Angel Jem's City Cottage

Last night we had our family Christmas party. For quite a few years we held it on New Year's Day in the afternoon because Boxing Day was taken, a New Year's Eve party would be too late for the familial children and meeting together as a family on the first day of the year just seemed like a really good idea. For the last couple of years I've held it on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year and it works well; it is still Christmassy and people aren't dieting so I can still go full steam ahead on the Cholesterol  front. But what is my favourite part of the party? I enjoy the preparation a lot; this time we had marmalade pork a la Jamie Oliver. It takes 6 hours but it is really spectacular in flavour and soon disappears. I cooked too much on purpose; we can have pulled pork in tortillas for tea tonight with no extra work. Or I may make some mashed potato just to make potato cakes. I will put the recipe up on Angel Cakes and More this week. We had pizza, br...

MU proved a winner for all our family.  Apparently being 15 doesn't stop you from having fun watching furry things learning to be scary!

 We've eaten ham and cauliflower cheese, put out some of the less secret Santa presents, and are watching Wreck it Ralph. I've already read the story of Holly and Ivy to the Princess and Mr Angel Jem is drowsing peacefully after a hectic day in the home office (we go live next week; I may be advertising on this site. We want the work!) The stockings are packed, the sugar from sweets won playing Donkey is rushing around our systems. I am beginning to feel like Christmas. A quiet, sensible, loving Christmas. Fun.

Keep your patience, sense of humour and perspective; enjoy the experience and just be. If you're a Christian, may the Eve and Day of celebrating the Saviour's birth be a chance to realign your priorities with his. And if you're a secular celebrator, may this season bring you joy and purpose as we spend time with those we often love, but don't know why! See you soon x

A mariachi band, complete with flamenco dancers and tambourines! A couple of footballers from Barcelona. Don't know why. The inevitable gossips, busy talking about the scandal and the stretch marks.  Two men just passing by after doing their shopping. The medics. Well, you wouldn't want to give birth without the option of an epidural on hand, would you? But so far, no shepherds, no wise men, no Joseph, Mary and especially no blooming Jesus! It's all going to happen this week!!!! The figures were all bought in Barcelona during a cool but not cold late November/early December weekend away at least 5 years ago. I didn't buy the traditional caganer.  I rather wish I had, now, but I wouldn't be sure whether to get a modern or a traditional peasant! 

This is the ecard I have sent to all my friends.  I'm posting it here for all my blog friends whose address I don't have.  Have a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year xx

It's taken me a little longer than usual to finish off Christmassing the house. I had to paint the little houses for my fireplace. They were really good fun! I was going to paint them white but I painted one red one and fell in love. I just adore the icicles on the roof, and the little wreath on the door! I put them up alternately with little winter glasses that I have had for years. In the evening, it makes a lovely golden glow on my mantle piece. And if you look closely, you can see me in the mirror!

And the house is looking full. Here's my fridge, the baskets of Christmas goodies and the extras that fill my kitchen. The marzipan is for the stollen that family tradition says I have to make on Christmas Eve. And the rest of the house is filling up nicely, too.

And every year the time flies by and I never post in December. This year is looking much the same, I'm busy working in the mornings and the afternoon/evenings are filled with events, cleaning, visits, cleaning, carol singing, cleaning.... I don't finish til 2pm so by the time we get home the light is fading and photos are limited to atmospheric candlelit ones. But on Saturday I am planning to get some morning shots of my tree, my cribs and my tidy house. All that cleaning needs to be recorded for posterity; it might be the only time that the house is tidy!

Did you watch it? Did you? Did you? We were at a family party (a niece's 18th) and, God bless her, she never even blinked when half of her Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents all sat in a room for 1.25 hours (why is it easier to do digital than fractions?) and watched. That's me and all my blood relatives. It never usually happens. Never. Yet we sat altogether and had a wonderful blast of nostalgia, a binding experience as we watched a programme that we all loved and still love. Class. I've watched it this morning, with my children who found the lure of a single mattress surfing down a staircase too much to ignore yesterday and I will watch it again soon with popcorn and Mr Angel Jem. Love it. And if indeed the Warrior Doctor quote about Great men are forged in Fire is original to the show, then... Wow! What quality writing. The episode is worth it for that nugget of Shakespearean or Churchillian wisdom. We celebrated with cupcakes. Blue Tardis iced cupcakes m...

Oh my! Does time fly when you are being kept busy! Most days I have just enough time to read my bloglovin' list and barely a minute to think of posting. I know I'm a bad blogger, but life has been such good fun. Work is going well, thank you, and Mr Angel Jem is getting through lots of work from home.  And by the time I sit still, to string a coherent sentence together impossible to seems be. So, mindless, repetitive crafting has been the order of the day. A pick up and put down, just watch TV and monotonise movement craft. Yes, a blanket. I began this one back in September with a plan ; to snuggle under it by Christmas Day to watch Downton. And I could, except..... it no longer belongs to me.  As I wrote here, it has been claimed and stolen from me and most nights lives on the Princess' bed, except when it's video night and gets dragged down as the softest snuggliest to cuddle under.  It's just the right size to fit two close friends, o...

And then I take a deep breath and realise that I spend a fair portion of it sat at a computer sorting it out for someone or other.  At work, I have become the website administrator, responsible for sorting out and updating the school website. I'm chasing up statistics and policies, photos from the class face and the statutory items that need to be on a website. Fun. Oh, and I get to work with different children to get news stories (writing for a purpose) so that the site has an element of 'pupil voice'. I only have 50 minutes a week timetabled for this, so it's a tight squeeze and very often, I expect, will take some home time up as well. At home I have my other IT hat on, as website manager and techie for Mr AJ. Business goes well, but we are slowly getting it set up and ready for a full launch shortly. Then I get to be a blogger, and to interface with my bloggy mates on t'internet. You have probably noticed I'm absent at the mo. Sorry. I hope to get...

I'm settled on the settee,  playing hooky from life and relaxing.  The kids are watching cartoons,  I'm listening to the Human Game,  an audio book about the search for the men who killed the POWs in the Great Escape.  The blanket has been claimed by the Princess for her new bed. I'm hoping to finish this one and begin another for me to complete before Christmas.  As if.

And it won't get any easier as time goes on!! I spent three days this week in a computer room having training for a legal software system. Of course; because I'm a qualified teacher, so it makes sense. (not) Actually it sort of does make sense. Mr AngelJem setting up as a solo practitioner is only possible because there are case management systems out there that do away with the need for a secretary or even a load of letters posted every day. And D Day is approaching fast; like he has 3 days of employed work before we go solo. Taking a chance like this needs everyone in the family to be supportive. This week was made possible and smooth because my parents collected and cooked for us three days in a row. It's our future, so it needs me to back him up with all the support I can. Going on the training gave me an insight into his career, which it is so easy to go through life without, and an input into the firm. I'm the IT consultant, the girl who can do. And I wil...

Look what my postie brought!!! He has a cheery knock, he rat a tats with rhythm and smiles when he sees me. He knows it is my Amazon love affair that KEEPS HIM IN A JOB!!!! And the parcel came from.... I only ordered it off Ebay at the weekend, so I'm happy it came so soon. Do you want to see what's inside? What you want a better look? It's an Attic 24 pack of Stylecraft wool. I can't find the exact pack at the moment but there is an alternative colour way here  and another pack with brilliant colours here . I've never used Stylecraft before, but read a lot about it. And I have a big plan for it. It's packed and ready to start, only a free night lies between me and the first few rows of a lovely granny stripe blanket. Hopefully by the time the bad weather really starts in earnest, it will be big enough to snuggle my feet under while I play hooky. And since crochet becomes a matter of rhythm and repetition I can ...