December was very busy with few opportunities for taking photographs and fewer for taking walks!
All the things we hoped to do before Christmas that I mentioned in my Advent post were done, with the exception of taking my mother Christmas shopping. She gave me a few shopping lists of things I could more easily get for her and we did a big shop for her at the supermarket on the day before Christmas Eve. She decided to give everyone some money for Christmas instead of buying gifts and we were all very content with that.
I did spend a lot of time shopping in December but mainly for food items and ingredients for Mum and me. Most of the presents were ordered on-line – this is the easiest option for us as we live some miles from the nearest shops.
I spent a whole morning away from home at the doctor’s surgery followed by an appointment with the optician. Elinor had a doctor’s appointment to discuss a couple of problems she has and then I went for my regular blood test. At the optician’s, Elinor was told that she needed yet more new glasses and we made an appointment to return the following week to collect the new prescription.
Elinor’s last couple of weeks at college went well. We attended the parent’s evening, viewed her work and listened to the wonderful things her tutors had to say about her. They predict very good marks for her at the end of the year. We went to see her artwork on display in a gallery in Norwich.
The gas boiler was serviced and we discussed having a new boiler installed in the summer. A representative from the firm that will be replacing our garage doors visited us to talk about the work to be done and we were told the fitters will be installing the doors in a couple of weeks time. We had to have a water pipe moved to make way for the new garage doors.
The flush on our downstairs toilet kept going wrong and has now given up for good. The whole contents of the cistern will need replacing I think. We will have to call the plumber back yet again.
I got a puncture in one of my car tyres but fortunately it was repairable.
We attended the December Coffee Morning at the Rector’s house and also helped host two Carol Services at our church in Rumburgh.
I baked more than six dozen mince pies.
I wasn’t able to attend church on the 3rd Sunday in Advent as we were returning from our trip to Manchester that day. We had a lovely meal with members of Richard’s family in Manchester and exchanged presents with them. Our hotel was comfortable and for the first time ever on a Manchester visit, I managed to sleep well and for most of the night too!
We had a delicious lunch out with my brother Andrew and we exchanged Christmas presents with him as well. He was expecting both his children to stay with him for Christmas.
He gave us his presents for my sister and her children as we were to visit her in Kent the following day. Our car was full of gifts on our 150 mile journey south to Francesca’s house and we brought a different lot home with us again that evening. Francesca made us very welcome on one of her very few days off work this Christmas. She had already worked 80 hours that week! Over-worked, under-paid and under-appreciated she spends her life as a paramedic practitioner saving the lives of others and looking after the welfare of her staff and colleagues. I am so proud of her.
We wrapped countless presents and sent off a number of parcels to people we couldn’t manage to visit. Many, many cards were written and posted or delivered by hand. A number of letters and e-mails were written to friends and relatives and some phone calls were made and received. I also managed to keep up with all the housework and the washing and ironing.
I had a book of daily readings for Advent recommended to me by Rachel from Could Do Worse . I found them very useful and was able to spend at least 15 minutes each day in quiet contemplation and prayer.
We attended the local theatre at The Cut to see Richard Durrant’s Candlelit Christmas concert on the evening of the day we had lunch with my brother. We enjoyed the concert very much. Here is one of the pieces of music we listened to.
The house was decorated a couple of days before Christmas and Richard put some lights up outside the house.
Alice was coming home on Christmas Eve but as she was working that day her train wasn’t due in to Diss station until well after 9.00 pm. Unfortunately the train was delayed because of signalling faults before it got to Sheffield and was 45 minutes late. This meant that Alice was unable to catch her connections and there were worries that she might not be able to get home at all that night. Fortunately, the train she was on eventually arrived very late at Norwich so that is where Richard went to collect her. After I had given her a cup of tea and something to eat she had some present-wrapping to do and unpacking so she didn’t join us at Midnight Mass at St Margaret South Elmham church.
Mum joined us for Christmas lunch the following day and brought the Christmas Pudding with her. We went to her house on Boxing day for a buffet evening meal.
Richard and I went to church on Sunday morning at St Peter’s church and celebrated the Feast Day of St John.
The following day we were all going to go out for a walk together but I spent the day in bed with a migraine instead. Richard, Alice and Elinor went to Walberswick Woods.
On Wednesday, my mother had a 9.40 am appointment to attend at the Eye Clinic at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital so I picked her up at 8.15 am and drove to Norwich. The appointment went well and she only had to wait twenty minutes after her appointed time before being seen! We did some shopping for her on the way home and after taking her to her house and having some coffee I was back at home by 1.30 pm.
All too soon, it was New Year’s Eve and Alice had to take the train back to Sheffield.
I managed to take a couple of photos of the flowerbeds at the station to take my mind off my sadness at saying goodbye to Alice.
I leave you with another of my favourite tunes.
Thanks for visiting!
Gallivanta said:
What a hugely busy Christmas season you had; I am in awe of the making of more than 6 dozen mince pies! Do hope it’s not too long before you can be with Alice again, as a family.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Ann! We hope we see more of Alice this year than last.
I made the mince pies two dozen at a time so it wasn’t quite such a marathon as it appears!
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susanpoozan said:
What a very busy life you lead, I stand in awe of such activity. Thanks for the pieces of music, always interesting to listen to.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much, Susan.
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Jill Weatherholt said:
Boy, December sure was a busy month for you, Claire. But how nice to spent time with the ones we love.
Great photos…thanks for sharing!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jill!
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quietsolopursuits said:
You certainly had a busy month, I’d be exhausted if I had to do half as much! I hope that 2016 brings you and yours nothing but joy and happiness!
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clarepooley33 said:
How very kind, Jerry! Thank-you. I hope the new year brings you nothing but good.
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dobetteralways said:
If idle hands are the devil’s playthings you’re well protected against him lol. Sounds like you ended 2015 on a productive note, may 2016 bring you a balance of work and play.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! That is a wish I have too 🙂
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Julie said:
Happy New Year to you and yours Clare, may 2016 bring lots of visits and family walks.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Julie. I hope you and your family have a happy, healthy and peaceful 2016.
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tootlepedal said:
Very nice to see your family.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
Gosh, I thought you were going to slow down once your husband retired but it seems that you’ve sped up! I’m thinking that it’s no wonder you had a migraine.
But all that really counts in this life is finding love and happiness, and if you had them then I guess you couldn’t ask for a better Christmas.
I liked the songs, especially An Acoustic Winter Solstice.
Happy New Year!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Allen. I thought I was going to find life easier too but this Christmas was crazy! We had never been to see Richard Durrant before and we were quite impressed. He plays a little like Greg Lake/ Mike Oldfield – a bit ‘prog rock’ at times. He still plays regularly with Herbie Flowers who despite being nearly 80 years old is still going strong..
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womanseyeview said:
Now you’ll need a rest from the ‘holidays’! It’s always nice to see family – sounds like you did a lot of driving too though. I hope the New Year brings you some peace.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! I could do with a rest now! I hope the New Year brings you all that’s good.
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Lavinia Ross said:
Nice music selections, Clare! Sounds like an action-filled holiday season. Sorry to hear about the toilet and septic system troubles. Not much fun. Have a beautiful, peaceful and plentiful new year! Does sound like you could use a good rest from all the activity.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Lavinia. I am glad you liked the music. Life is starting to calm down a little but we have plenty of house improvement work planned for the next few months so we won’t relax too much. I can’t bear having work done in the house – it makes me so uncomfortable! Elinor’s college begins again tomorrow and so does the driving! I hope you and your husband have a wonderful New Year too.
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Ste J said:
Blimey, you had a hectic season of ups and downs, I hope this new year brings something slightly calmer for you!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Ste!
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Cynthia Reyes said:
How lovely to have your girls and Richard with you, and to spend time with the extended family. Sounds to me that you were very busy as usual, and though I know that it’s sad when Alice leaves, I hope that sadness will be tempered a bit by your getting some rest in January. Richard, Alice and Elinor all look radiant and healthy, which is such a blessing to a mother and wife, I know. I am rambling, so will stop there.
Take good care of yourself, dear Clare.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much for your kind words Cynthia. I am hoping life will be a little calmer now. Elinor started back at college today so we did a bit of driving but most of the day was full of routine chores and they are easy to deal with. Alice has just phoned me for a chat so I am quite contented now!
I hope you will take good care of *your*self too! Much love, Clare
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Charlotte Hoather said:
Holidays at home go so quickly don’t they, sounds like a full packed Christmas 🙂. Hope you all have a fabulous New Year.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Charlotte! Yes, Christmas sped by so quickly and seems ages ago now. My elder daughter was with us a week but it seemed so much less! I do miss her 😦 Thank-you for your kind wish – I hope your New Year is absolutely perfect for you!
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Jane said:
My goodness, Clare, I don’t know how you managed such a busy Christmas. I wouldn’t have the energy for all those activities! I’m surprised you didn’t have more migraines! Well done for getting through it all. How lovely to be with your daughters at Christmas though. As a mum, I can understand the sadness of having to say goodbye again. As someone said already, your daughters look radiant. You are such a wonderful, caring and loving person, Clare. Do take time to rest when you can. Thank you for sharing these special moments with us. x
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clarepooley33 said:
How kind you are Jane! Thank-you. Christmas seems a long time ago now! We have recovered well from the festive season and are just about to start on our planned house renovations. I have been dreading this for ages – I really need the house to be more comfortable but I hate having workmen about the place and I loathe the mess. Why my husband decided to have it all done in the winter I don’t know! New doors and windows all over the house and a new garage door too. No escape for me 😦
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