Christmas ... and all that ....

So here we are on the last day of the year ....
Christmas was a lovely time in our family ... shared with family.
We went for a meal on Christmas Day with C and friend D.  The meal was perfect, the company great and we had an absolutely brilliant time.  We all wore stupid Christmas jumpers which gave us a few laughs.




Boxing Day we spent with N, sitting round a log fire after dinner.  We didn't sing songs but we told stories ....




We stayed indoors for the rest of the week, watching films and eating Christmas goodies.... and praying for the folks who couldn't spent Christmas at home and even if they could, wouldn't want to as there was no electricity to light their way.
We went shopping on Monday to spend Christmas cash - some of it anyway.


Bought a sheet for my cuddly, snuggly sleeping bag and some inkpads for my stamps.

Unfortunately one of the inkpads on the shelf was broken and, unbeknown to the customers, leaked over the other inkpads.
When I arrived at the till, we discovered the ink was over the pads I had bought and therefore, over the pretty, new Christmas present coat, worn for the first time.
What to do?!?!
The Manager suggested going home and washing it, then come back and discuss it.
That's new.
Where was the apology for the fact that no-one had noticed the broken case, the leaking ink?
Nowhere!
We left the shop ...
... and carried on with our shopping - Christmas was still with us....
... and Father Christmas delivered late ... I didn't mind ....

.... this little red machine now resides in my craft room!!!!

I had saved some packaging so that I could practice - just in case FC did deliver!

Lots of fun here cutting pretty shapes and alphabets from my new machine.

After washing the coat, the ink is still there so it looks like I will go back and discuss with the Manager the cost of a replacement coat.  Unfortunately the supplier does not stock this coat anymore so I will have to buy a new coat or else try to cover the green ink on the front!!

But the red machine is  ....

Happy New Year dear readers, may God Bless you mightily in this coming year, may you know good health, lots of love and laughter.
See you next year....

Christmas Eve ...

So all the presents are wrapped, the cards have been posted, the Christmas cushion covers are on the cushions and now we watch old films followed by Sung Eucharist at midnight.
We haven't decorated the house this year, the tree is still in the box in the loft and the window is bare.
With all the refurbishment, we thought there was enough mess around the homestead, we really couldn't be bothered with more!
I hope that 2014 will be much better healthwise, the refurbing of the house will be finished and we can decorate our house as per Christmas requires.

For now we will remember the Saviour's Birth, the real reason for this Celebration!!

Happy Christmas Everyone

Love to you all!

A Christmas Cacti Story

A long time ago we came to view this house, as we were thinking of buying it.


As we walked round I spotted a poor little cactus so I gave it a little drink of water (it was sad like this one I found on the web).

The Estate Agent and my DH laughed at me, I was only viewing the house and not supposed to be caring for the plants!!

I watered this same plant earlier  today and wanted to share. 

 Isn't she a beaut!!!  I love this plant and thank the previous owner for it every time I see it in flower.   

This is definitely one plant that is thankful for a little bit of love.

A  very pretty double pink flower.




While we are talking of Christmas Cacti, here is an Easter one that I have.  (This photo was taken from the web but mine is similar)





A beautiful red single flower ...

Down comes The Shed!

Doen at the Railway there is a Bothy.
I don't know exactly how this shed was used, I know the railway cat lived in there!!
I used it to shelter from the rain when I was gardening.  It had male lockers along two walls and there was tea making facilities, I presumed the railway workers had their lunch in there, although I never saw them, PJ and I called it the Bothy.
The Powers that Be decided in their wisdom to knock it down  - they have a portacabin to replace it.
This decision sent ripples among all the people connected to the site.  Why!  The Bothy was one of the original sheds!
Once the decision was made then everyone on (and off) site were notified to remove their belongings from the shed and so the waiting began ......

Many (many) months later, and after much pushing by PJ, the Tuesday Team were given the go ahead to 'pull it down' and so the saga began ......




'The Lads' started one Tuesday -  much mayhem ensued followed by a week to recover!!



The roof came down first, all the ashfelt had to be removed as it was earmarked for refurbishment.




The electricals and water pipes were all disconnected.

After tidying up at the end of the day, it didn't look too bad....



.... until you went into the Signal Box garden and looked back along the track to the visitor's garden ....

The next week we were all in the garden together.



The men pulling, hitting, sweeping and eventually they had it almost clear.
Me trying to ignore them and wishing for the birdsong back as I went about my gardening.






Here is the garden taken from inside the 'shed', just some lino tiles and a pile of rubbish.

The next week even that had gone, some to new homes - the kettle, tea making facilities and the cat - to a new hut, the roof wood - to our house to mend our garage, the engine parts - to the new shed, the scrap metal  - to the merchant.

Six months on and it's like a site in waiting - for a new 'shed'.

Guess the day?!?

Did ya?
Here's my card ....

6ft long card, created by DH

Guess the day?!?!?!

Breakfast in bed!

Liverpool - an extra post

So much happened on our day out in Liverpool that I haven't posted about - sooo much ....
There were lots of photos, laughter and 'wowing'.
We saw so much on the Bus Tour, but it was a restricted route, when we travelled on the last bus - Liverpool Transport - we saw some different parts and, at one time, wondered if we were lost!!!
But dependable bus drivers work in Liverpool!!!!!

But back to the sights and wanna visits ....

An English Memorial next to a fabulous Chinese Gate......

so English!!!

so Chinese!!!

.... The Liver Building ....so well known ....

.... St Nicholas Church ....

.... a ship for a weather vane ....

.... Hard Days Night Hotel .... with their statues ...




.... dressed for Christmas  as only Liverpudlians could ....

.... and there are two more ....

.... Rodney Street .... very posh ....

 ... and the sculptures ...

.... formerly the White Star Shopping Line offices ...
 .... Titanic tickets were sold here ....

.... I want to walk among these suitcases ....

.... and pop in here ....

 ..... (legend says it was John Lennon's local)

..... Queen Victoria's monument  .... 

.... very ornate, like an Italian Piazza ....

These two very happy people will definitely go again  ....

... possibly next year .... 

.... paying their own travel costs themselves ...

What has N started?!?!

Liverpool - Post no 5 ..... the last one!

As it was tea time we found a table in The Fall Well and then realised that Thursday is Curry Day at Wetherspoons so .......









I have to comment here on the Ladies Room,  amazing.  All mirrors and lights!!!



Fully replenished, we walked back up the hill to Lime Street Station, found our platform and there was the train was waiting for us to board.  A good restful journey home and a good day had by all!

We had such a lovely day .....

I would love to come back and visit the parts we could not visit today, the Anglican Cathedral, the rest of the shops and the Tate at the Docks, St James Hall and of course the 'Liver Building'.

Each one of us enjoyed the day ... Thank you Liverpool

Liverpool - Post No 4 .... of many

Ferry across the Mersey .... lyrics and YouTube    
BTW   that's how long I've waited to visit Liverpool!!!!

I managed to get a seat inside with a clear view of where we would be going, PJ sat outside on the side facing where we had left the land - Port or Starboard? I don't know?!?!?
N spent her time moving between us and taking photos.
Of which there are a few .....


The Spaceport ... showing Dr Who features and excitements ....

 ... on the opposite side of the river an air vent for the Mersey Tunnel ....

what a magnificent building ...

.... Saying goodbye to the land ......

....  a small ship....

....followed by a large ship! ....

.... the two Cathedrals with the Liverpool Eye just about showing .....

.... what a great time we had, the commentary gave us fascinating information, we drank coffee and wine and beer - well, one of them!!!

... and back to land we came....

..... and where was the bus?

Stopped running at 16.00hrs that's where!?!?!

So there we sat ....  on a bench in a bus stop, waiting for a non-existent bus!!!
.... and then, as we sat and discussed the situation, another bus (not the tour bus) pulled up, when we asked the way back to Lime Street we were told to catch the next bus, that would take us .... Told you the natives were friendly!!!
So, eventually,  the bus pulled up ....  we boarded and off we went .... out into the city, where, what, only the how - on a different bus!
 45mins later the driver dropped us back where we began .....

The Fall Well