For me Christmas is December, it's not one day it's all the excitement and planning that comes with it. I love every part of December and sometimes find I enjoy the build up to Christmas more than Christmas itself. The anticipation of what's to come and the excitement of everyone building up to such a wonderful day. Christmas hasn't always been easy for me, which is why maybe the month of December is more exciting at times. Christmas was always a shared occasion, it changed throughout the years and now feels in a place i am happy with. Growing up with separated parents isn't easy in many ways but Christmas becomes a different extreme when as a child your racked with guilt at thinking a parent maybe left alone or someone is sad you're not spending it with them. It consumed me in many ways for many years however i did find ways to cope and manage. I now feel Christmas works for me and my little family of Sam and Socks, it feels we look after ourselves and what works for us, too many years were spent doing it for others.
So what does December bring...
Advent Trail
2017 saw the 2nd year of the advent trail, the planning for this starts in October and again we managed to get 24 houses to complete the trail, some new houses joined the trail and old. I did my best to accommodate everyone and changed numbers around, it is hard work but I felt happy with how the trail came together and the windows this year were amazing. Every one developed their own style that suited their own family, beliefs and values. It was great to see windows capturing a household. The community comes together fantastically for the advent trail and the feedback is wonderful, hearing dog walks become more interesting and children and adults love the sparkling lights and Christmas/Winter tales the windows tell.
We also carried out the group trail on Christmas Eve which gathered and around 60 residents out in the rain, enjoying hot chocolate, mulled cider and wine. It has definitely become a wonderful tradition and it was so great to see the difference in ages that came together as strangers and left as friends, walking the trail as one community.
A trip to London
We head to London to see Sam's family, we used to attempt to do a fake Christmas but now enjoy a nice meal out and catching up with friends as well as family. It was a lovely weekend and we managed to catch up with plenty of folk, enjoying Christmas drinks and laughter a plenty. London can be so magical in the Winter. I used to love a Winter Wonderland trip and a walk along the South bank - the markets and mulled drinks were so nice after work.
A trip to Malham
It was a friend's birthday so we headed to Malham for the day, it was a gorgeous few hours in our favourite place, we took a small stroll and then cosied up in The Lister Arms for food and wine, it was a lovely day to celebrate and you could feel the warmth of Christmas in the Dales.
Date night
Sam and I took ourselves out for a date night, we ate some tasty Indian food at a lovely restaurant Dabbawal in town then went to The Northern Stage for The Suggestibles Impro Pantso which was so funny. We laughed so much and it felt very Christmassy in the theatre. I felt a little tradition starting, no better way to enjoy a panto then dark humour and lots of laughs. Ironically the play with about Storksville where babies are made... nice?!
Family Traditions
Christmas cake making with my Mum and Gran, it's been something that we have done together for years and is the start of December for me. My granddad used to do this but when he passed my Mum took the job on, we make the cakes for the whole family. I then take mine home and decorate with all the great tastes. - icing and marzipan, yum!
The ladies also take a shopping day, I remember being young and always wanting to go, now I am a 'grown up' I head out with my Mum, Gran and Aunty and we take our annual trip to Metro centre to shop, eat and enjoy.
Advent Calendars, we both have our calendars so get these up filled with chocolate treats.
Christmas Eve at my Mum's, we all head over after the advent trail and Mum hosts a tasty pick and mix of delicious foods. We always give a Christmas Eve gift and reveal in the excitement at what's coming.
Sam and I always exchange our Christmas PJ's - it's such a heart warming tradition and feels a huge part of Christmas Eve. We then get our PJ's on and watch a Harry Potter film drinking some tasty drinks and eating some sweet treats.
Christmas Eve at my Stepdad's and Boxing Day at my Dad's, a lovely way of coming together as family and making Christmas last a little longer.
Christmas Day
We head to my Mum and Ron's, where a huge spread is put on, fizz is drank and presents are opened. It's so nice as we all sit round the tree exchanging gifts, we put so much into what we buy for one another it's exciting seeing people's faces as they open the gift and enjoy the treats it brings. It's the one time of year my family play a game and I was pleased to have Mel and Carl with us this year as we managed to squeeze two games out of them with me and Mel both encouraging game playing.
So December was full, busy and SO MUCH FUN. I feel so pleased to have the family I have around me and so honoured to have this life I am in. When New Years Day comes I always feel sad December is over and spend the day moping and low that I have to wait another 11 months for the most exciting month of all. However 2018 has many plans and I am excited to start setting some goals and planning for the year ahead.
So what does December bring...
Advent Trail
2017 saw the 2nd year of the advent trail, the planning for this starts in October and again we managed to get 24 houses to complete the trail, some new houses joined the trail and old. I did my best to accommodate everyone and changed numbers around, it is hard work but I felt happy with how the trail came together and the windows this year were amazing. Every one developed their own style that suited their own family, beliefs and values. It was great to see windows capturing a household. The community comes together fantastically for the advent trail and the feedback is wonderful, hearing dog walks become more interesting and children and adults love the sparkling lights and Christmas/Winter tales the windows tell.
We also carried out the group trail on Christmas Eve which gathered and around 60 residents out in the rain, enjoying hot chocolate, mulled cider and wine. It has definitely become a wonderful tradition and it was so great to see the difference in ages that came together as strangers and left as friends, walking the trail as one community.
A trip to London
We head to London to see Sam's family, we used to attempt to do a fake Christmas but now enjoy a nice meal out and catching up with friends as well as family. It was a lovely weekend and we managed to catch up with plenty of folk, enjoying Christmas drinks and laughter a plenty. London can be so magical in the Winter. I used to love a Winter Wonderland trip and a walk along the South bank - the markets and mulled drinks were so nice after work.
A trip to Malham
It was a friend's birthday so we headed to Malham for the day, it was a gorgeous few hours in our favourite place, we took a small stroll and then cosied up in The Lister Arms for food and wine, it was a lovely day to celebrate and you could feel the warmth of Christmas in the Dales.
Date night
Sam and I took ourselves out for a date night, we ate some tasty Indian food at a lovely restaurant Dabbawal in town then went to The Northern Stage for The Suggestibles Impro Pantso which was so funny. We laughed so much and it felt very Christmassy in the theatre. I felt a little tradition starting, no better way to enjoy a panto then dark humour and lots of laughs. Ironically the play with about Storksville where babies are made... nice?!
Family Traditions
Christmas cake making with my Mum and Gran, it's been something that we have done together for years and is the start of December for me. My granddad used to do this but when he passed my Mum took the job on, we make the cakes for the whole family. I then take mine home and decorate with all the great tastes. - icing and marzipan, yum!
The ladies also take a shopping day, I remember being young and always wanting to go, now I am a 'grown up' I head out with my Mum, Gran and Aunty and we take our annual trip to Metro centre to shop, eat and enjoy.
Advent Calendars, we both have our calendars so get these up filled with chocolate treats.
Christmas Eve at my Mum's, we all head over after the advent trail and Mum hosts a tasty pick and mix of delicious foods. We always give a Christmas Eve gift and reveal in the excitement at what's coming.
Sam and I always exchange our Christmas PJ's - it's such a heart warming tradition and feels a huge part of Christmas Eve. We then get our PJ's on and watch a Harry Potter film drinking some tasty drinks and eating some sweet treats.
Christmas Eve at my Stepdad's and Boxing Day at my Dad's, a lovely way of coming together as family and making Christmas last a little longer.
Christmas Day
We head to my Mum and Ron's, where a huge spread is put on, fizz is drank and presents are opened. It's so nice as we all sit round the tree exchanging gifts, we put so much into what we buy for one another it's exciting seeing people's faces as they open the gift and enjoy the treats it brings. It's the one time of year my family play a game and I was pleased to have Mel and Carl with us this year as we managed to squeeze two games out of them with me and Mel both encouraging game playing.
So December was full, busy and SO MUCH FUN. I feel so pleased to have the family I have around me and so honoured to have this life I am in. When New Years Day comes I always feel sad December is over and spend the day moping and low that I have to wait another 11 months for the most exciting month of all. However 2018 has many plans and I am excited to start setting some goals and planning for the year ahead.
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