Boxing Day was lovely, and as good as Christmas Day for us.
Knowing that Alan had yet to have his final Christmas present gave me something to look forward to and him a lovely surprise. I had paid for the latest James Bond film on Amazon Prime, and although they are not my cup of tea, making an event of it with a trayful of nibbles and a couple of drinks each made it more than passable.
I had the film ready to roll when Alan came over armed with a plate of meaty nibbles for himself and his pint pot full of beer, and we settled down to almost three hours of action movie, with the dogs watching our every mouthful and being given little dogs treats of their own every so often.
Then yesterday we had our only visitors of the festive period, with Alan's sister and partner coming for the day from Scotland. We had a lovely lunch with Alan preparing the soup starter and me making some 'Christmas Leftovers Pasties' They had specifically asked for non-Christmassy things so soup and pasties seemed ideal.
We also started a new family tradition.
We had put together a Christmas hamper for them in a tinsel-adorned shopping basket and Alan had delivered it when he went to stay with them at the start of the month ... they returned it yesterday re-filled with Scottish goodies. Think beer, Irn Bru, Veggie Haggis, Tunnocks Snowballs and Wafers etc etc. We loved it and after a chat between us all decided that they would get it back next year re-filled with goodies.
Now it feels as though Christmas is over and I am itching to make a start on taking down the decorations. I will do it in my usual surreptitious way, emptying a shelf here and there and gradually cleaning up as I go along.
I had a brainwave yesterday.
I had put the now empty advent calendar into the bin ... being of such mixed construction it couldn't even go in the recycling bin ... and I felt guilty, but I knew I did not want to be buying little things to refill it for next year. Apart from next year being my year of not spending I don't want any more stuff.
Then the brainwave struck as I was reading the magazine with the bauble picture above ... what if I put the little Christmas decorations into each of the drawers, filling any gaps I have left with some festive coloured trimmings from my sewing box and then next Christmas as I open each drawer the contents will go onto the Christmas tree or be dotted around once again. Meaning that over the course of December the Lodge gets gradually more and more festive.
So we have a new family tradition and I have a plan that helps me tidy up after this Christmas and prepare for the next.
Sue xx 🎄
The sounds a very good idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm just a genius ... and so quiet about it. 😀🤣
DeleteNon-Christmasy foods... I would have never thought to make that request of anyone. I wonder what a "Christmasy food" is? *lol* I must be out of the loop, as they say. Happy Holidays, Sue. ~Andrea xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteThey had been catering for visiting adult children non-stop for two days and had turkey coming out of their ears 🤣🤣
DeleteThat's a great idea to use the Advent calendar box Sue! Saves something from landfill as well. And the new Christmas tradition of re-filling the hamper basket is inspired, too. I do like the Daniel Craig Bond films (although I have to re-watch them a few times to work out what's going on!), but was glad I hadn't seen any spoilers (deliberately) about the ending.....I think that might have put me off watching it if I knew in advance what was going to happen! xx
ReplyDeleteI had no idea of the ending, so it was a big surprise. 😀
DeleteI think I love the Boxing day food/nibbles more than the main event now!! Not watched James Bond yet but I'm tempted as I've seen every single one (several times!) Enjoy your Irn Bru and haggis! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe both love haggis and Alan likes the veggie version almost as much as the 'real thing'. Iron Bru is sickly sweet though so we have decided to save it for hotter Summer weather when we can fill a glass with ice and enjoy it that way.
DeleteCor....those nibbles look tasty and a great film too. Who needs the cinema ;) Oooh and I LOVE Tunnocks teacakes!
ReplyDeleteThat's a brilliant re-use of the advent drawers, Sue, I wouldn't have been happy binning them either. It will be something to look forward to next Christmas. I've been sneakily packing a few Christmassy decorations away already as I can't wait to be tidy again...lol...
Alan loves all Tunnocks products, they're not for me though so he has them all to himself.
DeleteIt's such a relief to see an empty shelf appearing here and there isn't it. 😀
Aren't you clever!?! That is a great use for your advent calendar box! Your celebrations sounded lovely!
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased I thought of it before the bin men came today. We had a good day. ❤️
DeleteJames Bond: it was long, but some clever references to previous films, I liked the music (again, a reprise) and the other actors (Kinnear, Wishaw et Al) and it leaves us wondering. So it was worth shelling out for. As to the Advent calendar reprise, that is sheer genius on your part.
ReplyDeleteSome very clever references and some brilliant shots, such as James turning with his gun ready to fire in the end of a round tunnel, giving that well known Bond image.
DeleteI think so many people treat advent as Christmas, with all the eating and drinking etc that they do, that Christmas itself is rather tired. No wonder people get fed up and want to move on. I had not eaten or drunk a single Christmassy thing and had my first mince pie on Christmas Eve and have yet to start on other edible treats I will enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI am resolutely stuck on enjoying my traditional 12 days of Christmas at what seems to be to be better/more traditional timing. It always seems a bit killjoy for me, who has only just begun the festivities to hear of other people who rip the whole thing away either the day after or perhaps allowing for Boxing Day. Advent is about waiting and meant to be somewhat like Lent, not a full on greed fest, Christmas Day and up to the Epiphany is the celebratory time. I find it a shame when people have already eaten three Christmas dinners by Christmas Day!
I think we can all celebrate Christmas in our own way. When my boys were small it was the couple of weeks before Christmas when the decorations went up and the schools had the carol services etc.
DeleteNow it is just me and Alan and we decided to put up decorations on our 4th December wedding anniversary each year and enjoy the run up to the festive season. This suits us now, and with our company needing to snap back into action immediately after Christmas week it is necessary if we are to have a celebration that we all enjoy.
As to having three Christmas dinners ... I have had one and Alan two, and he did that as he didn't want to buy a turkey this year, so chose a turkey dinner when we went out for a meal the week before Christmas.
You get the best brainwaves! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI know!! And a very Happy New Year to you too. xx
DeleteWhat a great idea for recycling your Advent calendar. New Traditions are a wonderful start to making the season your very own.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I'm glad I thought of a use for it. The only thing is with this new tradition it means that we are the ones that have to store the basket from one year to the next ... clever sister-in-law ;-)
DeleteSorry Sue for not commenting although I've been reading and loving your posts. I need to set up my tablet where I can comment without having to turn on my laptop which has been having a good rest of late:) Great idea for the reuse of the advent calendar. Have a peaceful and restful New Year♥ xoxo
ReplyDeleteNot a problem, and no need to apologise ... I know you are out there, lurking ;-)
DeleteHope you have a great New Year. xx
I normally don't get brainwaves like that until after the recycling has been carted away.
ReplyDeleteI'll be honest, another twelve hours and I would have been too late to fish it out of the bin too!!
DeleteCan't read anymore Comments now as I have just bought the Bond film today at Morrisons and I'll be watching it this evening! No doubt The Dog will sleep through it all and I probably wont be able to hear the dialog without it being a bit loud for the neighbours. I've kept a few 'nice' boxes for the storage of the lights/decs. as they never fit in the original boxes.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. It neatly wraps things up and I thought it a bit more 'thoughtful' than some of the others.
DeleteA revolving hamper - what a splendid idea, and as you now have months to plan the next fill I am sure you will coem up with all sorts of interesting contents.
ReplyDeleteYour reuse of the Advent drawers is inspired, well done. Like you I am slowly taking down the decorations and apart from the outside lights (they will get removed on 01/01) everything will be gone by Friday.
Oh we have already decided that we will be filling it with some local Lancashire delicacies for them to try.
DeleteI am almost Christmas free now ... but I am waiting until the batteries of the tiny tree lights run out before everything vanishes, it should just about manage to last until Friday :-)
Just catching up on blog posts and emails after taking a few days break so very glad to read that you and Alan had a wonderful Christmas with lots of lovely treats for both of you. All the best for the New Year and I look forward to following along on your new challenge for 2022.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have a little break over Christmas isn't it, I hope you feel suitably refreshed. All the very best for the New Year. xx
DeleteSounds like a lovely boxing day with the one you love.
ReplyDeleteAn advent decorating calendar is such a nice idea!
It has been a good Christmas and we have managed to see all the people we both love over the course of December. I'm so pleased the Advent calendar is not going to waste.
DeleteThat is such a nice idea and one we will adopt too.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to find a use for something that could otherwise go to waste isn't it. 😀
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