the rear view when reversing off the drive.)

Today was designated cleaning day. 

And here I am sitting at the laptop.

 

A couple more ticks

The mince pies have been baked and are now stored in the freezer awaiting the start of the festive feasting.  Of course, we tried some, for the purposes of quality assurance.

We actually prefer a sweetened pastry and this one gives very shortbread-like results.

The little chestnut rolls have also been made and frozen (uncooked).

Using a recipe  from Rose Elliot's vegetarian Christmas book, the rolls were made with buttery rough puff pastry (turned and rolled eight times!) with a filling of chestnut puree, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, grated onion and garlic and a good pinch of chilli powder, all mixed together.  I did bake some but they were polished off before I managed to get a picture. 

The cake is yet to be iced and I usually make rum truffles and peppermint bark (the candy canes arrived today) to nibble when people fancy a change from Quality Street.  We also need to fit in the big supermarket shop and hopefully there'll be a trip here for cheeses and one or two other treats. Not to mention ALL of the gift wrapping. 

Tempus is certainly fugiting.

Cat in a hat

Someone here thinks he looks a right festive treat.   

Edited to add:  Don't be fooled by that hangdog (hangcat?) expression.  Buzz loves this hat (the elf one not so much).  It's having his picture taken that he objects to. Especially when he's having forty winks on the piano stool.

Someone else thinks that hat makes him look a right 'nana.

Getting there. Sort of.

The cards have been written and mailed this morning.  Too late for those recipients overseas but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?

One Christmas cake has been iced and boxed and is ready for its journey to the north west.

The tree has been bought and is currently lounging in its net against the wall in the garden.  We went for a Nordman fir and will be decking it tonight (after the nimble Boy has finished work and been sent up the ladder and into the loft to retrieve the boxes of decorations).

The Ikea trip happened last night.  After successfully completing the giant jigsaw puzzle in the car boot (at one point it seemed likely that I'd be hitching home), an assortment of Expedit units are now piled up in the hall (along with the inevitable impulse buys), awaiting their moment to transform an entire wall in the guest bedroom.

I've also received a couple of surprises in the post this week. 

HM Revenue and Customs awarded me a four figure tax rebate.  Most welcome, thank you very much.

The extremely talented Natasha over at Amelie's House generously hosted a giveaway of her amazing bakes and what do you know,  I won!

The parcel contained iced gingerbread cookie lollies, mini Christmas cakes and chocolate dipped gingerbread sticks (which we've scoffed already and yes, they were delicious).

Just look at that handpainted icing.

You can read more and order here or pop into Selfridges if you're in the vicinity and treat yourself from their display.

Now, shall I have one of those cookies or a cake? 

Oh, decisions, decisions.

 

Krakow, take two

I am developing a serious crush on this city, steeped as it is in history, academia, culture and unimaginable tragedy.  Without last year's snow and ice, it was much easier to explore the museums, churches, university and galleries in the Old Town and lose ourselves in the labyrinthine streets and atmosphere of Kazimierz, once home to a substantial Jewish population. 

Walking for miles, dodging the horse drawn cabs, trams and Krakow pigeons.  Browsing and buying from the stalls in the Christmas market.  Fuelled by apple cake, hot spiced wine, fruit pies, green chai and vodka served in candlelit cellar cafés.  Hearing the Heynal, the five-note tune played by a trumpeter four times consecutively each hour from the highest tower of St Mary's Church in the main square.   Eating dinner alongside students and residents.  Wondering what it would be like to live there. 

The Boo?   He stayed with pet carers in Darlington. 

And cried every night.

 

Saturday

• A crisp and sunny start to the day here, so it seemd a good idea to tag along on Boo's morning walk in the local park.  Predictably, the good weather didn't last and we ended up getting rained on but I enjoyed the exercise and managed to avoid (at least for a little while) those bliddy practice guidance documents I rather stupidly agreed to write.

• My new apple green (ish) winter boots.  Hardly rock chick but they're very comfortable, look like they'll withstand a fall of snow (unlike last year's more fashionable pair) and I quite like them.

• Having read a couple of rave reviews, I ordered some boxes of gingerbread porridge but would have to say I'm a tad underwhelmed. The flavour's a bit too subtle for me.

• Window three on the Advent calendar opened.  Being very lazy, and very lacking in the crafting skills department, I bought this one from Amazon.  But I did tart it up with a bit of glitter here and there.

•   Getting ready for a little trip.  Without Boo (and, boy, is he in for a surprise).

Back soon.