Where was I....?

Ahh, yes.

Spain!

Cleggy was invited to speak at a conference for 

International schools - and since it fell in the 

boys October half term we decided to keep him company.

It was on a beautiful resort - which was practically empty, 

leaving the pools feeling like our own!

 Some Sangria was drunk.

Sunsets admired.

 Blue skies appreciated.

Plenty of swimming

 Playing cards.

And trying new food (snail paella)

Apparently The Teen was there too, although he was feeling a little teenish and didn't speak much - other than to wind his brothers up.

In fact, despite the super warm temperature, he spent a great deal of time with a towel on his head:

Our Alf has grown about a foot in the past six months - and definitely moved into a whole new phase. He is either charm itself or unbelieeeevably annoying.

My favourite moment has to be (in the middle of an argument) him slow clapping me and suggesting I 'put a sticker on my good parenting chart'.

He is a master of the argument - sarcastically retorting 'ahhh, great come back Mum' and my other favourite 'Ok Mum, if that makes you feel better then you're right'.

I have to give him credit - he's brilliant at winding me up.

Another classic (in the middle of an argument) 'well you seem to get 95% of your parenting from a book, so I'll just read ahead'. 

(found myself arguing back over the percentage....wtf?!)

Saying that he can be wonderful company and great fun (when he takes the towel off his head)

My favourite funny over Christmas:

'All fur coat and no knickers as an insult?? surely that's preferable!'

(SO his fathers son)

Anyway, I digress.

Whilst in Spain I made an itchy cowl. You can't have too many cowls

When we got back from Spain(beginning of November) I don't remember what happened, but then it was Christmas!

( Feel free to skip the Christmas photos...I know we're all over it, but it's purely for my diary!)

We had a visit from Grandma and took her to the Manchester Christmas Markets. It was a beautiful evening but SO busy we literally couldn't see anything.

The Town Hall was lit up and changed colours - mesmerising

Over the past few years Christmas has officially begun around here with our 'staff night out' (just me and Cleggy)

Followed by snowballs with our ace friends Jane and Rob.

I have a lovely photo of the four of us but I know Jane would groan if I shared it :(

We decorate fairly late - 

otherwise I get bored before the main event!

We I decided that we absolutely didn't need anything new this year on the decoration front. I made lots of crochet snowflakes and they made it all feel a bit new.

The ones on the branch had glitter sprinkled on them before blocking - they twinkled in the light.

 A lowlight of the festive period was my dropping a glass of hot mulled wine on the hall carpet...

I also made a new door wreath (inspired by Julia Crossland)

(it's still there!!)

Christmas was full of all our favourite things - 

family, food and games.

the boxing day ham - best ever!

made by Mabel and Wilf's Grandad - it was delicious

We played a week long game of 'peg of shame' 

We first played at Cuckoo's house last summer - you had to peg someone without them knowing. If you discovered the peg on your person you had to peg someone else. Nelly was pegged more than most, and Granny decided she wasn't playing after a couple of days as it was making her nervous!!

 Extra kudos was given for a photo!!

We sent this photo to Cleggy when he was out at the shops!!

I didn't make many presents this year - but had to make something to display these wonderful vintage printers blocks 

(from one of my new favourite shops Otto Retro)

and received some lovely hand made gifts in return - including this one from Cuckoo - a beautiful pin cushion

You may remember while we were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in Venice in the summer I purchased, what can only be described as tacky tourist lace. 

I assured Cleggy I would make something nice with them - 

here's what I offered up!

The heart is a little bit of glass from Burano

Of course Cleggy trumped everything with his marvelously 'wrapped' gift - a chest of delights!

 The drawers were full of clues to the presents - I had to turn the french music box and search for the treasures of the lady fish (of course!)

One of the clues was this little knitting bag - and was knitting lessons with French Knots Jo!! 

Can't wait to get started - bit worried about a new obsession though....

Beautiful set of bamboo needles to get started....

The last treasure was special - a stunning aqua marine ring made by Belinda @ Wildacre.

It is stunning - I can't stop staring at it.

 Speaking of rings - on Boxing Day I was also reunited with my engagement ring - which had been lost for about 17 years!! It's a long story - but turned up in a little box of heirloom jewels that Granny brought up to show us. She had no idea that it was in there - or how it got there. 

I couldn't stop smiling when I saw it - my cheeks were aching by the end of the day!!

Just before New Year is Alfie's birthday - this year he turned 14. 

I usually have a little photo montage - but he wasn't in the mood for photos! 

He chose to go to the Red Hot World Buffet in Manchester - all you can eat from all over the world. And eat they did!

This is my selfie for that day! 

We are doing a big family project in 2014 where we all promised to take a selfie each and every day for a year 

(it started on 1st December 2013 so we could make a family montage for Christmas this year)

They are harder than I thought man! Anyway -I'm getting the hang of it - and haven't forgotten one yet - here's my first collection

2014 is going to be an exciting one for us - we have a couple of big adventures planned.

The first is a mere 18 sleeps away and is a trip here:

Borneo!

I am beyond excited. If anyone has been and has tips/ideas then  share! We start in Kota Kinabalu then move on to Brunei, and finally Kuala Belait (where Cleggy is working).

I'm looking forward to writing a big fat Borneo post 

in a few weeks time.

Ahhh, I feel so much better for getting that post done - I umm and aaah about stopping blogging - but apart from missing the sense of community I know I'd regret not having this diary of our lives.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2014.

fee x

Three Calamity Janes!

Every year for the past 10 years or so we have an annual family get together with my extended family. 

We go to this amazing place called Tarn in The Lakes

Over the years the idea of a theme has grown and 

the last 6 years or so have settled into a wonderfully comfortable tradition which goes like this:

Friday night - arrive, get giddy, catch up

Saturday - a little shopping trip to beautiful Kirkby Lonsdale, decorate the barn with said theme, campfire (weather permitting), games for the littles, massive dress up party with games galore

Sunday - cooked brunch, big clear up, decide the theme for next year, bemoan the fact it hasn't been long enough.

This year the theme was Calamity Jane.

 

Bit weird I know - but when we adults were young the annual holiday was a 2 week trip to stay with the cousins in Scotland or vice versa. One of the holidays involved watching said film about a hundred times (on video, taped off the telly!) to the point where we all knew it word for word. It's long been a family favourite ever since, and one which all respective partners have bought into.

For a little while Cleggy and I were the only ones with children - now they are outnumbering the adults at an alarming rate.

One of the best things about Tarn is that the large living area is brilliant for all ages playing together. The mixture of dorms and bedrooms mean that we have been able to alter the sleeping arrangements as the family dynamics have evolved. It sleeps 24 and we just about fill it!

 

Cleggy has an 'entertainment budget' (which he ignores!) and always does us proud with the decor and games - and G Kisby (my brother in law) has a food budget and cooks brilliant food all weekend.

Nelly has taken the mantle of entertainment for the Littles, and due to unforeseen circumstances ended up managing the purchasing of food as well this year! 

 

The weather this year was brisk - but we found opportunity for the fire...boys favourite!

Cleggy also LOVES a fire!

 

CAKE!!!

 Literally 10 mins later the weather turned and we watched a great lightening storm from the windows!

The littles loved a game of pass the parcel

 

playing with bubbles

and a good old fashioned 'pin the tail on the donkey'

 Then, when they were all tucked up in bed, we all became cowboys, Indians, and various versions of Calamity Jane!!!

 

 

how pretty is our littlest boy?

 

 Unbeknown to each other Cleggy and G Kisby both bought the very same costume from Ebay!!!

It came with a motor - you blow it up around yourself. 

Genius!!

even if it did turn the evening into Brokeback Mountain!!

  

My poor mother was away on her long walk when the costumes were being organised....so, we assured her we would sort her out and decided she HAD to be Calamity Jane! The bit down by the creek with Katie Brown where she becomes a lady!!

Poor Granny. Luckily she took in her stride. Bloomers and all.

 

Kenzie came as a horse!

 We were in two teams for the games - and I can't stress enough how seriously this is taken. Seriously. Team talks and everything

 The games included

  'pin the moustache on the Granny'

(feel the need to point out that these faces have been cruelly doctored!!)

A brilliant tin can alley

a singing and chime bar rendition of our favourite 

songs from the film

 A game involving wafting the hat with balloons 

(which got more than usually competitive)

And most bizarrely a game where each team had to lassoo their respective  Granny, who was dressed as a cow!!

Sadly too few usable photos as I had drank too much wine and this game made me wee with laughter.

 We also got it together for some family photos

The following morning came all too soon 

with a stunning post storm sky

 and treats like Nutella on toast

 building a den of cushions and finding a sneaky spot to play minecraft (he's addicted)

 And enjoying the cow masks a little too much!

Thank you Alison and Philip at Tarn - I hope you enjoyed seeing what we got up to this year! 

Next year we've decided to stick with the film theme 

and are 'doing Grease'. 

The Granny has agreed to be Olivia Newton John at the end of the film...in black lycra. I'm not sure she realises what she's agreed to !!!!

fee x