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!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 6

Another day of celebrating the festive season, and although we were both at work today, we had a special night out planned (and the first of several Christmas Dinners this year).

Fancy Mince Pie

Nice little addition to a tea break at work... a fancy mince pie (leftover from an event last night)!

Postcard from Rovaniemi

My walk to work this morning took me to the next milestone on my The Conqueror virtual walking challenge through Rovaniemi. I got a postcard from Ounasvaara Hill.

Christmas Dinner at Groobarbs

Tonight, we went for a wonderful festive dinner at Groobarbs Field Kitchen. We started off with crackers and mulled cider, and then enjoyed a four course meal made with seasonal produce grown on the farm and sourced from its neighbours. The food was gorgeous, and I loved recognizing all the ingredients that we've had in our veg boxes recently (particularly squash, but also beetroot, parsnips and celeriac).

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Great British Cuppa!

Advent Model

And the model in our other advent calendar today was a little train!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 5

It's the fifth day of our Christmas countdown! Admittedly, it was a day when we were both at work, but that doesn't mean we couldn't have a little bit of festive cheer.

Festive Gingerbread

Had a little bit of Christmas gingerbread while I was reading a book for review on my radio show this weekend.

Postcard from Rovaniemi

I signed up for a Christmas virtual walking challenge from The Conqueror last month month. It maps a thirty-mile walk through Rovaniemi (the capital of Finnish Lapland), all the way to Santa Claus Village. Today, I passed the two-thirds mark, so I got a postcard from Kemijoki.

Advent Tea

Today's tea from my Bird and Blend advent calendar was Dozy Girl.

Advent Model

And the model from our other advent calendar today was a little Christmas tree (at least, I think that's what it is... it also seems to have a tap and a present next to it!).