Saturday morning

Starts early when I have to take Tim to work!! So here I am, dressed and at the computer being ever so quiet so as not to wake anyone else up!! Genghis is sitting on the chair behind me and Xander ran outside so we are quiet as mice!

My tooth, or gap where the tooth was, is giving me quite some pain so I am taking plenty of painkillers still, and hoping today is the last day it hurts. Eating is difficult - yesterday only liquids and today not much more I suppose.

I am thinking about posting Christmas Cards this morning! I have a stash ready to go, but as per usual Peter has not told me anybody he wants one to go to too...........same every year, but I have now asked and if I hear nothing, then too bad! I only have to list of family and friends to do, but there are some people he has as extra's( eg from work), so maybe he can sort that out when he is there this week if he goes.

Yesterday I scrambled behind our bedroom into the storage along the roof, and found the Christmas Tree and some baubles etc but no lights! I will have another search today, as this weekend I would like to get it up and prettied!!! I am definitely going with the bronzes as they have been found first so I am using that as a sign that they should have a turn this year.

I read my horoscope this morning; couldn't be more accurate!!! Just thought I would mention it...........

Tim and half his class really enjoyed their meal at the Wok Palace in Nibbixwoud last night. They said it was great food and the fact that drinks are included made it even more enticing for their wallets!! It was a shame that some of the class didn't want to particpate but those who were there said it was super. I'm glad as it is their last year together and memories are important to create in our lives. This coming week Tim and Chris will go to Alkmaar to spend the day seeing what the course they are interested in following really is about!!! I hope they think it meets their expectations.

Sue xx

The decorations so far....

Here are my 6 Tim Holtz tags that I have made so far, strung up on the fireplace! The two large bells might move to another spot later on, when I have found all the other stuff I want to use, but for now they are here. I have hung the Advent Calendar on the door and am faithfully adding the tags each day..... Here is the finished tree I made using my star letters! Two Father Christmasses and their light! My three snowmen and tealight!! I like to hang some lights in this window so that they glow in the dark, and they are like icicles, so nice! And then with the various tea lights and lanterns the front window looks lovely.

I am noticing that I have a far amount of brown tints this year so I am thinking gold, bronze and brown colours for the tree this year. I was going traditional but I love this look too, so Tim and I can get that sorted this coming week. I am thinking happy thoughts!!!

Sue xx

I survived!

Here I am, back again, with a mouth full of stuffing and a huge bloody hole where I used to have a wisdom tooth!!! I have taken painkillers as I think when the anesthetic wears off it is going to hurt like....well, a lot!!! Nothing to eat today except for yoghurt it seems, and anything liquid ( sounds like a plan!) so I will just have to wait for it to get better now. The relief of it being over is huge. I am such a cowardly custard when it comes to pain, and whilst I was waiting for the injections to take effect my hands were just shaking! My dentist asked me if it had gone better than I thought, and to be honest, it did, but when I looked up and saw my tooth in his hand, with a root the size of a carrot it gave me quite a shock!!! So, that's me. A little less wise, but a little more brave.

Sue xx

Time to go!

So, finally here, time to face the dreaded dental appointment this morning!! Thank goodness I slept better last night or else it would all be too awful to bear alone. Can't say I am happy to be going, but I know it is necessary, so it has to be done!

I went to choir last night despite being on my knees with tiredness, because Jose called me and asked for my support during the evening. Actually it went well I thought, better than last week which is not a good thing probably as this week our dirigent was absent and we managed ourselves! Sort of says something about her input, doesn't it?! But the songs were sung better and there is hope of a good evening!!!

My concentration is really low today, sorry, so there is little to tell. I have a fuzzy brain right now! For those celebrating 5 December this weekend, do have a wonderful time one and all!

Sue xx

started to decorate...

Slowly, simply, easy does it!! So it is December after all!! I have found an ideal place for my 6 tags to hang up: there are two hooks under our mantelpiece so I strung them up on florists wire yesterday and they just fit nicely! I also inked the tree I was talking about to hang my word stars on as a garland and that is now on the window shelf in the kitchen along with my santa's and snowmen!! So much more to think about finding and arranging but at least there is the hint of festivity in the house at long last!!

Yesterday I had a nice time ( nice, ok, not expressive enough?!) super time with Tim. We went to Medemblik together and trolled the outlet stores there looking for something for Christmas for him. In the end he bought a lovely smart Italian shirt with a double collar and trimmings!!! It suited him down to the ground. He told me his tastes were changing as he is growing up now......aah, how sweet is that?! Anyway we had a lovely time together all afternoon, and it felt perfect. Some times one has a moment that ought to last so much longer because it is just so wonderful being in it, savouring it, enjoying it, loving it, never wanting it to stop. That was yesterday for us.

However I am now back into the early morning wakening situation and was up and about around 3am as I simply could not sleep! I got up and pottered and then went back to bed and did get about an hour more, but the prickly eyes are irritating me this morning so I do not look my best!! Got to go into town this morning to the opticians and tomorrow is......tooth out day!!

11.45 I have to be there..........gulp!! No wonder I am trying to distract myself with decorations and magic!!

Sue xx

Tim's 2nd tag is gorgeous!!

Love it!!! Go to timholtz.typepad.com if you want to see them. I love the colours today and the beautiful frame that the sentiment sits in...........the list is growing!!!!

Sue xx

Tim's done it again!!

Have you seen the first tag Tim Holtz made, Loes?!!! It looks wonderful! We have to write a new list my gal!!! Those new stickles are super, and I like the idea for the ribbon on the snowman.....why didn't we think of that?!!

On Monday evening we had our Christmas 'do' from work. 18 of us went to Chantal's Mengelmoes in Broek op Langerdijk to make Tapas together. We started at 5pm with some bubbly and then took it in turns to make the recipes that were scattered around the kitchen. They had TWO Kitchen Aid machines!!!!! Sadly I took a photo of one of them after patting it a little and asking whether it was in need of a holiday home..............

It was meant to act as a sort of Team Building evening, but I don't think it succeeded on that level. We were with too many and trying to produce the various dishes called for no more than two people to work together on any one dish. We finally sat down to eat the meal around 8.30pm by which time I was ravenous but couldn't actually eat it all! I think I was past my moment of optimum interest in food! Looking back on the evening our comments were all positive but we would have preferred to eat some nibbly bits sooner in the evening and spread it out more, so that there was time to chat and mingle more easily. We got all the recipes to take home in a folder and a little dish for tapas, so it was fine. I am glad I went but boy, was it hard keeping my eyes open yesterday at work!!!! It felt like an eternity til four 'clock!

I did however stay up to watch DELIA. Just for sentiments sake I guess, although it was nice that she made the Creole Cake on telly. I am not going to feed mine just yet as I think I probably added a rather generous amount of alcohol in the first place, and I will do the brandy thing next week instead. Anyone know where you can get the ready rolled icing here in Holland? Never seen it here but maybe Loes knows a place. She is great for discovering places like that or I can ask her to bring it back from England when she is there. Good idea Suzanne!!!

Becci told me she has got me a Mr Darcy magnet from her day out to Chatsworth! She said it was SO fabulous she only took 2 photos; what use is that to me?!!!! And it has text on it!! Can't wait darling!! Course she got one for herself as well.............

The school photos finally arrived yesterday. Tim doesn't like it of course, but I do. It looks like him, how he is right now, and it is fine. Don't tell him but I prefer his hair now that it is a little longer............we are going to spend some time together today as he has only 2 hours at school so I have promised a trip to Medemblik to do some window shopping in the outlet stores there. He has the money so maybe he'll treat me?!.........

Anyway, I have rambled on long enough so time to get the show on the road and think about a morning of ironing!

Sue xx