I was working on the Monday morning. It should have been a morning of a few relaxed calls and one task to complete, but a few grenades were thrown my way, and so the morning became frantic.
Early in the morning I had checked the covid booster website and saw that more appointments were available at UWE. I couldn't face the thought of fitting an appointment into an already frantic day, but I re-booked my appointment for Tuesday morning and Mark booked his for the afternoon.
I had to log off at 11:45 am to take Bunnykins to an appointment. It was nice spending time with her in the car and while we waited, she asks interesting questions and is always very thoughtful in conversation.
Meanwhile, Mark was finishing off the first coat of paint in the front room.
In the afternoon, Mark went for his booster. Woo and I headed into town. She had decided to have her hair cut a while ago. She had various pictures on Pinterest where she was toying with different ideas. But essentially, the idea was to have it shorter, with layers and maybe some sort of fringe. She had been calling the fringe: "curtain bangs", i.e. slightly longer strands to the side of the face. Mark thought this phrase great fun, and has been calling Woo "Curtain Bangs" ever since.
In the afternoon, Mark went for his booster. Woo and I headed into town. She had decided to have her hair cut a while ago. She had various pictures on Pinterest where she was toying with different ideas. But essentially, the idea was to have it shorter, with layers and maybe some sort of fringe. She had been calling the fringe: "curtain bangs", i.e. slightly longer strands to the side of the face. Mark thought this phrase great fun, and has been calling Woo "Curtain Bangs" ever since.
We arrived, and our hairdresser came across to say hello. I think her name is Charlotte (I should really check...) she cut my hair the last few times and she was the lady who gave Woo advice last time. Woo explained what she was after and they discussed options. I took a last picture of the long locks, before the process began.
The curling process seemed to take a long time given how naturally curly Woo's hair is, but the amount of frouf-ing was quite endearing really and we were in no rush.
She looked fantastic and I could tell she was pleased which was lovely to see. It is a difficult age to take a risk with your hair, but it is one that has really paid off I think.
We walked back to the car and I took the opportunity to do a fashion shoot in the car park 😃
It had also been nice to spend time with Woo, and to see her so happy. But all in all, it had been quite a frantic day. After tea, Mark set up the projector in our room and we set down to watch Lost Boys. Bunnykins took the big bean bag on the floor, with the rest of us on our bed.
On Tuesday morning I drove out to UWE for my booster appointment. The vaccination center was at the conference venue, which worked really well. There is loads of parking and lots of space for shepherd-ing everyone through. I queued up to sign in and then was ushered through to the main hall to queue for the jab. The main hall had been converted to a "Nightingale" center earlier on in the pandemic. This was to cope with anticipated extra demand for hospital beds. There was something a little eerie about the sight of all the hospital bed bays (no beds in them now), in this place where previously I had been for conferences, and also an exam I took on Machine Learning.
As I approached the front (not a long wait), I started to feel nervous, teary, and a little shaky. Mark had previously come with me for our previous jabs, and there was something a little overwhelming about this experience.
I was ushered forward to a bay, where 2 very handsome young military men waited with smiling eyes above their masks. They were very reassuring and I was done in no time. I did thank them profusely for giving up their time to help people get vaccinated and make sure there were enough appointments. I could have waited in the same big hall, but they also said that I could wait in the car. I went back to the car for 15minutes and then drove home.
(Random sketches I found by Honour when I was looking for a notebook for our packing list:)
We started packing up for Dorset, I was in no great hurry, I really wanted to get into a more relaxed holiday feeling. We went across to the hatch for lunch.
And then got the final packing done, and got on our way.
I was feeling quite tired by the time we arrived, it was really nice to just land and flomp out. The girls were so pleased to see their cousins.
On Wednesday morning, I came down to find the kids all playing Game of Life already.
Mark has been missing his running and physical activity, due to the problems with his knee. So it was great that he could have a good swim.
We had a wander out to the local charity shops. Woo was finding loads of jumpers and jackets. Bunnykins was only interested in books. I found this vintage leather jacket...it was beautiful leather - made in Italy and lined with a check wool. It was expensive, so much so that when the lady read the tag and put it through the till she did a double take and said an emphatic Merry Christmas to me 😄 but I was very happy for that money to be going to a charity shop. While she was waiting for me to finish at the till, Woo put the jacket back on. There were 2 teenage girls in the shop. One looked up at Woo and said "you look amazing in that jacket!", Woo was very gracious and thanked her and also complimented the girl's top. It was a really nice moment.
We took a pit stop at the Costa.
Mark and James stayed there, while we finished off with the few extra charity shops. Woo found 2 lovely velvet slip dresses (very nice for layering), a cropped ski jacket originally from Urban Outfitters, a globe necklace, some gloves, several fleeces and jumpers.
I went off to bed early to read, I had several layers on and my thick wooly jumper but I was feeling chilly. I got under the covers and realised I was still shivering. I got ready for bed and settled down to sleep even though the girls were still up. I was stiff and realised I was running a temperature. Fortunately, I fell asleep pretty soon and woke up feeling much better.
Bunnykins returned with books and more books. I found nothing for me! Nevermind!
The afternoon was for chilling out. Woo in one of her new jumpers....
I had a chat with John, here he is showing me his Christmas village set up...
Then I read my book. It was really good. Mush had recommended it to me, I had bought it a few weeks earlier and had been saving it for Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was through it in about 24hrs!
On Thursday morning I decided to try to have a run. I only go around the block, but it is better than nothing.
Woo was up. When I was showered and changed from my run, she wanted to walk up to the pharmacist with me, so tried out her new ski jacket as it was drizzling considerably.
We had an early lunch and then went to the cinema to see the new West Side Story. I was still a little bushed, so was glad to chill out in the chair for an hour or two.
(Evening swim)
Friday was Christmas eve. Woo here in another of her charity shop jumpers...
J had picked up a murder mystery game at the charity shop. It turned out to be quite an inappropriate Allo Allo rip off, but we muddled through it, agreeing that it really had dated badly. But it was still funny.
Before bedtime we all opened a present. The girls opened their books from Andrew and Grace.
They were both really chuffed (though my photos don't capture that), they were then checking out which books they would borrow from each other later...
Mark and I also opened our presents from Andrew and Grace, which were books and gratefully received.
The kids were all keen to get to bed. We finished off the evening with a few rounds of Maj Jong.
Saturday was Christmas day. Bunnykins was up fairly early with J&C opening their stockings...
Woo emerged a little later.
her priority was to give me the present she had made me...a beautiful bracelet. I was so chuffed.
She then got to her Santa presents....
The kids were helping out with setting the table.
Most of the preparations had happened the day before, so we then moved the table back and opened the main set of presents. The kids handed them all out first.
I had a beautiful bracelet from Bunnykins that she had bought at the craft fair in the park from GennyWren silver. It had a flower band and a silver charm saying "hug". Each night when I go to tuck her in, we chat, and then as I leave, she calls out "Hugs!" and I go back as many times as she calls it - which can be many! But I don't mind, I just love that I can still have hugs with her as there was a time I thought I wouldn't get any more.
I had finished my book the day before, so had been reading a book that Marian lent me, Piranesi, which was really good and I was all but finished.
So now I have my WWCD bracelet (representing Claire), a bracelet from Hannah, a bracelet from Ben for Xmas, and a bracelet each from the girls... nearly a full set from all my favourite people!.
I opened the present from Stella, which also happened to be a bracelet. It is a bit chunky to wear all the time like the others, but I still love it 😍.
The girls were really happy with all the things they got. I watched them for a while rather than opening anything for myself.
Mark appreciating the badge I got him...
Bunnykins was particularly over the moon with the Totororo that she had got...
Mark similarly pleased with his other badge...
Bunnykins and her catering packs of liquorish tea...
New jumper from Grandma and Grandad...
The kids finished off preparing the starter.
On Sunday morning I went for a run (using my new Christmas present headset!), it was a pretty good run all things considered.
We had a bit of fun as while Woo was opening a present of smellies she stated that she couldn't smell it.....
We whipped out a covid test, fortunately it came back negative...and then she decided that she could indeed smell fine....
And we all sat down to eat....
I do find Christmas a bit difficult, especially Christmas day. It feels like it is a day of census taking. I suppose if you go back to the original Christmas story, the starting premise is a journey to Jerusalem to take part in the census - you had to go back to where you belong - to be counted. And I still feel that resonates today in our modern behaviour. You can spend all year with friends being those you are closest to, but on Christmas day there is an ordering into the group where you "belong" and a pulling up of the drawbridge behind.
For some people, they don't have choice about who they belong with, they belong (in this definition) with people they don't like, don't get along with, or with no-one. For some people, this time highlights more about who they don't belong with - i.e. the families and groups that are inaccessible to them on that day.
I have a lot to be grateful for in belonging with my wonderful girls and Mark, and also, in feeling at home within Mark's extended family who are lovely and always make me feel so welcome and part of the tribe. But it is a time that highlights the drawbridges now closed to me, or when I recognise these thoughts about census culture, it makes me feel for those who are really without a clan to belong to on this day of reckoning.
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In the evening, there was a zoom call with the Irish family. I had got everyone organised (at Deirdre's request) to perform a rendition of Mary's Boy Child (Bony M version). That was pretty funny. Then there was general catching up...More food was consumed, and then, like that...the day was over for another year.
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The rain was coming down, as I got showered and then dressed after. But the sun was shining through the raindrops and trees and it really was quite beautiful.
We all had lunch and then the Lillingtons set off home.
The rest of us went out to the beach for what was a beautiful Boxing Day stroll.
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