Wednesday 10 December 2008

Catching up and some Sad News


Oh dear, I`ve left it almost a week without posting an entry again. So much has happened over the last week that I wanted to tell you about and now my mind has gone blank, it must be my age...lol!



On Saturday Jim and I went to Reading shopping for the last few presents and to just generally have a look around the shops. Luckily for me I have a husband who enjoys shopping as much as I do, even though it wasn`t always the case. I think I gradually worked on him until he realised the delights of retail therapy. Now I doubt he can remember the time when he would stand sulkily outside shops looking at his watch...lol! But I digress. We decided to catch a train instead of the stress of trying to find a parking space. We didn`t have to wait long for the train either going or coming home, it made such a difference to the day. It was a cold, frosty morning and the sun was shining which boded well for the day ahead. As it turned out we had a really enjoyable day and even though there were a lot of people out there was no sign of frayed tempers anywhere. We had lunch in a restaurant called Tootsies, they make the very best burgers of many different varieties and of course we had the most delicious meal. We shopped until we almost dropped and headed for home about 4pm, tired but happy.



I decorated the tree yesterday after much fussing around. The tree was really wide and would never have fitted in the corner if hadn`t of lopped of a lot of branches at the back and sides. I really hoped I`d not overdone it because it would have looked ridiculous if it showed. Luckily for me I`d lopped it in the right place and it fits nicely. The photo doesn`t really do it justice but I like it and so does my biggest critic, Roman and thats what matters the most.

Over the last week I`ve written and posted all my Christmas cards, wrapped ALL the presents, shopped for non-perishable foodstuffs, ie. chocolates, biscuits and cakes, pickles, sauces tec. I even cleared out a complte cupboard to put it in though I still didn`t have enough room for it all. I feel quite smug at how organised I am this year. I always have good intentions to finish early but last year I left so much to the last minute that I was worried I wouldn`t finish in time. I still have to buy for Daniel but then he is always very difficult to buy for. Anything I buy will have to have gift receipts because I`m sure they will have to go back to whichever store I buy from...sigh.


I`ve just come off the telephone and it was my cousin to tell me that my Auntie Win died on Monday morning, its very sad but she was 94 and had suffered renal failure. I hadn`t been in touch with her for a few years because I fell out of favour with her, no particular reason but that was how she was. Auntie was my late Dad`s eldest sister and the last of five siblings. She was made of very stern stuff and I remember as a child being more than a little scared of her. She could be really kind at times even though she could be difficult. She was really good to me after my mother left home and helped me through some very difficult times. She told me once that 1914 was a very good year and I have to say she was right. It was the end of an era and she will be missed by many.

On that sad note I`ll end this post. I will update again in a few days. Bye Bye for now and take care.
































































19 comments:

  1. Hi Sandra ,thank you for the lovely Christmas card you sent us ,well done on decorating your tree it looks great ,we have yet to do ours .
    Sorry to hear your Aunty Win died but she has had a good innings as they say ..our dear Mum was born in 1914..she died 1989...Glad Jim enjoys his shopping trips with you ....love Jeanxxx

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  2. Thank you Sandra and Jim for the very pretty Christmas card we recieved from you. I haven't been in any shape to even go buy anything even Christmas cards. You are being so smart getting all your Christmas shopping done. Your tree is georgous. I hope my doc finds out what happened to my back tomorrow when I go back to him with the MRI images.
    I may snow and rain on us going and coming which takes about one and one half hours each way.
    So sorry about your Aunt. She lived a long life. May she rest in peace.
    Hugs, Helen

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  3. Thank you for the lovely and special card Sandra, yours put mine to shame. My, you are organised, I have not done any wrapping, not one single thing and we have done no food shopping either. Had a couple of bad days due to a family upset so that put me behind. Sad about your Auntie but that is a wonderul long life so she was blessed in that. It is always so sad when the last of a family generation passes away. Your tree looks really pretty and I can just imagine Roman's face!

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  4. Sorry to hear about your auntie...Always sad when a family member passes away but worse at christmas i think...Am afraid i loathe and utterly detest shopping so would be stood outside tut tuting looking at a watch if i could wear one lol...Your tree looks lovely i haven't got round to any of that yet

    Caff xxx

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  5. I think your tree looks great!

    I'm sorry your Aunt died. Such a bad time of year for a death.

    Enjoy your day.

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  6. Hi Sandra, Lovely tree! I haven't put up mine and I do not feel like doing it. This year I'm terribly late with everything...I'm sorry about your auntie. However old your friends and family are it is always sad to say good-bye to them. All the best. Ciao. Antonella

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  7. WE LIVE MILES APART BUT HAVE BOTH ATE IN TOOTSIES AND SHOPPED IN THE SAME SHOPPING CENTRE!!

    SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR AUNTY WIN...


    YOUR TREE IS CUTE...

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  8. You're like me as long as the grandson likes the tree that is all that matters.
    Glad you got your shopping done and hubby went too.
    So sorry for the family loss.
    Take care, Chrissie

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  9. I'm sorry to hear your aunt died, they were made of stern stuff in those days but i suppose they had to be when you consider all they lived through! I'm impressed at your organisational skills, I haveneven thought of Christmas yet! I don't celebrate it at all really apart from letting Andy have the pleasure of doing all the cooking and washing up, Lol! Jeannette xx

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  10. Your tree is very cute! I love the decorations. It sounds like you had a wonderful day out. You're so organized! I'm not nearly done for Xmas.
    I'm so sorry about your Aunt. She did live a long life. Hope you have a good evening.

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  11. Hi Sandra,
    Im sorry to hear about your aunt dying but happy she had a good life and pretty long one too
    I wish some of your Christmas spirit would wear off On me but Im getting there... I have all the presents but have to wrap them and go shopping yet too but we had a big snow storm so maybe tomorrow
    Sandra

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  12. my thoughts are with you today as you have lost your aunt. Sorry to hear things at the end were not on speaking terms but so glad to hear she was close to you when you needed her at a younger age. You have gotten SO much done so quickly! Good for you!! Your tree is lovely!!! XOXO

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  13. cute christmas tree...sorry to hear your Aunt passing away during the holidays..

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  14. I love your home decorations and the ones in your Blog~very festive for sure. So sorry to hear about the passing of your Aunt. It's always sad to loose dear family members. My parents are gone as are all their siblings, which were the last connections to my folks. So I understand. Have a good rest of your week. And thank you for the beautiful card! Linda in Washington

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  15. Sorry to hear about your Aunty. This time of year can get hard it will be a year since my mum died the week before christmas.

    My tree is still not up yet so well done you having yours up.
    Jenny <><

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  16. please accept my sincere sympathy for the passing of your aunt. I am sure she often thought of you with a kind heart,even though she may not have kept in touch with you.
    love ya,
    carlene

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  17. Sandra sorry to hear about your Auntie Win ~ that is sad even if you hadn't been close ~ We have just about finished our Christmas Shopping still got to wrap it all though ~ (If you want a job !!!!!!! :o) ~ Ally x

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  18. So sorry to hear about your Aunt, Sandra. Sorry you fell out of favor but still carry good memories. You really should be looking smug. I would give anything to get myself organized and be ahead of the game. xx

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  19. I finally figured out the year 1914 being the year your Aunt was born. Yes, that must have been a very good year for her. Salty and I just came in out of the rain and wind since I heard a loud noise and wanted to find out what blew over. It appears to have been only some carpet rolls landing on boards upstairs. The tree fell on my front addition last Sept. and did not break any windows out thankfully. I enjoyed seeing your little Christmas Tree and remember all the year's at home enjoying the tree with lights. mark

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