Christmas in Review

Well what a whirl this week has been! I can't believe just this time last week was Christmas Eve (which this year I spent in the the gym and pool in an attempt to stave off some of the Christmas gluttony!!) It was odd watching Muppets Christmas Carol on the treadmill and stairmaster, particularly when I kept laughing out loud! Anyhoop, Christmas Eve was lovely - Rich and I had dinner together (he made his Jamie Oliver baked potatoes) and watched 'A Christmas Story'. We then ventured to the Murphy's - stopping to collect the Blackler-Williams' on the way - for Christmas merriment. From there onto the 11:30pm service at church (disappointing 25 minute sermon - it's CHRISTMAS for crying out loud!!) and home to bed before Santa arrived!!

I awoke at 8:30am this year - a first for me! I must be growing up...nah.

We made tea in our Christmas mugs and went to see if Father Christmas had been - he had!!!!
In my stocking I had a lovely sleep mask like Carrie Bradshaw, some Nike goggles (posh) and 3 Terry's Chocolate Oranges - not Terry's..MINE! And a plethora of lovely gifts were also under the tree. We spent a good hour rip-rip-roaring and then had bacon and eggs (on the Christmas plates!) and watched a bit of the morning carol service. It was a bit of a novelty not going to the morning service as it meant we had bags of time to enjoy Christmas and ease into the day rather than rushing round like loonies!

At one o' clock we went up to Rich's parents and did rip-rip-roaring round #2! Jess was a bit overwhelmed but LOVED her recorder and My Little Pony Watch!

Here are a few Christmas morning pics!!

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...

Here it is, the 2006 Wall tree! The gifts are wrapped and ready for the rip, rip, roar...I can't wait to see people's faces! Love Christmas, love it.

So here it is, merry curry!

The 4th Annual Secret Santy Balti has been and gone! Christmas is now officially well and truly open for business! Woo! Much merriment was made, and curry eaten. Highlights of the event included Rich and Paul arguing about whether a Balti or a Madras was hotter, Colin getting some yoghurt on the sly from the waiter to enable him to eat his own lamb madras and then trying to weasel out of the fact that he'd done it, Gary's hair, Lisa chanting 'Sh*t present, sh*t present' whilst amazingly under the influence, Chris determined not to be the Holiday Cheermeister for the Secret Santa present exchange and refusing to do the Chair if Cheer, and then absolutely LOVING IT, Keri's bemused expression at her hubby's Paparazzi antics, poor Abbi's poorly voice, Murph (of all people) getting the 'SPECIAL' Balti, and the fact that there were 22 of us (hence the bill being £13.25 each - woo!).

I feel so lucky to know and love such wonderful people, and I think it's a rare thing indeed that 22 people who grew up together, all left for university and various other exploits, have returned and brought with them new loved ones....a real community, true childhood friends. I hate to get all 'Dawson's', but it really is special! (not special needs)

Ooh I feel all Christmassy now! Bring it onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

I love myelf!!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=1e838b9f3abcbc56956972fG06122106


This is HILARIOUS!!!!!!!! Check me out (turn your speakers on!!)
FOUR MORE SLEEPS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watched the Grinch last night - that movie freakin' well ROCKS!!!!!!!

Work 'Do'

Well, the work do has been and gone - last Saturday to be exact, but I thought I'd post a few choice pics - mainly so I can show the work birds. We had fun, especially introducing Dawn to babycream!

Love Liverpool...love it!

Visions of sugar plums

FIVE MORE SLEEPS TO GO PEOPLE!

Roll on Friday! The Annual Secret Santy Balti is nearly upon us! And then, a day or two of frantic wrapping and watching Christmassy films and then, and then.... it will be HEEEEEEERE!!

That's it, I can't wait any longer. I'm wearing my reindeer antlers to work tomorrow.

It's official...

When:Wednesday May 30, 2007
Where: Wembley Arena
Who: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!! OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!

I am so excited! The whole band is FINALLY coming to the UK after years of us waiting! So, we get to see Ben Folds in Jan, Sugababes in March, Dave on his own in March and then the dog's cojones of all bands ....The Dave Matthews Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*pukes with excitement*

This may make the dreaded post Christmas slump into depression a little easier to weather.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT chuffing WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!

Further Fezziwig Frolics!

The Official Start to Christmas!

The festive season saw its official commencement this weekend, with the Annual Ballinger family pilgrimage to Ullswater for the Fezziwig Celebrations.

We journeyed up the M6 to the Lakes, arriving about 7pm Friday evening. The meeting point was a quaint olde worlde pub in the nearby village of Pooley Bridge. Once all 16 of us had arrived (including Little Ted) we headed out in convoy to the cottage. It was FREEZING and I had to sleep in my hat and a fleece as well as pajamas BUT once there we could truly relax and begin to ease into the festive season. We began by decorating the cottage with stills from the Grinch movie, care of Mrs Hoppy aka Aunty Sue - chief party planner for this year's event, Christmas tree, Ikea Gingerbread hearts, fairylights and all with select Christmas tunes from our ipods - oh the marvels of the BOSE sound dock! A festive mood settled over the group as Jackie's lentil and bacon soup was served. The requisite family showing off then commenced, as by this time everyone had had a drink - except the kids, coz that would be wrong!

Harry (my 9 year old cousin) and I entertained the troops with our version of Troy & Gabriella's 'Breaking Free' - the theme from High School Musical, and Aunty Jan indulged in a Baileys and a spot of table dancing to her new favourite tune 'Voodoo Child' by Rogue Traders, (yes she is quite, quite delightfully mad)

After a colossal fry up on Saturday morning, we wrapped up warm, loaded Ted into his all-terrain buggy and set out on a mammoth walk. 3 glorious hours of walking in the fresh air, surrounded by family and friends and absolutely breathtaking views....and a little adventure involving a flooded road, an improvised bridge (nice one Rich!) and everyone being EXTREMELY thankful for my wellies!!! We ended up back at Pooley Bridge for hot chocolate before journeying back to the cottage for Aunty Sue's famous chilli, a big old feast, festive cheer, dancing in the 'ball room' to 'December the 25th', Paul dressign as a Fairy, Ted in his Santy suit, Blankety Blank, introducing a new generation to 'Empires' and generally just wonderful Whobilation in abundance!!

Some of the photos are posted here - a truly wonderful weekend, perfectly ushering in the beginning of Christmas for us. 14 sleeps till Santa everybody! Deck the Halls etc etc. Tomorrow we get the tree!

It's December!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Omigoodness omigoodness I can't believe it's here! 'It's the most wonderful time of the year...' I love EVERYTHING about this season - Jesus, opening my Advent calendar each morning (with a nativity on, minus the chocolate!), planning when to get the tree, seeing lovely Christmas trees waiting to be claimed and to fulfil their Christmas destiny, the Christmas lights in Liverpool that are surprisingly overtly Christian this year (woo hoo!), shopping, that moment when you find someone you love something they'll love, queues in shops and being chilled in them, carols, being gracious to people who are clearly stressed whilst shopping and loving the look of surprise on their faces, Christmas songs on my ipod, running for 45 minutes on the treadmill and barely noticing due to Jessica Simpson ReJoyce and Doris Day Christmas songs on my ipod, the thrill that rushes through me every time I think of the fact that it's Christmas, the cold weather, wearing hats, scarves and gloves, red paper cups at Starbucks, permanent 'Best Christmas songs ever' countdowns on MTV, the Christmas window displays, particularly in Lewis', spending my lunch hour standing 'in Christmas' in Beatties and breathing it all in, watching the Grinch and Ralphie Ralphie, Christmas cards, glimpsing people's trees all lit up on the walk home, candles, wearing my reindeer antlers, singing carols in the shower, the Blue Peter Advent Crown, the Round Table folks that take the sleigh out each year, late night shopping, the Christmas market in Williamson Square, planning the Secret Santy Balti and trying to stop everyone cheating, midnight mass on Christmas Eve, TWIGLETS, the smell of the Christmas tree when you get up in the morning, lying with on my back under the tree looking up through the branches and lights, food, being with family, chair of cheer and rip rip roar....oh boy I could go on and on, but I'll stop for now - don't wanna peak too early!

Pic is of last year's tree - the first Liz & Rich married tree! This year apparently we're having a smaller one...whatEVER husband, you're overruled where Christmas is concerned my friend!!