Christmas love.................

Wishing all of my lovely friends a Happy Christmas and a healthy and abundant New Year.

My wishes for all of you are that in 2011 all of your dreams come true,that you and yours remain safe and healthy.......and that you are loved and cherished every single day!

Thank you for being my friends.

Gena xxx

So this is Christmas.....

Unraveling.......

It is that time of year again.The time when slowly but surely.....I come undone.

At this moment I am indoors whilst outdoors rages the coldest whitest winter I have ever seen,I have not been able to work,my stress levels have soared and reached an all time high,the day job is impossible to do in this weather and I am panicking.

It is twenty two days until Christmas,I have not done ANY Christmas shopping,I have not wrote a single card and the thought of decorating the house fills me with no joy whatsoever.Bah Humbug.I had a big disappointment this week which made my mood plummet,but hey ho.

I am aware of course that I seriously need to cheer up,count my blessings,think of those less fortunate than me etc. and I do.Truly.Sometimes.

I read a very useful exercise in grattitude this week in a book I got from the library,it suggested that for every negative thought you have you should replace it with something positive that you are thankful for,so in an effort to become a better more festive person,here is my grattitude list,Hell before you know it I will be dressing like a sexy elf and singing carols!

I am grateful for.......

1.Epsom salts.No I am not joking,throw a box in the bath and you will feel virtuous I promise.

2.A glass of bubbly in a candle lit bath,even if it is just cava brut!

3.My new sparkly bracelet.It makes my arm green but I couldnt love it more.

4.Facebook...yes I know! but I have some lovely chums on fb and we have such fun!

5.Desperate housewives on Sunday night,I so want to live on Wisteria Lane!

6.Text messages ........thrilling! however did we do without them before?

7.Finding beautiful,stylish well made vintage clothing...it still takes my breath away.

8.Cath Kidston tea towels...nuf said.

9.Baking a big fat fluffy Victoria sandwich cake!

10.Hope.The belief that its all going to be ok....eventually.

See....I am feeling much more chipper already!

On smiling on the outside..........................

OH DEAR GOD!!!!

Yet again,Christmas is looming and I am slowly unravelling.I have not done any shopping,due mainly to lack of funds,lack of time and frankly....lack of interest.I am deeply ashamed that I do not embrace the festive season the way many people do,how I would love to be the type of Woman who had it all wrapped up in October and spent the rest of her time participating in homely,crafty pursuits.But,alas....I am not.Whats in it for me? very little,lots of running around for one bloody day! Bah humbug!

I am so busy these days,where has this year gone? On the upside,I have been sourcing some wonderful vintage goodies for the website which never ceases to thrill me,I am ashamedly addicted to 'I'm a celebrity....' (dont start me off on Gillian Mckeith!) I have developed a penchant for candlelit bathtime with a glass of bubbly and as usual at this time of the year,have sucumbed to a rather bothersome satsuma addiction. I am keeping a journal,making wishlists for 2011.....and waiting,always waiting...and smiling....on the outside at least.

Through the keyhole...............

Do you remember that TV show called 'Through the keyhole'? Lloyd Grossman took us all on a tour of a mystery celebrities home and the panel of guests on the show had to guess the identity of the celeb.Blogging is a bit like that,we all love looking at other peoples living space dont we? so because it is a dreary wet weekend here,armed with my trusty Nikon I snapped away at my leisure,how different ones humble abode becomes through a lens!

The silly pink kitchen......

The raspberry sofa unusually vacant,normally taken over by Daughters and dogs.....

Crystals and candles because I love all things sparkly...

A special boy waiting for his Master to arrive home...

Beautiful sepia photographs of my parents and grandparents...

Hmmm.....who lives in a house like this?

Myfanwy

Kind o’er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy,
White o’er the playpen the sheen of her dress,
Fresh from the bathroom and soft in the nursery
Soap scented fingers I long to caress.

Were you a prefect and head of your dormit'ry?
Were you a hockey girl, tennis or gym?
Who was your favourite? Who had a crush on you?
Which were the baths where they taught you to swim?

Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,
Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,
Home and Colonial, Star, International,
Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.

Trace me your wheel-tracks, you fortunate bicycle,
Out of the shopping and into the dark,
Back down the avenue, back to the pottingshed,
Back to the house on the fringe of the park.

Golden the light on the locks of Myfanwy,
Golden the light on the book on her knee,
Finger marked pages of Rackham's Hans Anderson,
Time for the children to come down to tea.

Oh! Fullers angel-cake, Robertson’s marmalade,
Liberty lampshade, come shine on us all,
My! what a spread for the friends of Myfanwy,
Some in the alcove and some in the hall.

Then what sardines in half-lighted passages!
Locking of fingers in long hide-and-seek.
You will protect me, my silken Myfanwy,
Ring leader, tom-boy, and chum to the weak.

Sir John Betjeman.

Kitchen love...........

It is Sunday morning and it is raining cats and dogs.Nothing new there,this seems to becoming a rather wet Autumn here! However,although when I am out traveling at work,I curse the heavens for opening their arms on such days,the days when I am at home become rather blissful for me.I love nothing more than being ensconced in my rather silly kitchen(yes those are poodles on the blinds) and putting on a pinny(pinny love theres another whole post) lighting enough candles to torch the place to the ground,listening to radio four and cooking. I have a rather weird relationship with food,I eat sporadically,often forgetting to eat myself,but always longing to cook.I do however crave good food I love traditional cooking,my Mother has been my best teacher,but I also love to try new exciting recipes coaxed out of friends or read in a magazine.

So today..........fairy lights on,candles lit.....fresh coffee and the Sunday times or a good book this morning....

Then this afternoon,perhaps a spot of baking,what do you think? is it going to be a good day?