Christmas Eve...

We have reached Christmas Eve and the weather is more like mid-summer but then the nights are now beginning to draw out!!!  I had Sheila and Klaus and Di and Rob to come and join us this afternoon for a cuppa and a piece of cake but actually I had something more like afternoon tea in mind.  I love entertaining and know I probably go a little overboard but it is so lovely to get all my nice crockery out and treat people.  So my task this morning was to get everything ready as per my trusty list and then as it was such a beautiful day Mum and I went for a little walk around the village where we saw no-one but the local cat population!!

We walked down as far as Cafe Vrisi so I could check the post but sadly there had been nothing more delivered so what we don't have now we will not have for Christmas and although I don't think we are missing much I still haven't received a parcel that Laura sent about the end of November and I know Di and Rob are missing loads.  We passed the nativity crib which Luscious Lynda and her friends put up every year and I am glad to report that the figure which was missing its head has had it reinstated.

En route I received a phonecall from our lovely 'neighbours' (because they only come in the summer) Pam and George seen here with their two sons and daughter celebrating Christmas at Louise's where the dress code was Christmas Jumper and I have to say George when you are finished with Rudolph I could find him a good home - he is smashing.  Anyway the whole Kailou family are smashing and we wish them all the very best for 2019 because for a number of reasons this year will not go down as a good one for them.  Big kisses George and Pam - we missed you this year so we have everything crossed that we will see you next year.

I was so chuffed to be able to get out my 'afternoon tea' cutlery and crockery which includes my lovely pastry forks and my cake stands.

On the menu today we had a selection of sweet and savoury items which included sausage rolls courtesy of Janet Jinty and vol au vents (cases courtesy of Lidl) but filled by my own fair hands with pate and coronation egg and the piece de resistance was some small shots of hot soup using my soup stand which Mum gave me some years ago and which I have had in the cupboard just waiting for the right moment to use it and today was the day.

With mulled wine or a cuppa - or a beer for the boys - and red velvet cake and drop scones and cheesy puffs amongst other things we had all bases covered and I was chuffed that there was so little left over and everyone seemed to enjoy what they had.  It is at a time like this that the conservatory comes into its own because it is the one place where we can get everyone seated in comfort and with the fire roaring next door and chucking heat out into the conservatory and the space heater to top it up we were all warm and toasty.  Big thanks to our lovely friends for coming up this afternoon and helping us to make Christmas special for Mum - you are the best.

We settled down for a nice evening of gentle viewing - or at least that was the plan but the cats got in there first so we had Chivers and Charlie on one sofa and Boris and Minnie on the other - we had to gently shove them over so that the three of us could sit down!!!

So this was Mum and I once we had squeezed on the sofa so that we could watch Back in Time for Christmas and Still Open All Hours and Amazing Hotels - catch up is fantastic because these were all televised yesterday and we can enjoy them today when we want.

Mum retired to bed - we told her that if she wasn't good then Father Christmas wouldn't arrive and John and I sat and had a quiet reflective drink together.  All my boys seated on the sofa bar one who will be sadly missed tomorrow.  One consolation - no requirement to purchase Brussels Sprouts this year although I know given the choice I would rather be doing that.  Still we have a job to do and that is to ensure that Mum has the best time possible - whether we actually manage that I don't know but we will give it our best shot.