Countdown to Christmas: Day 9

As we're going away on Monday for our big festive holiday, a lot of the day was spent getting ready and finishing off some jobs that needed to be done before we go. However, we did have a very special annual event planned for the evening.

Christmas Diffuser

We lit our new Christmas wax diffuser for the first time today! The first incredibly festive wax melt we tried was Dickens Carol from Olive and B.

Christmas Dinner on the East Lancs

Tonight was our annual trip to the East Lancashire Railway for Christmas Dinner on a steam train. The weather was pretty wild tonight, so we were slightly disturbed (but fortunately not derailed) by what may or may not have been a werewolf attack. But I had my second festive wellington, and my second Christmas pudding, of the year!

Christie and Whisky

Also an annual tradition... when we got home from the train, we watched And Then There Were None, accompanied by a lovely dram of Kingsbarns whisky (a pre-Christmas present from a friend).

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 9 in my Bird and Blend Tea calendar... Rudolph's Night Shift!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 9 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a pair of pearl earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 8

Today was a very sociable one! It was mostly just me spending the day having festive fun with some really lovely women. Yay!

Christmas Do

I was at our work Christmas Do at Cosy Club this afternoon. I had my first festive wellington of the season (but I feel like it won't be the last!). Also... first Christmas pudding!

Frostbite Cocktail

Went for drinks at New Century after the do, and I had a Frostbite cocktail. My tram bestie (it's a thing) insisted this was eggnog, but it was actually vanilla vodka, crème de menthe and crème de cacao, and it tasted like drinking a glass of After Eights.

Christmas Drinks

Met up with my lovely friend Irene for a very nice glass of wine at Ad Hoc later on in the evening as well.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 8 in my Bird and Blend Tea calendar... Hazelnut Rocher!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 8 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a pair of pearl earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 7

Another day celebrating the Countdown to Christmas, and it was another very festive one! (But then, you probably guessed that, didn't you?)

Christmas Earrings

Another new pair of Christmas earrings for me! Sparkly Christmas jumpers from Shadowstar Jewellery!

Christmas Jumper Day

And speaking of Christmas jumpers... today was Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day, so we were all dressed up at work at the Pankhurst Centre today. I couldn't take a picture with my headband, earrings and t-shirt on it, so here's two festive selfies I took at work.

Festive Dinner Date

Me and the Heritage Manager from the museum were off out for a special event tonight, so she took me out for dinner at Pizza Express first. I had a very festive Mushroom and Truffle Pizza followed by Snowflake Brownie!

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

We were at the press night of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World at The Lowry tonight (a musical based on the books by Kate Pankhurst). Really enjoyed the show (especially the very cool depiction of Emmeline Pankhurst, of course)!

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 7 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 7 in my Avon jewellery calendar... little silver triangle earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 6

It's been a very busy (and extremely festive) day today!

Mulling

I was up early to start mulling for some events today!

Christmas Earrings

I wore my new spangly Christmas tree earrings today - a lovely pre-Christmas present from Rob.

Bailey’s Wood Festive Walk and Talk

Did my best Captain Christmas impression for Friends of Bailey's Wood today, leading a festive walk in the woods and bringing the cheer (mulled apple juice and mince pies) afterwards. The reindeer deely-boppers were because Bailey's Wood was once part of the medieval Blackley deer park, of course.

Alchemy Hairdressing

Quick pit-stop for a haircut and a coffee with Kelly at Alchemy Hairdressing. One of my only non-mulled drinks of the day!

Castlerea Festive Film Afternoon

Festive film afternoon at Castlerea Care Home. We watched Miracle on 34th Street, with mince pies, popcorn and mulled apple juice.

Miracle on Cross Street

We super-charged our festiveness tonight, as I surprised Rob with a trip to a Christmas speakeasy. Miracle on Cross Street is AMAZING!

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 6 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Starry Night!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 6 in my Avon jewellery calendar... gold star earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 5

Another day of celebrating the countdown to Christmas, though (once again) this was mostly just a day at work. I did have a dinner date with an old friend in the evening though, and we managed to make that very festive.

Christmas Earrings

Another new pair of festive earrings... these sparkly Christmas trees were from The Outwoods Gift Shop.

Christmas Tea Break

Tea break at work but make it Christmas, featuring lebkuchen and Gingerbread Chai from Bird and Blend Tea.

Festive Dinner Date

Caught up with a friend tonight for an excellent night out. We had the festive menu at Bundobust, plus a mince pie paratha. We also had wine and talked a lot.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 5 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Snowball Hot Cocoa!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 5 in my Avon jewellery calendar... snowflake earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 4

Today was mostly about work (and shopping for later in the week), but I injected a little bit of festivity into one of my meetings at least.

Friends of Crumpsall Park

Friends of Crumpsall Park committee meeting but make it Christmas... featuring stollen and Mulled Cider tea from Bird and Blend Tea.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 4 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... 'Tis the Squeezon!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 4 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a silver bow pendant!