My darling boy

Our darling cat Xander has cancer. I heard that from the vet yesterday, so he came home with me last night and this morning I have to say goodbye to him. There are no words to express how sad we all are, and how heart-broken I feel. Maybe later I can write a better and more fitting epitaph for him, but now I am going for last cuddles and hugs and time with him.

Sue xx

Xander sick

Last night I thought there was something wrong with our cat Xander; one instinctively recognises that they are not their usual self I guess, and I noticed that his coat was drier and more 'stary' than normal. Then today I thought I saw him breathing a little more laboured so I have rung the vet and am taking him along shortly. He is just sitting on his hottie and breathing heavily and not being a happy bunny at all!!! Xander always picks this time of year to be ill. Twice he has spent Christmas in a cage due to his knee operations and now this!! I wonder if he is one of those cats that ought to live in the Caribbean, and just hates the cold?! It snowed last night too, but the roads are clear at the moment and Peter is on his way to the Black Forest for a few days and he said it was really warm when passing through south Holland! There are claims of 6 inches of snow in Purmerend, but I think that is only someone exaggerating.........................we have far less here of course!! ;-)

Well time to get Xander into his carrier and see what the verdict is. Fingers crossed.

Sue xx

ONE LITTLE WORD for 2009

I am a huge fan of Ali Edwards and each year she chooses a word to give her inspiration and focus for the coming 12 months. At Christmas we all chose a word and mine is DARE. Ann chose LOVE; Peters is SPARKLE, William had ENJOY and Lilys is HOPE. This is what I feel about it: My word is DARE. Dare to be ME; to go after what I believe in this year; to turn 50 in February and appreciate the watershed in my life by daring to take on the things I feel passionate about and not caring what others feel about my choices. Dare to change; both personally and in my interactions with family and friends. Dare to embrace new challenges and to stick with my style and way of scrapping and feel the pleasure I get from making something for another.I am not a daring person, so this is the perfect opportunity for me to learn to love this word!!!! I need to dare to speak up for myself more and not allow others to run over my feelings without saying why I feel hurt or disappointed. Being a hyper-sensitive Piscean and person, this is something I am terribly bad at! I suffer in silence and let it all churn away inside me way too often! People will tell you I am assertive and like to take the lead and 'be in charge" of things, but I am really a shy and introvertive person who has learnt that this is a great way of hiding that from the world!! I used to count to 10 before I dare say anything to a patient I was meeting for the first time!!! I have always been given the role of leader whether I wanted it or not, so I suppose that is what the outside world gets to see about one... so, DARE it is this year! What is your word of inspiration going to be?............ HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Sue x

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! This was taken on the last day of 2008, Peter with our neighbours Lily and William, supping mulled wine by the fire whilst the children skated on the sloot. It was chilly to say the least but perfect weather with a clear sky and a sharp frost. The very mention of the possibility of skating on ice outside sends shivers down the spine and makes everyone eager to experience it for the first or last time. The small sloot behind our garden was full of children skating or sliding up and down when we arrived home yesterday from our Spa break, so it wasn't long before we were out there too with the wine and mince pies at the ready!! So glad we bought the fire in the summer; it came in very handy yesterday! Anyway, lots to do today so no time to sit and chat at this stage. I would like to wish you all a very healthy, happy and prosperous 2009, and a safe New Year celebration this evening. Sue x

Final part from Christmas Day

Well, it all went really well - nothing burnt or tasted awful, everything was eaten and the puddings disappeared in a flash! It is always such a build-up to just one day, but singing in the church in Hoorn on Christmas Eve added to the feeling that it was Christmas here in Holland. We all received lovely presents and feel very fortunate to have had them from our family and friends. I suppose there is one present that topped all the others by a mile...my son wrote me a letter telling me how he feels about me and how much he loves me. I just burst into tears, so that was good!!! It is not often that a 15 year old boy can put into words what his emotions are, and how he sees things that happen in his life. I will treasure it always, and it is going in a frame as soon as Christmas is over!! It reminded me of my favourite verse in one of my favourite carols; 'In the Bleak Mid-winter'. That goes: " what can I give him, poor as I am. If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a rich man, I would do my part. Yet what I have I give him; give my heart." Ti m didn't have a lot of money to buy something so he decided that this was something money can't buy and he wrote down his love for me instead. My joy in this is that if he can write down and express his emotions now, then he is going to become a caring and compassionate adult, partner and father. I will have looked after him in a way that means he can go forward in his life, totally in touch with his heart and soul, and no matter what he becomes or does in his life, he will know LOVE. Giving love out to others, returns it two-fold I always believe. We spoke to Becci in the morning which was so nice, despite missing her dreadfully here, I know she will have enjoyed a super day with Roy and his family, and her friends. So looking forward to seeing her in February!! Today I will talk to her again so that we can hear all about her Christmas Day. She is driving up to Leeds again this evening with Roy so that they can pick Tim up tomorrow from the airport; yes, I have to get my head around an early start tomorrow morning to get him off to Schiphol on time!!! They will have a few days together which is very heart-warming for me. I am giving Becci my camera to use so I hope to get some great photos of the 3 of them and any other family members they go to see - make a note Becs! The camera comes with the condition that I get photos for my albums!!!! Anyway, time to make breakfast for Pete and I as I think Tim is still sound asleep. A wonderful frosty morning here, love it!!!! Sue x

Christmas part 3!

Later in the day............the hat out of the cracker is traditionally worn all day Pete!!!!!

Tim and Arjan whilst playing our quizzes at the table - thanks Roland!!

The start of the meal when we are pulling our crackers and telling the jokes...ha!ha! They never get any better do they, but the pressies were good this year - Tesco's finest!!!

Peter opening his toiletry set from Tim. Handy when he is travelling.

Fresh from the garden! I am full of wonder for anyone who can create fantastic things with a few leaves and flowers, especially Loes who has the magic touch as far as I am concerned. She has the most beautiful flower arrangements in her home this Christmas, both in and outside!

Christmas part 2

Breakfast BUCK'S FIZZ!! An annual tradition we like to keep. We had bacon pancakes at Tim's request this year as well.

Early morning drinkipoos!!!!

Ok, so he got an XBox 360 ...and I got no sense out of either of them for quite some time afterwards!!!!!

The wearing of the Christmas Hat.

Xander tried it on too!!!

Christmas!!!

Our turkey ready for the oven!!! I stuffed with with onions, lemons and rosemary and a stuffing at the other end; delicious!!

Christmas flowers in the kitchen along with my fresh ingredients...

My treacle-basted Ham following James Martins recipe, for Boxing Day.

The sherry every Christmas cook deserves!!!! This was all the preparation on Christmas morning. We got up a little later than usual - 8 o'clock!!! That's late by our standards! But from the next set of photos you will see why!

OMA

CHRISTMAS DINNER 2008

This is the final menu for our Christmas Dinner this year!!! Salmon pate & Rose- Marie Prawns on toasts Prosecco Lemon & herb roasted Turkey Crispy Roast Potatoes Chardonnay Carrots Loes' special Red Cabbage Sprouts a la Tim My Roast Parsnips Chipolata sausages in bacon rolls Home-made Bread Sauce Cranberry Relish Madeira Gravy & stuffing New Zealand White and Fleurie Red Wines White Chocolate & Red Berry Trifles Port Coffee & liquers I think that will just about cover it!!!! All that is needed later is a good film, Christmas Cake and Mince Pies for supper!! I am going to print the menu out now for in my scrapped card, so there is no going back from here!!! Wonder what you are all going to be enjoying for your dinners?? Sue xx