Oops, didn’t realise I’d missed so many days.
Which of course means I can’t recall everything in detail, ah well.
Ady and I both worked Saturday morning, we met the ferry which was delayed but did come in. Big Dave came off, so we took his stuff along and then walked down to the village later and met up with him. He and I stopped for a beer at the shop; Ady brought the post back home.
Sunday morning Ady went off to skin and process a couple of deer for Fliss with Bad Neil. A bit of a cheeky favour to ask really but Ady loves to help… I spent the morning baking and made mince pies, what was supposed to be an apple and cinnamon roll but opened up in the oven so became a solstice strudel instead, and some bread and rolls. Big Dave came over for lunch, Ady finally got back and in the afternoon we had planned to have a walk and all gather ever green stuff and a fallen log but it tipped with rain all day long so in the end only Ady and I went out gathering while the kids kept the fire going. We made a yule log with a fallen branch, decorated with holly and pine and cones and Ady drilled some nails in to mount candles. We talked about what the winter solstice means, how it has long been celebrated and then we lit a candle each and talked about what we are grateful to nature for.
We had a nice dinner and watched Fred Claus which is one of my favourite festive films.
Monday the kids had showers and hairbrush for Scarlett, Davies and Ady went wood gathering and Davies has his first go at the chainsaw. I started making a stocking for Scarlett the same as the one I crocheted for Davies last year. Dave came over for lunch. The kids and I went down for the kids Christmas party, Ady fed the animals and followed on, getting changed on the way to become santa. Lots of silly games and fun, presents for all the kids on island (all five of them!! ;)). Then to the shop as it was festive food chilled delivery day so Christmas food shop ahoy! We got all the nice cheeses, crackers, pate, Baileys cream etc. We stayed for a couple of beers and it was a nice atmosphere at the shop, all very festive.
Big Dave came back with us for dinner, we had a couple of bottles of fizz and it was all very fun and festive.
Today Ady killed and plucked and gutted the Christmas turkey, I did some last bits of wrapping and finished Scarlett’s stocking. We walked down to put a load of laundry on and get stuff out of the freezer for tomorrow’s dinner. Then it was nativity time. Davies was Child 3, I was Mary, Ady was the headmaster, Scarlett maintained her refusing to join in stance but did video most of it, sadly none of my parts! We exchanged secret santa gifts – Ady got beer, Scarlett got a clay duck. Davies’ did not been done (grr!) so I got him some chocolate from the shop quickly but he was a little upset, particularly as he’d put a lot of effort into his…hmmm secret santa often seems to go wrong for him. I did really well and got one of Deb’s keepsake cocoons, and a new years blessing – will photo the cocoon in daylight, it’s gorgeous 🙂 There was talk of carols but Davies was keen to come home so we headed back. Bonus early so we decided to catch up on the film we missed yesterday and so had a nativity-fest with Nativity and then Nativity 2 with pizza for dinner.
Planning a nothing very much at all day tomorrow, cake icing and decorating, maybe some Christmas cracker making, a bit of festive TV on iplayer and then mulled wine and mince pies at the shop in the evening.