Christmas in June

 Why wait to have Christmas in July?  Let's have Christmas in June!

Last Christmas my friend E and I decided to have a special day out rather than give each other Christmas presents.  We both have more than enough "stuff" so it seemed like a good idea.

One of the great things about it is that we gave each other the gift of anticipation.  For six months we have talked about our day, thought about it and come up with great ideas.  

We decided to go to Eden Hall, a day spa in Nottinghamshire.  It's many years since I went although E went a few years ago with one of her daughters.  It's about an hour's drive from home.  We decided that a little pampering wouldn't come amiss.  

Neither of us would have spent £119 on the other's Christmas present but this seemed worthwhile.  £119 was the basic cost of the day but I also treated myself to a massage and we each had drinks.  

Will we have a treat as our Christmas presents to each other next year?  Absolutely!

Trying to get off the naughty list

 Back in March I said I would report on my Christmas projects on the twenty fifth of each month.  April came and went.  May came and went.  I reported nothing.  

But I wasn't idle - honest!  I decorated some candles by sponge dabbing them with paint and then using (home made) stencils to create a design.  (The mottled effect looks better in reality than in the photograph!)

And I used paper napkins and PVA glue to decorate some shells which I then edged with a gold nail polish rim.  All these are now in my Christmas present drawer.

"She hasn't got a family"

 

My nephew on one of his vintage Minneapolis-Moline tractors

I've just had a few days in Worcestershire visiting my nephew.  I decided that it would be too risky for me to stay with him as his house has a lot of stairs and, sadly, my legs continue to deteriorate.  Instead I booked into a hotel and just spent Saturday and Sunday with him.  Saturday he cooked a lovely barbecue and Sunday I took him out to lunch.

Carrie and I over sixty years ago

Today is my cousin Carrie's birthday.  She lives about half a mile from me and two or three times a year I need to phone her for urgent help.  Last month I took her, her brother and another cousin out for lunch as all three of them have birthdays in May or June. 

My Father (centre) with his parents and siblings

Several of my cousins are generous with their help and support.  I'm really grateful for each one of them.  I've heard people say of me "She has no family" but that simply isn't true.  Originally I had twenty nine cousins (my father was one of eight siblings, my mother one of four) of which sixteen remain and I had one sister who left one son (my nephew).

My Mother (left) with one of her brothers and her sister

I value my family.  I work hard to stay in contact and good terms with them.  I send them all Christmas cards although several never respond.  I have no brothers, sisters or children but, when the chips are down, I have family I can rely on.

Thank you, each one of you.

May is out!

I remember my parents and grandparents saying, "Cast not a clout till May is out" and being totally confused as "clout" usually meant a thump or slap!  Here it means an article of clothing, often a vest and the saying was a reminder that even after May begins, cold weather can still return.  "May" can also be the hawthorn tree, which flowers in late April or early May. When the hawthorn blossoms are "out," it signals the end of spring's cold spells, making it safe to leave winter clothes behind.  Either way, May is definitely out!

On the whole, it's been quite a good month.  I had a few days dog sitting, but not as much as I had hoped as my legs suddenly became very painful.  (Things are improving again.)

I've been out for meals with quite a few friends.  I'm going to have to try and do this a little less often as I like to consider meals out to be a treat.  I need to think of a way of doing this less often and maybe inviting friends to eat at my house.  

Jack has been three times and my garden is definitely showing the fruits of his labours.  I'll show you some photos soon.  

And I ended the month having a few days visiting my nephew.  When I have visited previously I have stayed with him, but I decided this time to stay in a nearby hotel which has facilities for disabled people but spend the days with him.  That solution worked well.