Countdown to Christmas: Day 15

Another day of celebrating the countdown to Christmas!

Lizard

And another day of our festive Cornish getaway.

Grapefruit Shower Steamer

Today, my shower was scented with grapefruit!

Coastal Path Walk

We went for a walk from our cottage to Lizard village along the coastal path this morning. It's not a long walk, but it's very pretty.

Mince Pie at Twisted Lizard

We popped into Twisted Lizard, a quirky little gift shop that's opened since the last time we were here, to get a couple of Christmas gifts, and we got mulled wine and a homemade mince pie!

Ann’s Pasties

Our main reason for walking into Lizard (apart from the lovely scenery and the Christmas shopping) was to get a couple of pasties from Ann's Pasties, our favourite Cornish pasty shop!

Christmas Tree Cake

We also got these gorgeous cakes!

Abominable Books

As always, I've been saving my latest Abominable Books subscription box for a treat. I opened it this afternoon, and I got Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, Marginal by Tom Carlisle, a festive flapjack and some other horror goodies.

Surviving Christmas

Tonight's Christmas film was Surviving Christmas.

Hotel Magnifique

After the film, I read Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor. What a gorgeous book this is! I absolutely loved it!

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Mulled Cider!

Advent Model

And today's model from our other advent calendar was a little snow plough!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 14

Another day of celebrating the Countdown to Christmas in a little cottage in Cornwall! Today was just lovely (but I'm going to say that about every day we're here, aren't I?)

Lizard

It's the second day of our holiday!

Camomile and Green Tea Shower Steamer

Today, my shower was scented with camomile and green tea.

Christmas Pumpkin Soup

We've managed to acquire an accidental tradition! For the last two years, we've brought the last of the Halloween pumpkins (picked on our annual visit to Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream's Pumpkin Patch) to Cornwall with us, and I've made it into festive soup. Technically, it was a butternut squash this year, but the tradition is established now. I teamed the pumpkin with some Brussels sprouts and little pasta stars, so it was definitely Christmas soup! (It was very thick.)

Reindeer Cupcake

Little Christmas cupcake for after the soup.

Hannah’s Bookshelf 3 Minute Santas Special

Obviously, as I'm currently in Cornwall, today's episode of Hannah's Bookshelf on North Manchester FM was pre-recorded. It was the first of my festive specials for the year... 3 Minute Santas! I ask writers to submit festive short stories that last 3 minutes, and this year I had a record-breaking 23 stories on the show, all different genres and styles.

Walk to Church Cove

This afternoon, I went for a little walk along the coastal path from our cottage to Church Cove (just over a mile away). It's weird, but in all the years we've stayed here, I've never done this walk before as we normally head out in the opposite direction! It was gorgeous, particularly as I walked back in the twilight, listening to Christmas music.

Rovaniemi Virtual Walking Challenge

My walk along the coastal path added the last couple of miles to my festive Rovaniemi virtual walking challenge (from The Conqueror). When I logged my last distance, I got a postcard from Santa Claus Village and a finisher's certificate... and a medal to follow!

Gingerbread Chocolate Pots

We had Gingerbread Chocolate Pots tonight!

Rare Exports

Since I'd just completed my Rovaniemi virtual walking challenge, it seemed fitting to watch a Christmas film set in Lapland (the Land of the Northern Lights).

The Anti-Social Season

Tonight's Christmas reading was The Anti-Social Season by Adele Buck. Not my usual genre, but 'tis the season.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Morning Kick.

Advent Model

And today's model from our other advent calendar was a little Christmas machine and chair!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 13

Another day of the festive season, and the first proper day of our annual Cornish holiday!

Lizard

So lovely to wake up on the coast, looking out to sea. I've missed this!

Eucalyptus Shower Steamer

Rob bought me a box of lovely shower steamers for my birthday. Our shower at home isn't great for steamers, so I saved them for a treat for our holiday. Today's steamer was Eucalyptus, and it smelt amazing.

Cornish Afternoon Tea

I got us a special treat for the first day of our holiday... a Christmas Afternoon Tea hamper from The Cornish Company. Christmas pudding with afternoon tea? Definitely.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

We watched The Muppet Christmas Carol while we had our afternoon tea - second time this week for me!

Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone

I always take loads of books to read on our Cornish holiday. This time, I started with Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson... and I completely LOVED this one.

Violent Night

Rob added a new film into our festive rotation, and I fell in love with it. One of my favourite on-screen Santas of all time, I think.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Candlelit Library!

Advent Model

And today's model from our other advent calendar was a little Christmas tree!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 12

Today was the twelfth day of our Countdown to Christmas, and the first day of our annual holiday in Cornwall. To be honest, most of the day was spent packing and driving, but we did have just enough time for a Christmas film when we arrived at our little cottage tonight.

Caramel Nutcracker Hot Chocolate

Drink on the road... I'm still not immune to the lure of a corporate festive menu.

Santa Donut

And incredibly sweet snack on the road (I thought it would stop me nodding off while Rob was driving)... also from a festive menu.

Agatha Christie Puzzle Book

When we arrived at the cottage, Rob surprised me with a holiday gift!

Sint

We watched Sint tonight, one of the Christmas films we watch every year!

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Strawberry Lemonade!

Advent Model

And today's model from our other advent calendar was a little snowman-type creature!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 11

It's the eleventh day of our Countdown to Christmas, and the day before we head off to Cornwall for our annual pre-Christmas trip. I was at the care home today, and then very busy finishing as much stuff as I could before our holiday.

Festive Film Afternoon at the Care Home

Today, I ran a festive film afternoon for the residents at Castlerea Care Home. We watched The Muppet Christmas Carol, had some Christmas cupcakes, and did a festive quiz (the winner got the big chocolate Santa). I also mulled some apple juice for us to share as well!

Chocolate Orange Pie

As always, I am far from immune from a commercial festive menu.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Mince Pie!

Advent Model

And today's model in our other advent calendar was a little tiny Santa!