Monday 1 January 2018

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to you all. I can´t believe 2017 is already finished - it just flew by! We had a great 2017 filled with many wonderful memories. I think the highlight was our trip to Ireland, it was one of the best holidays ever and Kristian and I talk about doing it all again.  (Next time Leah wants to join us, she so regrets not coming along with us last summer.)

 The last few months in 2017 have been really busy but really good.

OCTOBER:
In October I had a week of work and had a wonderful time just being here at home. Some days I spent reading, other days watching films and other days I went out window shopping. One afternoon I had a trip to Ikea with my friend Audry and another day I spent with my friend Leila being creative. 

I work with Leila - she is one of the Art teachers at school, so we had a fun day creating different things that we could sell at our Christmas Bazaar. We made signs, pebble art, and even tried our hands at the pottery wheel. It was sooo hard but great fun.



 I even tried my hand at burning wood signs. Again it was hard but great fun. 









Throughout October and November, Leila and I continued to meet every Monday after work for a few hours to make more items for our Christmas Bazaar. In the end, we had a lot of stuff to sell.



Hubby and I had a few date days in Copenhagen and out by the Coast.


NOVEMBER:
In November we had a double date night with Kristian´s sister Hanne and husband Flemming. We went out to dinner and then unto a Tribute concert for Whitney Houston. The girl singing did such a great job - she did look and sound like Whitney - well almost!




At the end of November we had our Christmas Bazaar at school. Leila and I had our stand with all our homemade signs and artwork. We were a bit worried that wouldn´t sell anything. Well, we shouldn´t have worried. We were almost sold out of everything by the end of the day. We raised 500 pounds for the school that day. We were all chuffed!



Our stand at the Christmas Bazaar....

We also held Thanksgiving with our American neighbour. We had a lovely evening with them. Good food and good company always makes for a successful evening! 



I had a few days off work in the middle of November. It was so great to have time to do whatever I wanted. I had a day at home, reading and relaxing and I had a day out with myself. I went on a picnic and had some long walks along the beach. It was a beautiful day and I was out from early morning until the sun went down late afternoon. It was such a great day, just me, my thoughts, prayers and God (Only 20 years till I go on the pension and I can do this every day if I want! haha) 



 I again had one of my delicious sandwiches with me to enjoy. 



In between all of this I had Bible study with my girlfriends, we held an early Christmas with some friends, I was out biking with my old man and I also had a few cafe visits with friends -  to catch up with each other's lives! :-) Sara was also home for a few days for a visit. 

DECEMBER:
I LOVE December!!! 

We started December with a girls night out. My mother-in-law, and two of my sister-in-laws and myself went out to dinner and then unto the cinema to see a LIVE broadcast of the Nutcracker sent from London. It was amazing. A great evening out. 




I stopped work for Christmas already on 15th December. I was not complaining!! It was wonderful to have sooo much time to get ready for Christmas. 

On the 16th Leah, Kristian and I had a plan. We would get up early, clean the house, then get the tree, make Christmas cookies, decorate the tree  and watch our traditional Christmas film - A Christmas Vacation. 

Our plan went like clockwork. We achieved everything we set out to do - now that was a Christmas miracle. 


We got a lovely tree this year.



Then I had a whole week to get ready for Christmas. I went shopping one day from 10am to 6pm and got all the presents. 

I had a day where I went through every cupboard and drawer in the house and sorted it out - it sure felt good. Everything was getting ready for Christmas.

One afternoon I had a visit from my friend Jette with her two kids. We had such a cosy afternoon and evening playing Ludo, opening pressies and eating food. 

One afternoon I invited Kristian´s mum and sister to Christmas lunch. Leah was off work too so we made a cosy afternoon for them. 


I got kidnapped by a snowman....


Less said about that the better!

I had one day were I stayed in my PJs all day long. Kristian and Leah were at work. The house was clean, the Christmas shopping done, the Christmas tree up and so I relaxed. I watched Scrooge and Miracle on 34th Street (the old black and white version) it was wonderful!

On the Thursday before Christmas my friend Anne came for lunch. Leah had to work, (she works in a Supermarket) so I thought I would drive her to work and do a little shopping while I was there. 

Well, when I left the supermarket I could not find my car key! I checked at the lost and found place, I contacted Leah, I retraced all my steps but I couldn´t find it. 

My friend Anne would be at my house in an hour and I was stuck at the supermarket!! haha Just as I was about to give up hope a lady came by the lost and found area and handed in my key. She had found it in the fridge amoung the Curry Herrings!! I had bought Herrings in curry for lunch and must have put my key down in the fridge!!! Honestly, I am getting old!! 


Even with an awful start to the day, Anne and I had a lovely day together with loads of laughter! 


Friday 22nd December Sara arrived home again. It was good to have her home. 

On the 23rd Andrew, Camilla, and Lasse arrived and joined Leah, Sara, Kristian and I for a little bit of Christmas "hygge" cosiness. 


 We spent the afternoon making Danish treats from marzipan and nougat. Tastes soooo good.

We ate dinner together and then gave each other our Christmas gifts. It was a really cosy evening.

Andrew drove Camilla home to her mums and then came back to stay the rest of the Christmas holidays with us. 

The 24th is the big celebration over here. Normally we go to Kristian´s family but this year we decided we would just stay at home. It is not often that it is just us 5 together and we were looking forward to just hanging out together.


 We went to church together.


Then it was home to play a few games together.  



 We prepared dinner together...
 The food was sooo good. We had duck and pork with caramelized potatoes and red cabbage. 
Since we first exchange gifts on the 25th we just sang some carols after dinner and then saw a Christmas movie. 

Christmas day we had the traditional English Christmas with gifts in the morning and far too much food in the afternoon.

It was a wonderful Christmas. 


The 26th Sara and Andrew went home. Leah and I  held our traditional Christmas with our neighbours Laura and Mia. We went over to their place to exchange gifts and then they came over here for Brunch. The whole day was spent in our PJs. The afternoon was spent watching a film together. Sooo cosy. Kristian enjoyed having peace to just be on his computer. 

On 28th Sara´s Christian came to visit. He and Sara have sort of broken up - or are on a pause.  Sara is a little confused about life and wants time to think about what she wants out of life. 


We have such a good relationship with Christian and are sad about this but understand Sara too. 

 Christian decided to come and visit us and we had such a lovely day with him. We drove out to the Coast, had some lunch and a good long talk. We went a walk around the local harbour and then headed home for coffee and cake. We watched a film and then after some sandwiches he started the 3½ hour journey home again. 


The 29th was Kristian´s mums birthday so we went and picked up Andrew and us four - Kristian, Leah, Andrew and me headed down to say Happy Birthday to his mum. She hadn´t arranged anything but lots of the family just kept popping by so we got to see some of Kristian´s brothers and sisters. That was lovely.


That evening Kristian was heading out to the forest for his annual boys night out around the campfire. 

New Year was spent here at home - just the two of us, nice and quiet, just the way we like it.


 We reminisced about the year that had passed and dreamed about the things we want to achieve in 2018. We ate far too much food. We saw a few chat shows and a few concerts too. All in all, a lovely evening to end the old year and start the new.