Christmas diagnosis and the gift low-down

One thing that always makes January less blue for me is remembering the holidays.  I'm often to be found happily in memory of the holidays, Christmas and what I did.  Perhaps, family and friends wonder why I pensively sit there staring into the distance.  Yet I am more often than not, lost in joyful reminiscence.  I cound myself luckily that I have such a good memory, even if I waste a lot of time!

My Christmas was certainly busy but wonderful.

That first weekend was of course, spent largely at church with carol services, nativities.  I love the Christmas season and I have been sad to miss church on Christmas eve and Christmas day for the  last 3 christmases.

Going up to Northumberland with CBC for my second Christmas there was wonderful again.  I really really do adore his family and how welcoming and generous they are. I do feel like 'going home'  to Northumberland now.  I've never had that feeling my University friends had of going home since I went to Uni in London and I live where I grew up so I adore going to CBC's home!

I really enjoyed the epic Christmas quiz (literally, it lasted about 7 hours over 2 days!!!), singing and playing at St Mary's church in Hexham on Christmas eve, friendly late-night parties and singing round the piano, rubbing my hands with butter all over a raw turkey (ok, so I didn't enjoy that, but it was nice to learn how!), painting ceramics, spying jumping salmon, gloriously wild walks and being surrounded by family!  I am always sad to leave Northumberland but there is always the promise of more next holiday!!

I was extremely spoilt in terms of presents this year and feel terrible about how much people spent on me.  However, they were lovely gifts and I was very happy to receive them. 

Check out the Christmas morning gift layout! (CBC's are the imaculate green-bow bedecked ones! How clever he is!)

 Although, I didn't enjoy lugging presents home from Northumberland, then my Sister's, then my Mum's.  Ahrgh, my suitcase was like a ton of bricks and my wrists are STILL sore! Of course it remained in middle of floor to be tripped over was put away tidily.

Surprisingly, I only received minimal clothing!  This lovely Whitestuff knitted dress was a surprise from my Dad and Stepmum. They also got me a wonderful black cashmere pashmina that I requested for freezing cold concerts in freezing cold churches! (you try playing the flute in sub-zero temperatures!!!)

Fun stuff, including a 'Make your own daisychain' and tissues (my Mum likes a theme!)

Here was the central part of the theme- a Glastonbury shop bought Daisychain crown for my (apparently, around 1-3 years ago, I asked my Mum if she could get me one after admiring her one and she found me one at last!  How pretty it is!)

And nicely presented in a VW Beetle box (now in use for headband storage!)

Possibly the sweetest, most thoughtfully unexpected present came as a result of this blog!  Back in May 2011, I blogged about how I had always wanted rollerblades and how I never got any and feared finding any in Size 8!  Well my darling sister read that blog and searched for me and bought me the lovely light up science museum roller skates which you can add to your shoes in the picture below.

I also loved the windup Tardis and Space hopper and FINALLY a lovely new bottle of CK Be, my favourite perfume!

Lots of lovely little booklets, notelets and diaries and fairtrade items and the candles were from my Headteacher who literally wrote me the most lovely card to go with them.  What she said in it, made all my manic lunchtimes and stress worth it. It is really true that just telling someone positive things about themselves really makes the day and means more many things. 

Lovely jewellery including lovely silk scarf from Sophie, lovely beaded fairtrade necklace from J (CBC's Mum) and cute crocheted corsage!

Lovely Pj set from little sis was my only other clothing and my favourite and most hoped for present from
CBC's far-too-generous parents.  An electric blanket.  Seriously, the most wonderful thing that has happened to my sleep in a long time!  I no longer fear the glacial-tomb that is my winter-time bedroom!!! It is heavenly!!!!

Possibly my most hilarious, unexpected and slightly bizarre present was my solar-shower from my Mum!!  It's such a sweet idea, I really appreciate it and thinking about it, I can use it in the summer in my house as my shower doesn't do hot water as well as if I go to a camp-site where you have to pay for hot water, (only cold) but when I first got it, I was like, "WHERE am I going to use it? Do I have to shower naked with it in a forest with no shield from prying badgers and rabbits."  Apparently they were on Dragon's Den according to someone I told about it!!!  I'll let you know how it works out!!!

Exciting books- the next 3 44 Scotland street Alexander McCall Smith books I wanted but didn't think anyone knew (I think the blog may have been checked to find out which ones I'd read)  including one signed by the lovely man himself!!!!

A guide to Marrakech and a gorgeous Atlas telling all about small islands from CBC which is really lovely as I am sooo  fascinated by small islands!!!! And my ticket to Africa!!!  SOoooooo exciting!  Roll on half-term!

How cool is this?  The vintage tea-party!  It even tells you how to make cool head-dresses!  I admired this on someone else's blog!!!! Hence my new year's resolution to have a tea-party!!!

A series of Cath Kidston items from clever friends who (2 of the 3 were from men who didn't know my Cath Kidston thing!!!)

And a lovely red polka dot mug (with already scoffed marshmellows) from a lovely girl named Sophie (she signed her name, though I know not where to go to thank her!)  through Char's Christmas Secret Santa!!!  Thank you Sophie and thank you Char for organising it!  It's already my new favourite mug!!!

A lovely candle which was given smells of Christmas, so this aids the sensory memory!   Didn't I do well!!  This doesn't include other presents which are now stuffed in any location possible so Mum doesn't think house is mess when she comes tomorrow squirred away  in tidy locations

I didn't want to seem materialistic by posting this but wanted to keep a record of lovely gifts and show my gratefulness for continuing generosity that I don't deserve.

Happy January!!!