Nonnie

Happy New Year

Just one last quick post before the new year and some pictures of a few lovely decorations my Sister got me for Christmas. We're off down to Hayling Island, near Chichester tomorrow to spend New Year's Eve with George's Brother and his Girlfriend which I'm very much looking forward to.

A heartfelt 'thank you' to everyone who has visited my little blog since I started writing it. It still kind of amazes me that people actually read what I have to write and show. And even more so that I receive such kind comments and emails. I wouldn't have believed how writing a blog could lead to meeting so many lovely people all around the World. I just love that I can communicate with and get to know so many wonderful, like minded creative women in this fantastic blogging community. I'm really looking forward to continuing to get to know everyone in 2007.

I'm very excited about 2007. For various reasons 2006 has been a funny old year. It's had some highs but it's also had some definite lows that I'm glad to be leaving behind. I've got some exciting creative plans for the new year which I'll be sharing with you in the coming months and I just can't wait to get on with them.

For now, I hope you all have a very wonderful New Years Eve, and heres to a happy, peaceful and creative 2007 to all of you.

See you next year!

Nonnie xx

Enjoying the break

I've finally got to the stage in my break from work where I'm really relaxed. So relaxed that I'm not getting anything done that I'd planned. But then what are holidays for if not for doing nothing? My time at home in the Cotswolds went by far too quickly and was really lovely. It started off on Saturday with magical drive through some of the heaviest and most beautiful frost I think I've ever seen. It really did feel like a white Christmas. I was longing to take some photographs but as it was also still pretty foggy, I didn't like to stop and risk causing an accident. The picture above is of Mum and Dad's Christmas tree which was very pretty.

I did manage some pictures on Boxing Day on our walk around the lovely Batsford Aboretum. It was a bit of a grey day and rather cold but it's such a lovely place and we were helped on our way by a cup of mulled wine as we entered.

Off to do a bit more relaxing now. See you again tomorrow. x

P.S. Does anyone have any good remedies for 'Man Flu'? I have a boyfriend suffering with a very bad case!

A little Christmas parcel

This is a little Christmas sack I made for George last year, and I've sent him off to Cornwall with it today, packed with Christmas goodies for him. We're having Christmas with our own parents this year for a couple of reasons. He hasn't spent Christmas at his parents for a about 3 years and it's their first Christmas in their new house so he really wanted to be with them. I wanted to be with my Mum as it's her Birthday on Christmas Eve(and as you know it's a special one this year) so I decided I had to be at my parents. I will miss him dreadfully, but I know we will both still have a lovely time, and it will be all the more exciting to see him again on Wednesday.

Today I'm off work and I'm going to spend it making last minute preparations before I head off to the Cotswolds tomorrow. I've got presents to wrap for my family and wine and Christmas treats to buy to take with me. I might even do a few domestic chores so that I come back to a lovely sparkly flat on Wednesday.

Well I think I'll probably be taking a little break from blogging for the next few days. I wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
See you all next week. xxx

A little last minute inspiration.

Apologies for a bit of a lazy post today.

So maybe it's a bit late to be ordering any of these for Christmas but they are lovely and maybe you could be super organised for next year. Just like I always think I'm going to be! Hmmm, hasn't worked this year, still got a brother in law present to buy and if Amazon don't get their act together, something else for Mum. Mind you that last one isn't really my fault, I ordered a supposedly 'in stock' item in plenty of time!

So back to the lovely things. I love this 'Noel' sign from Caroline Zoob.

Also this gorgeous little house from Decorative Country Living. Oh how I wish I lived nearer to that shop. Maybe I need a trip to Lincolnshire next year?

How cute are these little hearts from Sophie Perks Ward? Very cute indeed.

And finally just a bit of Cath. I can never resist. Wouldn't mind this little box of lovlies in my stocking although I think it's rather too late to be dropping hints!

How are you seeing this?

I was getting a bit bored with the way the blog looked so thought I'd have a bit of a change. The thing is that despite saving the changes I made and re-publishing, I'm still seeing it the way it looked before. I would really love to know how you're all seeing it because I've looked the problem up in 'help' and it says that my computer hard drive could still be remembering the old design. Please let me know if you're seeing the new red and white banner.

As well as having a really cosy day on Saturday putting the tree up, I also had a lovely day on Sunday driving down to Southampton with my boyfriend in brilliant sunshine to pick up the keys to his new boat. Now before you start thinking it was some exotic 60' yacht, I can assure you it's not. It's quite small but very cute. It has two berths and a tiny little stove and is bright yellow. I'm going to be allowed to make curtains to make it a bit more cosy and if I can get away with it, cushions too! Hmmm, not sure I'll be alllowed to go that far. He's planning on doing some serious sailing in it, but I'm hoping to join him a bit too so if it needs a bit of comfort. It's going to be kept on Chichester Harbour which is one of my most favourite places in the World as I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up as my Grandparents lived there. It's a really beautiful area and really great for sailing as there are some lovely places to explore.

After we sorted the boat George took me for a lovely lunch in a very snug pub called 'The Jolly Sailor'. Some of you may admit to watching 'Howard's Way' years ago, as I did, and this pub was apparently featured in the series. It had lovely log fires and cosy corners and great food so we had a very good time. These are the steps we had to climb up and down to get to the pub. I can tell you it was harder on the way up full of lunch!

And this is the view we had from the top of the steps. It was one of those really crisp, clear days where the sky is beautifully blue and you can see for miles. It was really good to get some fresh sea air away from London.

Worth the wait.

I finally went to get my tree. Just one small problem with waiting until a week before. The smallest tree they had a my local garden centre was 5'. That's about 2' taller than the one I had last year! The thing is that my flat isn't huge and the best place to put a tree is on this cabinet. That worked well last year but I was a little nervous this one was going to fit. It's quite close to the ceiling but it just works.

My decorations are quite simple and on a red and white theme. I like my tree to be not too over full. Quite a simple feel to it. Here are some of the decorations.

We managed to arrange the little angel so she wasn't bumping her head on the ceiling and so the light creates a halo just above her head.

I'm very pleased with the finished tree. It was worth waiting a couple of weeks for. By the time I finished it was dark so the pictures are a little blurry but hopefully you get the idea.

I'm hoping it's going to be an easy week at work. My boss is already on holiday and we finish on Thursday. I'm taking a sneaky longer lunch today meet Cherry for something to eat. I'm going to get to see the ring! Can't wait!

Have a lovely Monday. x

The '60th'

Just a few pictures from Mum's Birthday dinner last Saturday. Unfortunately many of my photos came out really blurry and even these few are not my best and don't really show the decorations at their best. Not sure why. Probably because I was trying to take them while finishing off getting everything ready. But I managed to get a few. The picture above is the delicious chocolate log cake my Sister made. Filled with cream and decorated with icing sugar and reindeer. Kind of a Christmassy theme to this 60th.

This is the photo tree we did for her. Well actually my Sis did the majority of it. I helped to add some of the photos. We got Dad to find us lots of photos of Mum and scanned them then cut them into ovals and decorated with beads so they were like little frames. They were hung all over the branches and as we had so many, we strung a garland of them from the ceiling as well. She was really shocked and we all had a good laugh looking back at some of the childhood ones. Her Sister and Brother were particularly amused by them and kept saying "I don't remember you looking like that!" We found a particularly lovely one of her on her Wedding looking absolutely beautiful.

Here's the table set for dinner and my napkin decorations. I strung more stars on a garland accross the window with tea lights underneath to make them twinkle.

It really was a lovely evening. Unfortunately Mum wasn't feeling very well as she is full of cold, but I know she enjoyed herself and as it is her actual Birthday on Christmas Eve, we can spoil her all over again.

I'll finish with a picture of our main course. The whole meal was cooked by my Brother-in-Law and I have to say he did the most spectacular job. We started with a warm salad, followed by grilled sea bass on a risotto cake with a saffron sauce. Dessert was either elderflower and blueberry jelly, or chocolate tarts with dried fruit compot and we finished it all off with a selection of local Cotswold cheeses! It really was a meal to rival any restaurant. Well done John, you're a super star!

She arrived!

A little package arrived on Friday containing my dear little red fairy that I bought from Carolyn. I think she's the cutest little fairy. What do you think? I'm really looking forward to the weekend and putting my Christmas decorations up so she can join them.

Exciting packages

My postman has been very busy this week bringing me quite a few exciting packages. Unfortunately I can't show you everything he brought me because they're mostly all presents, mainly for my Mum and Sister and I don't want them having a sneaky look. Two of the parcels were from Rebecca and Lucy and I have to say a very big thank you to both of them. The items I ordered from both are absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure Mum and Catherine are going to like them a lot. I also ordered some gorgeous things from Decorative Country Living. I've mentioned this shop before and they really do have some beautiful things to buy.

But I can share my final parcel with you. This is something I've been anticipating for over a week, but Fedex have had a few problems delivering it.

A few weeks ago I discovered Jen's lovely blog. As I usually do when I discover a lovely new blog, I started reading back over previous posts, and I came across one she wrote about a gorgeous Christmas magazine written by Matthew Mead. She had never heard of Matthew Mead, and I have to say I hadn't either. Unfortunately in the UK we are deprived of his wonderful creativity! So I looked up his website and sent a quick email asking if the magazine was available over here or if I could order it. About 10 minutes later a reply came back from the man himself. He was sorry to tell me that it wasn't available in the UK but promised to send me a copy. What a lovely man!

I have to say it has been well worth the wait. It is packed full of wonderful inspiration for Christmas and I am looking forward to spending some time this weekend having a really good look at it. It's perhaps a little bit late for this year but I can tell you I'll be starting to plan for Christmas 2007 some time in the middle of January! Here's a little peep inside.

Now please don't all go emailing him asking to be sent a copy as he might be really fed up with me! But he has just emailed me to say that it is available to see in digital format on line so go check it out.

I'm off to the Cotswolds this evening for a weekend of fun, laughter and delicious food in the company of my lovely family. I'll definitely be taking some pictures of how my Sister and I decorate the Dining Room for the special Birthday dinner. Maybe also some 'Cotswolds in the Winter' pics.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.
Nonnie x

The Christmas Roundabout

What do you think of my little Christmas Roundabout? Isn't it cute? As I've decided not to get the tree yet, I thought I'd put a few Christmas things out to build up gradually.

I've always wanted one of these, ever since my friend Becky had one when we were growing up. Her Mum is German so they always had different decorations from us which of course I always thought were much more interesting than ours. They had a really beautiful wooden roundabout which was much bigger than this one. I'll have to ask her next time I speak to her, but as I remember it had different levels and more candles, with a proper Nativity scene in the middle.

Mum bought me mine about four years ago and I really love it. Actually, this is the second one she got me as we had a bit of an accident with the first one. Sometime between finishing the turkey and starting the Christmas pudding, someone took their eyes off the roundabout and it caught fire! It was only one of the candles that burnt down and into the wood, but it did rather ruin the look of it. I think Mum may still have the damaged one, but she got me another as it was her and Dad who were supposed to be watching it!

I do love my little reindeers. They look so lovely when the candles are lit which sends the paddles turning round. It's very magical and Christmassy.

I've just realised something so silly now I've looked back at the pictures. I haven't attached the paddles! The roundabout has been sitting on my sideboard for three days and I hadn't noticed. Oh well, I'll leave these pictures here and when I get home tonight I will attach the paddles and take more photos. Shows how poor my observational skills are! Either that or I'm more stressed by the Christmas build up than I thought.

I hope you like my Christmas roundabout even without paddles!