T Stands for ....This Christmas

Hi everyone, I'm trying and to catch up with everyone by taking breaks every so often when I am on the computer! It's taking longer than I had hoped!

This Christmas has been different for us all this year, whether it was in the way we bought our food, who we shared it with or how we celebrated the day. With reminders here in the UK about the rise in cases of Covid or the last minute plans for our leaving the EU even watching the news this year has been different - not so many items on folk decorating their houses or the queues for the after Christmas sales!

After our traumatic visit to the shopping mall we haven't ventured out - it has been wet and grey and we have been happy to do our jigsaw puzzle(coming along nicely)read, watch TV or cook!

Mind you, our Christmas Day cooking almost came to an end just as everything was almost cooked! 

I decided to steam the Christmas pudding rather than use the Microwave so put it on the back of the hob ready to turn on later. Hubby being helpful said he would put it on, then the news came on and we stopped to watch an item together. I could smell the food cooking, but there was something else...I looked into the kitchen to see billowing steam...except ...it wasn't steam but smoke! Hubby had left an oven glove on the front of the hob and then turned on what he thought was the pudding and the oven glove singed - quite badly, I grabbed it and fortunately there was some water in the sink so threw it in there. Unfortunately...I leaned across to open the window and inhaled some of the smoke, coughing I went to the front door...meanwhile our excellent smoke detector set off the alarm...in every apartment in the complex (this is normal - and a safety issue we are used to) I had to try to get a message through to the duty manager who actually contacted us through our intercom system and I had to admit to a false alarm!

In the end our meal turned out beautifully and we enjoyed it.

As you can see hubby here raising his glass to you.

I am joining in over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog with T Stands For Tuesday with his glass of Rosé. 

He still has to clean the burnt on oven glove off the hob ring. I didn't take any photos as he's been through enough!!!

update - he ordered a hob scraper which arrived and he has almost cleaned it all off

On Christmas morning I had a few presents to open, one of my favourites was this from my eldest son and daughter in law....

 It really is beautiful and will be put on display with my others.

Another gift from my friend Sarah came in the most beautiful wrapping.

It had been lovely to see her when she came so that we could swap gifts. It was very cold out on the landing but we were able to have a quick chat!

Inside was a fabulous stamp set.

Now for a bit of a sad story...

My Poinsettia doesn't like our apartment!

I haven't over watered it, it's in a warm place but ...nope!!!

This morning we woke up to SNOW! We hardly had any last year so, after taking a few photos from the windows....

...we went out after breakfast as it looked as though the thaw was starting.

We decided on a round trip by the river and back up the nearest road.

We looked back at the old inn! I really hope that they don't plan on knocking it down.

The water was rushing over the weir.

In one direction very calm...

then it rushes over the weir...

..and the little island is disappearing..

The heron oversees all.

I could resist walking on some clean snow in the little car park and came across more foot prints!

A little garden outside a house....and then I went for a little walk in the garden here.

We have only been out four times in December but a walk in the snow (and cold) today really cheered me up!

Thanks for looking, Chrisx