Merry Christmas everyone...

 

Kirkymas, we are ready...

And as the crescendo to the big day continued so the excitement grew. But there was also tension in the air - Omicron was in full flight and the threat of another cancelled Christmas was a constant worry. Still, it kind of all added to the build up and this year begun to feel like it could be the best Christmas ever.

Following hot on the heels from my Birthmas came Daddy Daughters Christmas Day Oot. My chance to be Daddy Christmas for the day and spread some nice festive cheer with the girls. It was a kind of Covid affair as we needed to be pretty careful given the impending arrival of all the family but we still managed a festive film (The Christmas Chronicles 2), lunch out followed by ice cream, a quick shop for Mummy's Christmas present in our new organic, social enterprise addition to the town, followed by a Christmas show (fully masked and smaller capacity). Still despite restrictions it was a fatastic day out.

What's been slightly trickier is the return of our elves, Hoppity and Zippity. They've caused havoc for the last week or so - putting Santa into the fire, wapping him up, taping each other to the wall...it just goes on. They've even tried to get into all the presents round the tree! Naughty, naughty.

Oh, and then there's been cooking - an endless array of dishes have been prepped, stirred, chopped, boiled and baked. It's our usual homemade affair with quite a lot coming from our garden this year. So the freezer is now fully laden, and we're feeling very festive. So, with a full itinerary planned for the Kirkymas season 22nd to 27th. and 2 VERY, VERY excited girls, we are most definitely ready! Fingers crossed there's no last minute hitches.... Kirkymas here we come. Ho, ho, ho! 😁

5 mi-ince pies

4 scoops of Ice Cream

3 on a Day Oot

2 naughty elves

And our lovely Christmas tree...

Happy Birthmas....

Every year whilst Christmas is in full flow all around – us Sagittarians celebrate our birthdays. Being in the middle of the month I am by no means the worst off for having celebrations overtaken by Christmas, but it can still interfere. So, in a effort to take the path of least resistance, I feel it’s good to cut my cloth and settle for a Birthmas. This year and last, Covid has obviously added it's own spice into the Birthmas mix, but undeterred we hatched a plan to go to Edinburgh for the day – if only to see ‘Tanya hanging’...

Next door to us live two ‘fine’ artists – in all senses of the word. They are a lovely family, who run their own art studio out the ‘cow byre’ of our shared old farmstead. Anyway – a few weeks ago Neil knocked at our door and asked if Tanya would mind posing for her portrait – which would then hang as part of an exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. Wow, not every day that fame comes knocking!

And so it was done…and she loved the results! Although I now know for sure she’s not cheap!

So, for my birthday, off we toddled to go and see her hang. Masks on, all aboard the 10.25am to Edinburgh. And then the day took a turn for the wonderful. Arriving at the station first off we were met by the Gurney’s – marvellous surprise! And then we were off to the outdoor ice skating rink (another surprise) on George St away from the festive masses which was nice. And then no sooner had we got our skates on than the Gedik Jnrs also arrived – even more of a marvellous surprise. And so the 12 of us spent a truly lovely, heart-warming and uplifting few hours ice skating, lunching, catching up and portrait viewing (barring one minor ice skating injury and a trip to the first aid tent – poor Emily and Abbie!). 

The day just seemed to top up all our happiness banks in the midst of renewed Covid-chaos winging its way rapidly towards us. Thank you all for simply the best Birthmas… I felt truly blessed after it all. And I’m glad Tanya didn’t really hang as she also cooked me a scrumptious Birthmas dinner, topped off with some lovely chocolate from my lovely girls. Thrice blessed indeed.

Festive skate

My little pair of skaters

My girls :-)

The kids party table

The place to hang Tanya

There she is!

Cousins!

Covid chaos caused a detour to see Glasgow's lights as well

Videoclip: Santa Claus is coming to town

Or you can watch it here