I've been Christmas tagged!

Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate please! I'm gutted that Starbucks aren't doing their peppermint hot choccy anymore :o(

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa brings them all lovely and wrapped (I wish!)

Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
White lights definitely.

Do you hang mistletoe?
Only plastic stuff. It's quite difficult and expensive to get the real stuff now. I'd also rather it was left alone as (British mistletoe especially) it's starting to become rarer.

When do you put up your decorations?
12 days before Christmas and take them down 12 days after. It's a family tradition.

What is your favorite holiday dish?
Probably stuffing (any kind). I could eat it on it's own ;o)

Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Waiting for Dad to get out of bed, so we could check to see if Santa had been.

When and how did you learn that Santa isn't real?
What do you mean he's not real?! To be honest, I can't remember.

Can you ice skate?
Nope. The first time I went ice-skating, I nearly broke my fingers. Never again ;o)

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
This year it's red and gold. Last year it was silver and purple on a black tree (goth-tastic).

Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it. It makes the world truly magical.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Spending time with the people I love.

Do you remember your favorite gift?
I don't think I've had a favourite. I've had loads that I loved but none that jumps out.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Yule log.

What tops your tree?
A star.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Peace on Earth and goodwill to all. Well, I can hope, can't I?

Which do you prefer giving or receiving gifts?
Probably giving. It's nice to make people happy and show your appreciation for their love/support over the year.

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Eek, too many to mention. I love "Santa Baby", "Fairytale of New York" and "A Spaceman came travelling". My odd favourite at the moment is "Hannukah Blessings" by the Barenaked Ladies.

Candy Canes on the tree?
Nope. They'd last two minutes with Graeme around.

Truly Wicked!

Graeme and I went to see "Wicked" on Thursday night with some people from work. I've been longing to see it for ages and it was one of the main plus points to moving to London! Thankfully, it didn't disappoint!

It was absolutely amazing, fantabulous and every other thing I wanted it to be! The set was excellent, right down to the dragon hovering over the stage. The costumes were gorgeous and the story struck a chord.

Idina Menzel, who is playing Elphaba until the end of December, was truly amazing. There are really not enough words to describe the talent of this woman. She had an absolute powerhouse of a voice and fantastic stage presence. She also looks strangely good in green. When she sung "Defying Gravity" the shivers run up and down my spine. I don't think I've ever been to a musical with such a "wow" factor.

Needless to say, I want/need to go back and see it again. I'd love to see how the new Elphaba compares to the old. I only hope she realises what she's up against!

Go see it NOW!

Christmas Journal: Day 4

It's a bit of a surreal entry this! I was severely limited by which Christmas associated photos I actually had available. However, I couldn't miss the chance to feature one of our quirky family traditions :o)

The journalling is hidden behind the photo and reads:

The thing I love about Christmas is getting time to spend with my parents and friends. Everyone is relaxed and there’s none of the everyday stresses. My perfect Christmas would be all of us together enjoying each other’s company. Everyone would get presents they liked and the one thing that they really wanted. We’d have a great big dinner in the afternoon, which I’d quite happily cook. After it all, we’d gather round a big roaring fire for some mulled wine and make merry until very, very late.

Of course, one final thing we could not be without is the annual monkey treasure hunt! Every year, Dad creates a treasure hunt around the house ending in a monkey friend for Mum. Crazy? Possibly, but I wouldn’t be without it!

Christmas Journal: Day 3

Day three done! I hope I can keep up the momentum this week and get entries done after work. I'm really pleased with this entry. The card inside the envelope is a design I wasn't happy with and the papers are one's I've used on other cards.

The journalling is inside the card and reads:

This weekend I have been working away on making my Christmas cards. I try to make my cards every year but sometimes I leave it a little too late. I always say I’ll get them started in November but it never seems to happen! This year I’ve actually been pretty organised in getting them done this early. Now, that we live in London the Postal Service is a big factor in things. I used to be able to hand people their cards a few days before Christmas Day but not this year!

In previous years, I made all my Christmas cards but now I find myself being stricter. Unless I know someone will appreciate a handmade card, I will send them a shop-bought one. It’s certainly made things less stressful, as I only have to make half the amount of cards I used to.

This year I will be making around 25 cards. The furthest travelled card is going to Lindsay in Perth, Australia.

This weekend I have mostly been...

.... making Christmas cards!

Twelve cards down, so about half way there I think. I'm being quite strict this year - only people I know will appreciate a handmade card will be getting one. This all ties in quite nicely with today's Christmas journal prompt, so I am off to work on that now.

No, I haven't forgotten day 2. It's missing something. Something which I hope will arrive tomorrow :o)

Christmas Journal: Day 2

Ok, so I'm a bit late with this one but I thought I'd sneak it in here anyway. I was waiting for my Heidi Swapp mask to arrive. I love it! Just made the entry perfect - perfectly simple :o)

Christmas Journal - First entry done!

Nice and simple really. Just how I like it ;o) This entry was made a bit easier for me as I'd done all the paper weaving when I started Shimelle's class last year. Trouble was, it was almost all I managed to get done!

The neep enygma

Last night, I discovered that what we in Scotland call a turnip is very different to what Engerlanders consider a turnip. Graeme bought a "turnip" for our St Andrew's night dinner. I commented on it being a little small for a turnip but didn't think much more of it. It was only once Graeme had put it in the steamer that I noticed it was white. Not the usual yellow loveliness I associated with turnip.

Anyhoo, it was vile. Utterly minging. Being a bit perturbed by the whole affair, I turned to the source of all knowledge - wikipedia. Turns out what we Scots call a "neep" and is marketed in Scotland as a turnip is, in fact, a swede. Here, a turnip is what we in Scotland would call a swede. It's completely absurd!

I know it's not the most interesting post ever, but I feel people have a right to know. I was looking forward to that damn turnip!