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!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 10

Another day of celebrating the season. Today was my last day in work until the new year, so there were quite a few festive touches to the day (plus a mad dash to complete my to-do list before the end of the day!).

Breakfast Mince Pie

I mean, it's a pastry, isn't it?

Mulled Apple Juice at Work

Since it was my last day before we go on holiday, I took some mulled apple juice and stollen in to work to share with my colleagues today.

Lunch at Red Chilli

My manager took our little team (there are 3 of us) out for lunch at Red Chilli today. Although not strictly a festive menu, I think my Stir-Fried Veggie Duck with Chilli and Spring Onion looked quite Christmassy!

Festive Wax Melts

When we got in from work, we lit our Christmas diffuser for the first time, with a festive wax melt to scent the season.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Mint Choc Rooibos!

Advent Model

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

Countdown to Christmas: Day 9

Lots of admin to do today, and lots of bits of work to finish off before we go away on Thursday.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Campfires and Vampires!

Advent Model

And today's model in our other advent calendar was this little... I don't know?... Christmas factory?

Countdown to Christmas: Day 8

Another day of celebrating the season... although I was at work all day today, so the festivities had to wait until the evening.

Christmas Trees

We were at my mother-in-law's this evening, helping her to put up her Christmas decorations. In return, she gave us pavlova!

Advent Tea

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

Advent Model

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

Countdown to Christmas: Day 7

It's the seventh day in our Countdown to Christmas. I was working during the day, but this evening was a very important festive tradition for us! So exciting!

Christmas Dinner on a Train

Tonight was our annual trip for Christmas Dinner on the East Lancs Railway. There's nothing more festive than dinner on a steam train (even in the stormy weather we've been having... or especially in the stormy weather!).

And Then There Were None

Another annual tradition... we have to watch And Then There Were None when we get back from the train. It just has to be done.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Moondrop Dreams.

Advent Model

And today's model in our other advent calendar was a Christmas present!