We’ve done Not Very Much this week, some shopping in town, a lot of lazing around (definitely turned into a teenager house as we’ve only managed to be up by 10am on the one day I had a friend coming over!), eating, playing games, but it’s all been good.

Anyway, realised that I’d forgotten to blog this vid while it was still in season, but better late than never, a montage of the kids’ Christmas music this year, only the choir stuff unfortunately missing.

So the only debate for tonight is: twenty-ten or two thousand and ten? I’m using both at the moment! Whichever it is, I hope your celebrations tonight are fun and that the year ahead is filled with good things, challenges, excitement, and geocaches

We had a lovely day up in Oxfordshire today with my side of the family, shared a delicious meal as always, then exchanged gifts and had plenty of time to enjoy them together while lazing around, chatting, joking, drinking tea, playing games, etc. Pretty perfect really – especially as I made time for a quick geocache on the way up!

I will have to add a photo of me and my gift soon, as no-one had the decency to take one today – I got one of these funky umbrellas so I’m waiting for a dark wet evening to go out with it!

We went to the Cathedral for the Christmas Eve service yesterday, and popped in to see Joe at the boarding house afterwards. Traditionally choristers are allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve so we gave him that last night, and then waved him goodbye until today.

This morning was very peaceful at home – the girls were really pleased with their outfits in place of stockings today.

We had breakfast then opened the few presents that were here before setting off in time for matins at the Cathedral. Russ & Marg represented the family at the first morning service (not that Joe spotted them!) and we did the others!

After Matins we went over to the school for Christmas dinner. This was optional, of course, and we’d opted in, thinking we might as well just join in – then had second thoughts when we realised how big an event it was! Quite overwhelming really, as we don’t know anyone yet!

First came drinks and nibbles etc., then after that it was dinner time – 109 people seated in the school gym! It felt like a wedding … Steve and I both helped with serving/clearing away which at least gave us something to do, but otherwise we were quite glad we’d been seated at the end of a table so we didn’t have to do *too* much chatting.

This little clip from Josiah probably deserves a place here

After dinner there were a couple of short thank you speeches, and then what is apparently traditional entertainment, of any old choristers getting up to sing together! By the time that was over it was 3.40pm and time for the choristers to go back to the Cathedral, a quick tidy up in the gym, and then we joined them in time for evensong, which was lovely.

Phew.

Collected Josiah and all his clobber after the service, and I think he’s managed not to leave anything behind! Can’t say I wasn’t glad to leave after all that – it felt like a long day to me and I know we hadn’t done all of what some families had. That said, it was fun as well – very different to any Christmas day I’ve had before! Can safely say I’ve had my fix of Christmas music this year, too. Josiah looked exhausted, we’re not sure how much sleep the boarders got last night!

From there we went over to Grandma & Grandpa’s house for tea and presents. They had a houseful too, but it was relaxing and fab to exchange gifts with them all Didn’t think I’d particularly over-eaten during the day but I feel pretty stuffed now!

First of all they joined forces with another suzuki violin family that we’re friends with, and then the girls played with a Wind Group that Abbie was part of at one time. Lots of fun again, and they earned £13 each from the first session, then the girls got £5 each from the second (more people to split it between that time!).

While they were playing, I went for coffee with the other mum during the first session, which was lovely. Then during the second session I was shopping with Josiah. He bought himself a DS game and did a little Christmas shopping, while I finally bought myself some red boots, in the sale! Docs in the end, of course

Meanwhile Steve gathered all the children back from their various places. We all ended up back home for cups of tea and general slobbing out before heading out to the Isca Church carol service. This was a very contemporary affair, with our kids providing possibly the most traditional-style item in the service! They did well

Only a couple more carol services to go … home now for dinner and a film.

However, over the past few weeks we added a lunchtime quintet for Anna (the highlight I think, they sounded fantastic, and did so well collecting for Children in Need that they think they’ll go back again and collect for themselves next time!), and a coffee morning engagement for an ensemble made up of children from Orchestra, who played at the Twinning Association’s Christmas do – not a huge money spinner but great for building relationships with the Twinning Circle; the orchestra do lots with twin town links so it’s good to keep in touch.

So it’s been a really busy day; we had lunch in Bostons to warm up between sessions, it was very cold by the end of the day, but we had fun. And while they were playing, I stood around with collecting tins and chatted to people

Anna and Josiah have both gone off for sleepovers with different friends, leaving us to have a quiet night in with Abbie!

Music: oh I love, love, love Christmas music of all varieties – just as well, really! This year I think I will be attending no less than 6 Christmas concerts (2 at my school, one at Anna’s, one at Abbie’s, one at Joe’s, and the Orchestra one), as well as potentially three lots of Christmas busking in town, plus a whole host of carol services etc. I know the Cathedral stuff is all a novelty this year but I really don’t think I will tire of it, and it is fabulous for Steve NOT to be arguing with me about going, for once! I’ve got my cheesy Christmas music on in the car, too!

Lights: yes, Christmas lights are pretty and I like them

Time off: a few lie-ins never did anyone any harm, and even though I’m pretty rubbish at actually sleeping in, it’s really nice to have a few ‘take it easy’ days over Christmas.

The Christmas Radio Times, Films and TV: yep, snuggling with my family in front of films and festive tv is definitely a highlight for me!!

Food: mmmmm yes, especially that which I don’t have to cook!

Family: well, I think we’re ok at seeing family all round the year but it is still something that I like about Christmas, it gives us that extra opportunity to get together and that’s always good

Faith: yes, Christmas means something to me on a faith level too, it’s kind of important, and I love being able to celebrate it.

and … er, continuing on the theme of items beginning with F – fiddling with my blog code?! I like a good excuse to change my template

We all traipsed round the corner tonight for Abbie’s Christmas production, which was quite entertaining. The Y5 and Y6 classes had prepared sketches and songs focussed on ‘Christmas around the World’, which were fabulous, as well as including a re-telling of the traditional nativity in French using puppets! Very creative all round, some very funny moments (like when Abbie realised she’d left her words in the classroom and would have to blag it!) and some star performances from various children

Abbie and a couple of friends in her class have been practising music together – she’s on flute, with Thomas on violin and Michael on piano – both fairly good musicians for their age. Their teacher has really encouraged them (have I mentioned before how much I love Abbie’s teacher?!), both to practise and by giving them opportunities to play. Tonight they were playing as everyone came in and went out, as well as accompanying one of the carols.
They did very well

Christmas fairs: another great money-raising idea for charities and schools I know, but argh! Please send in that, give us this, and then please come and spend all your money buying it all back?! Er, no. I’ll just buy some raffle tickets, thanks

Birthdays! I know I only have myself to blame for this, but honestly, whose idea was it to have birthdays either side of Christmas?! My kids aren’t the only ones, I hasten to add – there are two other family birthdays right before Christmas – Bad Planning, folks! I don’t know what to get people for Christmas let alone their birthdays!

Rehearsals: again, I know that all the wonderful Christmas concerts don’t come for nothing, but I’ll moan about them anyway – logistics this year have been worse than ever. Rehearsals for nativity plays are in a league of their own, especially at my school!

Traffic: ugh, yes … so unpredictable. Don’t think I would care if I was actually going shopping as well but when I’m just trying to get around the city and it’s impossible, it makes me cross. Haven’t people heard of the internet?! I’m doing all my shopping from the comfort of my front room this year.
Or at Sainsbury’s

Feel free to add to this list in the comments section!

End of term
Yippee and hoorah, got to the end of Friday in one piece. At the beginning of the week I thought we’d never get there, it felt like a very long few days! The kids all broke up on Thursday so Joe spent the day with Grandpa while the girls took care of themselves (including lunch with Rog, Caitlin & Riona – thank you!). After school we had an aborted violin lesson (teacher wasn’t home, Josiah was quite happy about this!), then the Friday Fish Christmas party – girls made lots of sandwiches and pineapple & cheese sticks to take, and it was fun, with family games and quizzes etc. Anna had the youth Christmas party afterwards and we finally managed to wrap some presents, had been wondering whether we’d find time or not!

Saturday was really busy again; while Steve was working, I fitted in haircuts for all 3 kids, a quick visit to Grandma & Grandpa to pick up an interesting looking bag before we went away, then home to clean out the guinea pigs. Just managed to get that done before it was time to take Joe to his Tae Kwon Do Christmas party, which, thank God, I didn’t have to take any food to – I love the TKD tutor (and his mum and wife by the looks of it!). Home to do a water change for the fish, and get instruments ready before picking Joe up and heading into town for the annual Suzuki group Christmas busking. Seemed very quiet in town to me, for the last Saturday before Christmas. Still, plenty of money was collected for Save the Children, and we even managed to persuade Mr Featherstone to finish early
Home and mad packing effort ensued – including Christmas tree as we had promised the kids that we’d decorate the holiday house. Had pasta & pesto for dinner as quickly as possible so that we could get going. One false start due to forgetting the stockings, would have been a bit of a disappointment, so we went back for them, even though it meant that there were no secrets left!

Only took an hour and a bit to get down to the resort, which is a big manor house hotel with 37 lodges in the grounds. First impressions: hotel reception was really beautiful, high ceilings, big staircases, decorated really stylishly for Christmas. Staff were friendly and gave us all the info we needed to find our lodge: Holly (they’re all named after trees. I was stupidly happy to have a Christmassy one.)
Didn’t really have a clue what to expect, it could have been anything from similar to a static caravan up to a center parcs lodge – turned out to be a bit smaller than a CP one, and only 2 bedrooms (although we knew that one of the kids would be on a camp bed) but really nicely done out, spacious enough for us for a week, towels and linen all provided with maid service every day if we want it, kitchen well equipped, and what’s more it had a Christmas tree up already (doh, would have had far more space in the car if we’d known that).
Settled everyone down, unpacked, watched Outnumbered and a Knight’s Tale and then fell into bed. So so relieved to be away from all the stresses of home – I’m sure it would have been just as nice to be at home without work/school but to be away from it all feels like real luxury. No housework, no piles of junk lying around (well, obviously, it’s all still there at home and I’ll have to catch up on it eventually, but at least I can’t see it for a week)

Sunday morning started way too early. Kids’ room was too hot and they were too excited. Still, someone made us breakfast in bed (of sorts) using the tea/coffee/bread/jam that was left in the lodge for us. Some people watched telly and others went back to sleep, while others had baths etc.
First appointment of the day was with Mr Rep who came to pick up forms and tell us what time we had to be where for the lovely timeshare presentation and more complimentary breakfast. Children went to the kids’ club shack on the hotel terrace where they watched DVDs and played XBox while we were subjected to the hard sell. Nearly caved in but can’t afford it at the moment even if we did like the idea of lots of holidays, so a no-brainer really.
In the afternoon the kids swam … we ate in the restaurant in the evening (another free meal) and came back to slob out in front of tv. Lost the ipod in kids’ room, thought it might have been taken away with laundry.

Monday: lazing around, went to Tesco’s, found my 100th cache, came back and lazed around some more. Oh, and went swimming. Curry for dinner. Watched Lars and the real girl in the evening – strange film, not at all what I was expecting, but very involving and emotional too, I liked it.

Tuesday: Eden Project. Cold! Great day though, even if I did want to see the lights and no-one else was bothered. I will drag them back on Boxing Day afternoon. Abbie spent the day moaning about a sore wobbly tooth, then sadistically spent 20mins pulling it out once we got home. Watched August Rush in the evening – nice film, bit of a fairy tale with lots of unbelievable coincidences, and I *really* can’t stand Freddie Highmore, but apart from that it was ok … Found the ipod in Anna’s clothes, what a big surprise.

[incidental extra]
Things I like about my iphone:
Unlimited online minutes. Freedom!
Geocaching app. Of course it doesn’t help you actually find the darn things …
Lock and Roll, the one decent free game we’ve found so far. Steve currently holds the high score record, I must win it back …
Things I don’t like about my iphone: … er …. battery does seem a little quick to run down, then again I did have a day of receiving non stop texts so it might be nice to test it on a normal day! If I turn BK off I won’t actually get many texts so that will be better I think! It has had pretty heavy use when it’s been the only internet available …
[/incidental extra]

Wednesday: Christmas Eve. Got up late, lazed around. A pattern is forming here I think! But we are on holiday
In the afternoon we went out for a walk at Fowey, having put the kids off swimming again until tomorrow. Tried and failed to find two geocaches while walking around; realised on getting home that the app doesn’t actually necessarily give you all the clues that are on the website – might have to pop back on Boxing Day! Or somewhere else …
Contemplated church then decided we’d done our fair share of carol services last week and it always feels a bit odd to go to church somewhere that you don’t know anyone, so decided not to – watched Carols from Kings instead
Then followed an early evening film and I made a veg lasagne, really pleased with myself for making cheese sauce on an electric hob as I’m used to gas – lasagne tasted great Had myself a festive Baileys or three while I was cooking, too!
Very pleased to have text from cello teacher letting us know about Anna’s distinction. Don’t know how she does it, i really don’t, as sometimes when she’s practicing it sounds *so* ropey. Still I guess that’s what practice is for!
Kids have all gone to their room after watching Shrek the Halls, although it’s not quite peaceful yet … will be soon I’m sure …

Thursday: Christmas Day
Joe came into our room at 5.45am, and played iphone games until 7am when everyone got up and dived into stockings. Lots of little things to amuse and entertain, plus the now traditional chocolate orange Had breakfast and then were in the pool around 9am! thought no-one else would be there but there was one other family as well.

Back to the lodge by 11ish and we opened the rest of the presents – not many, but they were all well appreciated.

Anna loved her crafty sets and boots, Abbie trailed her doll around for the rest of the holiday, and Josiah was kept busy with his science kits and games. Steve gave me a rather nice hat, scarf and gloves set
[incidental extra]
Once upon a time we lived in a tiny two up two down, with our 3 children. Across the road lived a rather hunky single bloke in a huge 4 bed house. Envious already? I was. During the time we lived there, I developed a rather hysterical fantasy about this chap, which Steve and I joked about many a time. He never seemed to work (actually he sold high end designer clothes so his work was totally seasonal, he’d work hard for a couple of months then have a couple of months not doing much at all), and just seemed to swan around having parties and going on holiday! Since we moved house, Steve and he have kept in touch via cars etc., and I haven’t spoken to him at all, more than just a passing wave anyway. Kept up the fantasy crush though But as it turns out, he has started his own clothing label, and told Steve about it at the garage one day. Steve therefore thought it would be hilarious to buy me something with his label in it, hence the gift this year – it is a very nice set!
[/another incidental extra]
Big treat of the day (after swimming) was Christmas dinner at the hotel restaurant. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this in the first place, but Steve persuaded me, and in fact it was really nice. Wouldn’t want to do it every year but it felt very decadent and totally relaxing to not have to cook anything, or clear up afterwards! Dinner was delicious. Had loads of time as a result so really were able to play with new games and do crafty things with the kids so that was lovely.

Back to the lodge in time for the Queen and an afternoon of films, I confess, we were slobs, but it was really nice.

Friday: Boxing Day
Tired of all that tv, today was the opposite. Well, for the grown ups, anyway. It was a beautiful clear day, the first – all the other days were rather grey and dreary, so nice to see some sunshine. Steve and I walked from the hotel down to the nearest beach a mile and a half away, found a cache, and then hiked back – downhill all the way so uphill all the way back! nice to have some time on our own too – the kids stayed at the lodge playing games and watching tv.

Back for a light lunch, then squeezed in another swim – had the pool to ourselves for the latter half hour we were there, lovely.
After that we headed back to Eden because I really wanted to see it after dark. Very tempted to skate again but we didn’t, we just amused ourselves taking photos.

In the gift shop at the end we were umming and aahing over what to buy for our neighbour who’s looked after the guinea pigs, and was suddenly accosted by Debbie who’d recognised us from the blog (and a Different Life, gosh now that is going back and is almost embarrassing!), lovely to meet her in real life, even if it was brief and slightly surreal!
Back to the lodge in time to watch Narnia and then risotto for dinner before Pirates of the Caribbean.

Saturday: the end. Got up early for us at 7am and packed up, cooked boiled eggs for breakfast, then got on the road by 9.15am. Meant we were home by 10.30am which in turn meant that we got tidied up and all the washing done today, fab. Then caught up on a week’s ACCF Just Scrabble to go now and I think I’ll be all caught up …