31 Dec 2024
December Journal | Christmas & 2024 Reflections
The weekend before Christmas, we had family visiting and there was more than one Christmas dinner, present swapping and soaking up that pre-Christmas buzz. We went out on Christmas Eve which is not something we have ever normally done but taking Alfie out for a birthday meal, going to look at the big Christmas tree in town (and running around it multiple times because three year old) and then coming home for a slice of birthday cake, and putting a mince pie and carrot out, felt like a good balance and a good way to transition from birthday to Christmas.
It was mine and Gary’s first-time hosting Christmas and even though trying to sort everything for Alfie’s birthday on top of the Christmas prep all the while lugging around my beachball of a belly and the house being half-way through a big DIY/room-swap mess was frazzling at times, I still found it a lot of fun. Honestly, Alfie really starting to get Christmas this year was such a joy to be a part of.
On Boxing Day, we drove over to Wimpole to see the Christmas light display which was brilliant. I really loved doing something on Boxing Day, keeping the festivities going just a little bit longer and not getting cabin fever with an active three-year-old are all wins in my book. Also, there were churros and I bloody love churros.
This Twixmas period has been the most relaxed I have been all year. The house is a mess, I’ve tripped over the train set more times than I care to admit and any form of routine has gone to shit. But I don’t care. We’ve enjoyed lie ins and daytime baths and getting into pyjamas at 4pm (after only getting out of them at 11am), lunches bought from the street food market and dinners of cheeseboards, chicken & stuffing sandwiches and Christmas chocolate eaten in front of Gavin & Stacey, Wallace & Gromit and Outnumbered. It’s been great. I know my desire for a refresh will kick in very soon but right now, I’m just embracing piles of presents still sat around, not knowing what day it is, wondering what to spend my book vouchers on and wearing super soft socks (is it even Christmas if your mum doesn’t buy you new socks?!).
We have a table booked at our local sushi restaurant on New Year’s Eve and are also hoping to squeeze in a cheeky mocktail but honestly, if we’re in bed by 9pm, I won’t be mad about it. Hope you’ve had a good one.
2024 reflections
It’s been a weird ol’ year. I always quite enjoy the natural reset of January, setting some intentions for the year ahead, but half-way through this January, we were told we were facing a major restructure at work and all at risk of redundancy and that pretty much set the precedent for the year: feeling like my head was only just above the water at all times. It was four months before I knew the outcome of the restructure and whilst it all worked out okay in the end (a promotion and pay rise), those four months were stressful and the stress at work didn’t really end as we then had to put the new structure together which is an ongoing process. Amongst this, we were trying for a baby which was something we didn’t feel like we could delay but doing so amongst the threat of losing my job felt like a very risky game. In the meantime, I was also planning my sister’s hen do and practicing a vegan wedding cake which were both lovely tasks, but I would have preferred to have done them without all the other shit going on (particularly when my interview fell the same week as the hen do).
I finally found out I was pregnant in July and even though I felt relieved and happy and lucky, I had also had this feeling of trepidation. It’s like I just knew this wasn’t going to be an easy pregnancy. It’s been six months of feeling, well, crap. In the last few weeks, something has shifted; I feel like I have a little more energy again and my word, the difference. I will take any amount of heartburn/aching/swelling/weeing every half an hour for the remainder of the pregnancy if it means my brain doesn’t feel like it’s wading through fog all the damn time.
It is, however, so easy to focus on all the hard bits and when I flick through photos from the year, there has been so much good stuff. The biggest joy, as always, has been watching Alfie grow. Parenting is really hard work but watching him go from two – three has been a privilege and probably my favourite age yet. There was also our holiday in Camber Sands, celebrating five years married at The Pig, my sister’s wedding, our holiday in Devon, glamping in Suffolk, a trip to Edinburgh with my sister, our annual trip to Norwich and all the lovely day-to-day joys that I’ve tried to capture in these monthly journals throughout the year.
Twenty Things I’ve Loved Lately
Alfie having the time of his life on the bouncy castle at a friend’s birthday party.
A Christmas Wreath workshop with my friend; I’ve never done one before and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. It was nice to do something different and spend time together away from the kids. Plus, as a first attempt, I didn’t think my wreath was too bad – I was willing to hang it on my door anyway!
Alfie singing Jingle Bells at the top of his voice on a loop, all day, every day.
Two nights off parenting; we had a lovely weekend relaxing in Norwich.
The house being full of various fairy lights or light-up devices. I want my living space to be twinkly AF at Christmas time.
Catching up with old friends at National Trust places.
Alfie’s absolute delight in spotting Christmas trees around town.
A big navy, velvet bow in my hair.
The Christmas tree in Ely cathedral – stunning. Or, to quote Alfie, ‘it’s SO pretty Mummy!’
Our boy turned three years old, something I still can’t quite believe.
The digger birthday cake I made him; sod the wedding cake, this is my best baking achievement of the year.
Setting new Christmas Eve traditions; being out, seeing the town all lit up with lights, Alf’s blowing out the candles on his cake (for a second time), putting out a mince pie and carrot for Santa & Rudolph. Loved it.
Alf’s inspecting the nibbled carrot first thing on Christmas morning, as if to confirm that there had definitely been a reindeer in the house, was just magical.
Alfie pulling presents out of his stocking with a big grin on his face.
However, nothing will beat his face when he opened his very own train track set. I think perhaps my favourite moment of Christmas.
Super easy cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.
Alfie running around in his pyjamas all day on Christmas Day, including when we went for a walk/park trip. There was just something so relaxed and festive about it.
Airfrying the roast potatoes and parsnips – game changer when it comes to making a roast dinner.
The final episode of Gavin & Stacey; just perfect.
Feeling relaxed for the first time in a long while.
3 Dec 2020
Little Festive Things To Do At Home
I made the mistake of reading through a couple of old blog posts from this time of year. Full of Christmas markets and pubs and friends and all the London lights. Man we didn’t know how lucky we had it did we?
9 Dec 2018
25 Moments I Love During The Festive Season
25 Nov 2018
Christmas At Kew
The time has come lads. It's Sunday morning, I’m sat in bed with the remains of an almond croissant on a plate next to me and, for the first time this year, I have crept into my iTunes, nervously looked around and hit PLAY on the Christmas album. That’s right, Wham has just finished and was immediately followed by The Pogues. I am grinning like a loon.
Last night, I took a mosey on down to Kew which I quickly decided was a place I could happily live should I happen to stumble across a million quid or two. What a large range of gorgeous houses and fairy-lit cafes; I am here for it. Alice and I had an early dinner in Ask and then, of course, headed to Kew Gardens to kick off the festive season.
I have been wanting to go to Kew Gardens for their dreamy Christmas lights trail for ages and it did not disappoint.
Christmas music was playing, the smell of mulled wine was well and truly in the air and the lights were spectacular. We walked through them, under them, in them. There were live flames, lasers and glittering disco balls. There were lights covering the trees, bobbing on the water, projected onto the pathway. There were enormous Christmas trees and a whole load of amazing displays; the best one probably being the finale across the water in front of the greenhouse. The greenhouse lit up in hundreds of different colours, there was music from Love Actually and Frozen and images projected onto water spray; similar to what we saw in Singapore. Who needs to travel half way round the world eh?
It was so blady festive and, yes, a little bit magical.
A few pictures:
19 Dec 2017
Christmas Baking
Oh hey there. Cooey, just me, dropping in. I’ve not been around this internet corner much in December. Mainly cos, ya know, Christmas. This time of year always means catching up with friends and family, drinking wine, watching festive films, playing Last Christmas an excessive amount of times; all of which lead to time away from my keyboard.
Anyway, the one weekend G and I were at home this month, we played in the snow, wrapped presents and baked. That Christmas feeling always inspires me to browse recipes and fill the flat with divine smells of chocolate and baked pastries; it’s all very hygge.
Here are our baking adventures:
Chocolate Orange Brownies
Now I don’t want to blow my own trumpet (although I did finally nail a cheese sauce recently so maybe I should…) but these brownies may be the best thing I have ever baked. My friend sent me the recipe and they are absolutely flippin’ dreamy. Beautifully moist, zesty and full of huge chunks of Terry’s chocolate orange; they are the perfect Christmas treat.Recipe here.
Mince Pies
Unpopular opinion: I’ve never been that fussed about mince pies. Until the moment I tried the ones G makes. They’re light and fruity with pastry that melts in the mouth and they finally cracked my aversion to the festive snack.G uses this Paul Hollywood recipe.
Sausage rolls
It’s becoming a bit of a tradition that G makes sausage rolls a couple of times in December, along with his mince pies. I’ve come to look forward to him filling the kitchen with the smell of baking, and to eating sausage rolls for lunch for most of December. G informs me that he simply buys a pack of sausages, takes the sausage meat out of the skin and rolls into some puff pastry. You can season/flavour to taste – sage is always a solid choice – and bake for 25 minutes or so.Super easy, super cheesy cheese straws
I made two batches of these over the weekend because I wanted to perfect my kind of cheese straw. I like cheese straws but I don’t love them, because they are never cheesy enough. My first batch, made with parmesan, had the same problem. But my second batch, made with strong cheddar, hit the spot. Essentially, lay out a roll of ready-rolled puff pastry, grate a load of cheese on top and fold in half. Cut into one cm strips, gently twist 3-4 times, lay on a baking tray and scatter plenty more cheese on top. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden for gorgeous puffed up cheesy goodness.Merry Christmas!
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