I am starting the Christmas cooking (only stuff that can be deep frozen) and starting to feel quite seasonal. Deck the halls, etc.

The end of my orchestra course! It's not that I haven't enjoyed it, but I don't think I could have coped with another day.

HAd to work from 7.30am to 9pm. It was good because I was on duty with a great friend/workmate and we had a ball. Also, I don't work until next Tuesday now.

I went to an ENT specialist today for the first time since 1987 - and the hospital still had all my old records. Yeay!

He vacuumed out my ear, and it now feels much better. He has given me some medication to clear up an issue in the ear, and an appointment to see him again before I head back to Hungary. Fingers crossed he will find something that will permanently improve my hearing.

Finishing my nephew's Christmas quilt!

Dad came out of hospital yesterday afternoon and this morning whistling and making a noise as if nothing has happened

Yay! And just in time for Christmas! Wonderful news!

Thanks b-c actually I think a is more appropriate

Booking a long weekend to New York

Snowball fight!

I have the week off next week (my company shuts down), my husband is working Tuesday to Friday. I have a nice list of various things to do during that time, like wash my car or do some OU work, just reminders of every day stuff.

He's just asked me to add to the list sorting out upgrading his photo software.

Which means he likely has no suspicion in the slightest that I've got it for him for Xmas!!
I thought he did, because he was banging on about it two weekends ago and I was being all tired and useless and not sorting it out for him (trying to put him off) and last weekend he didn't mention it at all so I thought maybe he had guessed.
I have promised to start finding out what's necessary for him to upgrade on Sunday

Can I come with?

Finished work tonight for 11 days, AND my singing teacher has offered me a lesson next week, YAY!

my gorgeous nephew

being able to turn on the tap and see water come out

Our new washing machine - works like a dream and is quieter than the old model.

I've just been offered the job as a Supply Nursery Nurse this morning. They're going to ring me back after Christmas to sort everything out such as CRB and what ever else is needed.

Loz xx

Congratulations LoopyLoz

A very nice early Christmas present!

The last couple of presents I'd ordered arrived in today's post - a book that took 9 days to get here from Cornwall, and a parcel that only took 2 days longer to come from the US, which I really didn't expect to see until after all the Bank Holidays. It wouldn't have been the end of the world if neither had come, as everyone knows things are still haywire because of the weather, but it was very satisfying to get them today



Congratulations

The sun on the fresh snow today, the crystal blue sky. It looks just wonderful.

SB

Aww, thank you for all your congratulations messages. I really appreciate them.

I've also got another thing to add on as I've just received my tax rebate as well today, and I wasn't expecting till the end of January.

Merry Christmas to everyone on the ABRSM forums, and have a fantastic day!

Lots of Christmas hugs

Loz xx

Huge congratulations, what a great start to Christmas x

My parcel of piano and flute music arrived today...gone straight under the tree, must resist checking it's all OK....

Hi Dawnmc71,

I've done the same, and I've got some violin sheet music books for Christmas of my nan. I can't wait to get stuck into them.

Loz xx

Playing carols around the wards at the local hospital, after the amount of time they've spent looking after my niece over the last couple of years it's nice to be able to do something for them.

That's lovely Louise! I bet they enjoyed that!\
My kids have baked all afternoon and been wonderful really! Not fallen out..... just cooked.
My mum has dementia and doesn't really speak etc or move much and she is in a home. It's difficult to buy her presents but the kids decorated a box and filled it with cookies etc they have made. I'm sure she'll enjoy eating some!

Spending the day at Besbrodes in Leeds trying out some really nice Steinways and Bechsteins

Edit: And of course it is now Christmas!

Happy Christmas everybody!

And Happy Christmas from Lowersinth and me, too!
Dagwood: Quack!
Quackers: Quack!

My first ever roasted duck was rather nice. Thanks to those who made such helpful comments about it on the random comments thread. I studded it with cloves and did an orange-based sauce for it as suggested and used two freshly squeezed oranges, some seville marmalade, local heather honey and a bit of cherry brandy.

Family and friends...
sun on the beautiful snow...
and the film the nativity........

A new Clarinet

nice..... what type?

It's by Montreux

Looking after the new love of my life Her name is Holly 7 weeks old, a present of the kids ( i was going to get a dog in the new year ) a lot of fun ahead

trimmy - she is gorgeous! (Am I'm not even a dog person!)

enjoy your new clari heslop01


and I agree with Tortellini, Holly is gorgeous trimmy

Passed my bassoon exam! and of course, presents (including a promise of a laptop from my parents! and lots of chocolate and a lovely scarf from the people who run my choir)

Ohh LOVELY

I'm afraid I am dog-mad. I was hoping for a puppy in January but the arrangement has fallen through and I am heartbroken (However my current six make every day great fun )

rain

You're easily pleased!

yep

The cat is pleased to see me after having been home alone for two days over Christmas. Maybe there's hope for her yet.

I want some!
This snow has gone all mucky. Time to wash it all away to get ready for a fresh batch

Poor cat!

Nooooo, we don't want any more snow Just a bit more rain to get rid of the remaining snow please then sunshine

Indeed, poor cat. But because I only got her six weeks ago, there wasn't time to sort out a sitter, and my other half went away with me so he couldn't do it, and I can't get close enough to her (she is ex-stray) to get her into a box to take her to a cattery. Fortunately the next time I go away, I will have plenty of time to book a sitter.

Though un-PC as it may sound, she is a cat, and will *survive* on her own adequately with enough food and water for two days, but I felt bad that she might be getting lonely. I think it was still a better alternative and she was happier than if I had wrapped her up in a towel yelling (like when she was brought home from the shelter) and hauled her off to a cattery.

Not even just an ickle bit for New Year?
Actually, no more till late January please, we have a couple of things that we need decent - and safe - weather for in the next few weeks.
(how sensible I am sounding)

Me too, and February so no more please

Am I allowed a White Birthday in March?

That's just greedy, miffy.

Yup!

That would depend on when your birthday falls in March