Monday 24 December 2018

Christmas Eve








Last week was a flurry of Christmas activity. Carol services, a pantomime, a party and carols around the tree. In between times I had all good intentions of finishing the gift wrapping but, just as expected, I only finished it earlier today.  Not that there was a lot left to do, it was just getting the opportunity to do it, if you know what I mean.

Once school finished on Friday, we were able to relax and enjoy a little weekend break in Chester. It has become somewhat of a tradition to take some time out  just before the day itself and visit a Christmas market. Last year we were in  York and, although much smaller, Chester market was just as delightful. Sitting and drinking mulled wine in the cold evening air soon had me feeling festive. We walked the city walls and even managed to squeeze in a visit to Santa before he had to dash off and get ready for his busiest time of the year.

Since returning home we have been finishing our Christmas preparations. I have been baking up a storm in the kitchen and we now have fresh bread, mincemeat slices and gingerbread cookies (which are disappearing at an alarming rate.) The gingerbread house has already been eaten.

As is usual for us, late this morning, we took ourselves off for a walk to get some fresh air. And what a beautiful morning it was - there had been a hard frost overnight and it was a bright, sunny day. The grass was white with frost and Lily skated across the frozen puddles declaring she was the Ice Queen. Further on, through the fields, she was trying to get up close to the sheep to wish them a Merry Christmas. Suffice to say they were not terribly impressed.



This evening there is a star shaped gingerbread cookie and some wine left under our tree for Santa and, of course,  a carrot for Rudolph. Our bedtime story was 'Twas the Night before Christmas and the house is now quiet and still but, I  know, tomorrow it will be filled with joy and excitement.

I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas.
J. X

52 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas Jules...may you have a wonderful time with your family. xx

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    1. Thank you Jackie. We kept things quiet and simple, just as we like it. X

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  2. Chester is a beautiful city and only ten miles from where we live in N Wales.Did you go into the cathedral?My husband played ukulele in a concert there onTuesday evening.Awesome.Have a great Xmas.Barbarax

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    1. We really enjoyed our time there, Barbara. We didn't go into the cathedral but saw the wonderful Chestar outside. It was so lovely how your son made the long journey to watch your husband in the concert. X

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  3. Merry Christmas to you all-what a lovely city to visit at Christmas.

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    1. I hope you enjoyed a wonderful time too, Catriona. In recent years, we have really enjoyed our festive trips away just before Christmas. X

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  4. A lovely post Jules. A very happy Christmas to you & your family. Love Cathy x

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    1. Thank you, Cathy. I hope you had a lovely time. X

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  5. How lovely to take a weekend break amid the festivities, it looks wonderful. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas.

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    1. We love to get away and soak up the festive atmosphere, Jo. It has become a bit of a tradition in recent years. X

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  6. I must add a visit to a Christmas market to my list for next year - I am tempted by your pictures of Chester. Does you Mincemeat slice have a pastry top?
    With all your preparation you will have a wonderful Christmas. Sending good wishes for a magical time x

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    1. Oh do, Vivien. A visit to the Christmas markets always gets me feeling festive and it's good to relax for a couple of days. Chester was especially lovely - not too big or busy.
      Yes, the mincemeat slice has a pastry top scattered with flaked almonds and cranberries. For me it is a lot less faffy than individual mince pies. X

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  7. A Merry Christmas you you all too - may you have the best time ever. xxxxx

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  8. Absolutely delightful. Have a wonderful Christmas Jules, Lily and family x

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. I hope you daughter is feeling better now. X

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  9. Your preparations sound fun!

    Merry Christmas!x

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    1. Relaxed fun, Elaine. I hope you had a Merry Christmas too. X

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  10. Happy Christmas to you and yours, Jules. It's been a pleasure reading your blog this year. Chester is one of my favourite places, so no surprise to me the market was lovely. Have a super day today xx

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    1. That's very kind of you to say, CT. I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and, no doubt, a Boxing day run. X

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  11. I want to wish you all a lovely day with and much fun and enjoyment!!
    Also, I'm so sorry that I didn't get to comment on your last post, but even those of us who choose not to celebrate Christmas have it busy at this time of year! Work has been absolutely manic with all the poor residents going down poorly with an awful chest infection, then last week; my last week of annual leave, I come down with it too! I was so sick and miserable :( Now, I'm coming out of it and have to be in work at 1 o'clock- oh joy :/ and tomorrow too- more joy- NOT!
    Have a wonderful time and much love, Jane x

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    1. Thank you, Jan. There was plenty of fun.
      I hope you got the opportunity to rest and recover in between shifts. I remember the years I worked over Christmas and, although enjoyable, it was a very busy time. X

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  12. Merry Christmas, and much love to you all.

    I hope Lily’s Christmas Day has been as beautiful as the photos you’ve shared here. XXX

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    1. Thank you, Jayne. We enjoyed a wonderful day. Love returned. X

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  13. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jules !

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    1. Thank you, Nil. I hope you enjoyed a lovely day too. X

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  14. Merry Christmas to you and your family and loved ones, Jules!

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    1. I hope you had a lovely day with your family, Bless. X

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  15. I made mincemeat slice with shortbread bottom and crumble top....so easy and far too delicious! Your ohotos are great and the gingerbread house brilliant. Have a great Christmas break.

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    1. It's much easier than making individual mince pies isn't it? And the mincemeat doesn't bubble over.
      I hope you enjoyed a lovely Christmas,, Tania. X

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  16. my warmest Christmas greetings ❤

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  17. Blessings to you at Christmastime x

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  18. What beautiful photos and words!
    I hope your Christmas was cozy as can be, and you are enjoying a lovely week with your people.
    Hugs from Pennsylvania. : )

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    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. We have enjoyed a lovely Christmas week but I think I may need to get the house back in some kind of order before long.
      Christmas blessings to you and your family. X

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  19. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, Jules!!

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    1. Thank you, Julia. I hope you enjoyed a lovely Christmas too. X

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  20. What a lovely post …
    Beautiful photographs.

    I hope you've had a very Merry Christmas, my good wishes for the coming New Year too.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. It was lovely. I hope you shared a wonderful time with your family too. X

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  21. I must say that I adore the star cookies. So simple, So elegant. A verve that is often missing in the world (these days).

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    1. Thank you. They tasted delicious so didn't hang around for very long. X

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  22. Christmas with children of Lily's age is the absolute BEST! I love their excitement and anticipation. We visited Chester for a few days back in 2015 and loved it. It is definitely somewhere I'd like to return to.

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    1. The excitement is ongoing, Eloise. Lily loves everything about Christmas, not just the presents. Chester was lovely and I really enjoy the opportunity to see Christmas decorations somewhere different each year. I would definitely recommend it. X

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    1. Thank you. I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas. X

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  24. I hope you had a really lovely Christmas. It started well with a lovely Christmas Eve, thanks for sharing a little bit of your day. Chester looks magical on this photo, I think I would enjoy visiting if we were ever in the neighbourhood. Wishing you a happy new year!

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    1. Thank you, Christina. Chester is a lovely city and I really enjoyed our visit to the Christmas market. X

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  25. Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog! Love your beautiful photos and the artwork - is it the Three Kings?

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    1. Thank you, Sue. It was lovely to discover your blog. Yes, you're right, it is the Three Kings :)

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