Blog Caroling

Inspired by a post at Footnote Maven. The idea is to share your favourite Christmas Carol.

Well, being married to a Christmas baby, I can not escape the almost weekly viewing of the film Home Alone. Four films were made, we have all four, but films one and two are the favourites. Anyway, one of the Carol's sung on the film is simply lovely and I had a real challenge trying to find out what it was called and had to resort to getting the film and playing the credits!

Here is the details from YouTube - The Song is Carol of the Bells written by John Williams.

Here are the lyrics

Hark! how the bells
sweet silver bells
All seem to say
throw cares away.

Christmas is here
bringing good cheer
To young and old
meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
that is their song,
With joyful ring
all caroling

One seems to hear
words of good cheer
From everywhere
filling the air

O, how they pound
raising the sound
Oer hill and dale
telling their tale

Gaily they ring
while people sing
Songs of good cheer
christmas is here!
Merry, merry, merry, merry christmas!
Merry, merry, merry, merry christmas!

On, on they send
on without end
Their joyful tone
to every home

Hark! how the bells
sweet silver bells
All seem to say
throw cares away.

Christmas is here
bringing good cheer
To young and old
meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
that is their song
With joyful ring
all caroling.

One seems to hear
words of good cheer
From everywhere
filling the air

O, how they pound
raising the sound
Oer hill and dale
telling their tale

Gaily they ring
while people sing
Songs of good cheer
christmas is here!
Merry, merry, merry, merry christmas!
Merry, merry, merry, merry christmas!

On, on they send
on without end
Their joyful tone
to every home.

On, on they send
on without end
Their joyful tone
to every home.

Taking part in Blog Caroling, hosted by Footnote Malven

Library Loot - 12 - 18th December

This week has a tiny library loot of just one book!

My local book group meets at the local library. In December we do not discuss a book, instead rolling over the book to January as in December we have a rather civilised Christmas party.

Anyway, someone suggested that as our next meeting is at the end of January that perhaps we could have an extra read, which is how come I managed to be controlled enough to just have one book.

The book in question is Inheritance by Nicholas Shakespeare, an author that I recognised from our recent trip down under.

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader.

Head over to The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader to share your loot this week.

Advent Calendar 2012 - Traditions

Back in 2010 I wrote this post.

Traditionally, in my profession the lead up to Christmas is frantic, and this year will be no exception. I have to say, writing this post three days later than scheduled that if I see another prescription I shall go mad - well, at least until tomorrow! There is this endless thought process that I must have every drug ever prescribed dispensed before Christmas, and purchase every imaginable food for the Christmas period. Why is this the case?

I shall purchase my food shopping in the wee hours of 24 hour grocery shopping. Then get up and go to work as usual. Christmas Eve will be spent working with it going quiet around 2pm. Because of the field I work in closing early is not an option and I shall spend the last few hours working quietly, catching up on a few bits before closing and then coming home for the festive break.

As a child we always had gammon on the evening of Christmas Day. As time progressed, I have always cooked the gammon and had that for dinner on Christmas Eve with the remainder on Christmas Day during our finger buffet in the evening.  A colleague has suggested to me that a local pub has a Christmas Eve sing song around 6pm, so we thought that we might go, just for an hour and then head home.

How will you spend Christmas Eve? Do you exchange gifts on Christmas Eve?

Sunday Salon - Books Down Under!

We recently spent 5 glorious weeks in Australia. One of the things I noticed was how expensive books are. I had no idea!

Being concious of the weight of books and the allowance I had for the plane I made a note of books I came across in book stores and in some cases took photos of the covers!

Here was the list of books I spotted, all linked to either Amazon or Fishpond.

1. The end of your life book club by Will Schurable
2. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
3. In Tasmania: Adventures at the End of the World by Nicholas Shakespeare
4. The House of Memories by Monica McInerney
5. Ghost Gum Valley by Johanna Nicholls 
6. Sincerely, a New Collection of Correspondence from Women of Letters by Michaela McGuire & Marieke Hardy
7. The Shelly Beach Writers' Group by June Loves

Some great books and I had to be so controlled! Since I have been home, I have obtained two of the books. The first is Shantaram and the second is The end of your life book club which I have seen get some great reviews and I look forward to reading over the festive season, if I can wait that long!

I did purchase two books, one that was a very slim volume based upon a true story of a convict and a book written and published privately about our Ellis ancestors that migrated to Victoria in 1854.

Until next time, happy reading!

Advent Calendar 2012 - Grab Bag

A few years ago, I stumbled across a rather nice set of mugs made by Spode. Each Christmas, from 1998 until 2004, Spode released one mug featuring a Santa from a different Country.

Here they are in more detail -

In 1998 the First of the series was the British Santa

In 1999 Spode released the German Santa.

In 2000 Bishop of Myra was released.

Then in 2001, The Russian Santa was release, the only one that I am missing from the set.

In 2002 The Norwegian Santa made an appearance

In 2003, The French Santa was released

And finally, in 2004 to complete the series, the American Santa was released.

I think of all the set that I currently, have my favourite is the American Santa, because of the vibrant, festive colours. Which one is your favourite?

The Giving Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

Continuing the wonderful Elm Creek series. I had been eagerly awaiting the book's publication when I had the chance to review via NetGalley. My recently ordered hardback edition arrived a few weeks ago and now joins the rest of the series on my bookshelf.

In this latest instalment, we are in the week following Thanksgiving. This week is know at Elm Creek as Quilt Giving which is an opportunity to attend a retreat and quilt. At the end of the week the quilters donate their accomplishments to local charities.

We meet the regular Elm Creek Quilters - Matt and Sarah and their toddler twins, Sylvia and Gretchen. We also meet the quilters attending the retreat - Jocelyn,  mother of two children and a widow, Mona & Linnea, who are sisters, Michaela a student with her leg in plaster cast, Karen an employee of a quilt shop who had previously applied and been rejected to work at Elm Creek and Pauline a rather gifted quilter and a member of a rather prestigious quilting bee.

The story unfolds with a customary meal and the allocation of a Giving Journal, where the attendees are asked to record what they are thankful for and what they give to others (as well as receive). Each of the women, apart from the sisters are strangers and gradually they become immersed within the confines of the retreat and start to let down their personal barriers and each begins to share her story.

As each one shares and listens we start to see the foundations of friendships form and the love they each have for their families and their quilting.

I was not disappointed with the latest instalment and I look forward to the next visit to Elm Creek.

Advent Calendar 2012 - Christmas Cookies

Last Christmas I took part in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Exchange. I had planned to participate this year too, but the nominations were open whilst we were in Australia and I forgot to complete the form when we came back, so I shall await next year!

This post is a tweaked version of the original post. (The original post can be seen HERE).

I looked on line and through every cookbook I owned and still was undecided on what recipe. Then I recalled that one of my favourite books, which is part of a series and sits on the bookcase in the hall was a novel, interspersed with recipes. A quick look and I knew that I had found the recipe. It's very title sharing the ethos of the cookie exchange.

See what mean, it was meant to be! Each hardback edition of the series has printed within the covers the quilt designs shared within the book. These is the Friendship Square design.

So to cooking -

Firstly, heat the chocolate and butter over a pan of simmering water

While that was under way, I gathered the rest of my equipment and ingredient.

The little red measuring spoons were my Grandmothers, and despite having two much newer sets, I used my old faithfuls. I used a photocopy of the recipe, rather than have any spillages on my nice book!

Then in a bowl mix the sugar and 4 eggs. Then add the vanilla essence and lastly the mix of flour and salt. After a further good mix add the cooled chocolate.

Pour the mixture into a prepared 9 x 13 tray. Lightly greased with a sprinkle of flour and decorate with the choc chips, nuts and coconut you can see in the above picture.

Place in the oven at 190c or 325F for 25 minutes.

Here we are after cooking.

Make sure that the tray has more than a slight grease! Removal was tricky and I was quite worried about cooking casualties!  - Here they are on a plate just before packing and posting.

It is a lovely recipe and one I shall try again. I think next time I shall use cake cases and then add a small plop of chocolate drops or a walnut or two, as cleaning the baking try was a bit of an ordeal!

This post is also being shared with Weekend Cooking which is hosted by Beth at BethFishReads

Postcard Friendship Friday - Border Terrier Under the Mistletoe!

Submitted as part of Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy 

Book Blogger Hop - 7th December - 13th December

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

Hashtag: #BookBloggerHop

Book Blogger Hop is the creation of Jen from Crazy for Books. Since October, the weekly hop has been hosted by a variety of book bloggers all across the globe. Last week the hop visited Anglers Rest and again this week.

So, without further ado....

Question - We are well into the Festive season, so what is your favourite festive reading?

My Answer - Do you know I am not sure. Over the last few years I have read a few seasonal Christmas books, but there has been nothing special. Perhaps some fellow blog hoppers can recommend one!

Link back YOUR Friday Book Blogger post and then try to visit at least 3 other sites and comment - hops are a great opportunity to meet new bloggers! (Once you submit your link, you'll need to refresh the page to see your link added to the list).

Advent Calendar 2012 - Santa Claus

I wrote previously about my Santa experience. You can read about that HERE.

As I don't think I have ever written a Dear Santa letter, I thought perhaps this was the year. Now, this is not going to be a wish list of gifts exactly, it is more of a simple list of things that I am grateful for



Dear Santa,

Thank you for a family who love me
Thank you for a family who accept me for who I am and respect me, for my decisions.
Thank you for having the finances to pursue my dreams and hobbies
Thank you for my friends and acquaintances
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take chances and be in a position to support projects that I value, such as the Kiva Project.

Julie

Now, that was a lot harder than I thought.

So, if you were going to write a letter to Santa, what would it say?

Happy Memories

One day last week I walked to work, thankfully it was not raining, as we headed into a cooler phase before the rain came back again.

Ahead of me I spotted two teenage girls, probably about 13 years old or so, dressed in a school uniform with bulging rucksacks standing with an elderly lady who was holding a purse. The lady extracted something, probably money and handed it to one of the girls, who in turn gave the lady a hug and a kiss on the cheek. The girls walked on, possibly to school and the lady in the opposite direction.

Image courtesy of Google

My mind cast back to three decades ago, when my Grandmother would often pass me a pound note, yes they were pound notes then not coins and tell me to get myself something. Even in my teenage years I would save the money and buy a book.

I loved nothing more than heading to Smiths in the High Street and wandering along the bookshelves and every so often bringing a book, lovingly selected home.

The memories kept me company as I continued my short journey and I was acutely aware of how much I miss my Grandmother, her wisdom, practicality, laughter and presence. Her ability to simply be aware when something was wrong or troubling me. I miss being able to talk with her and discuss my decisions and share a joke or two.

Advent Calendar 2012 - Christmas Cards

I remember both my Mum and Grandmother sending cards, but not how many or what happened to them. I have a few old cards, perhaps the last one received from a particular relative, or those with a photograph or letter. Any that my Grandmother received I now have.

Currently they are in a box packed away in a box awaiting scanning and archiving. I can't really remember where they were displayed, I suspect the mantle piece as that is where I have mine and on the dresser and other furniture in our lounge.

I probably started sending cards when I as about 12 or 13. Mainly to school friends, but when I left home and then subsequently married to family members. In many cases a Christmas card is the only contact we have, which is a shame.

When we first set up home together and started sending cards as a couple I asked for Stuart's card list. He looked at me blankly and said he only sent about 6 cards, I was amazed, that meant the other 60 odd were mine! Since then I have written all the cards and letters and Stuart's list has not really got any bigger. My list has reduced a little bit, but not by much. Even people that I communicate with on line these days still get a card in the post and they get an additional email. I keep the email letters and file these with letters I receive, along with any letters and cards that arrive in the mail.

I usually aim to send my cards out early December, but each year I seem to get later and later. The overseas ones always go first.

At the end of the 1980s I bought a card booklet, with the details of card and present and address. The book was set up for about 10 years. At the end of the 10 years I looked around for another book similar but no one seems to sell them any more, so I have a bit of paper in my Christmas card box and each year tick or highlight in a pen to say that I sent the card. I really should find a better way of recording it, but somehow the scrappy bit of paper is like able. I usually buy Charity cards apart from ones that I send to close relatives. I tend to go for the Charities whose good cause has touched our family life, mainly Cancer Research as many of my family have suffered in this way.

This photograph is of my Great Grandmother, Annie Prudience Butcher nee Harris,which was sent as her Christmas Card in 1955.The picture was taken in Guildford Surrey England in the prefab house the family lived in after the War.

The photo was certainly sent to her children, I have my Grandfather's copy George Butcher (1908-1974) and I know of at least one cousin who has his father's copy.

Do you have a copy in your photo collection? If so please get in touch.

100 Word Challenge - Week 69

Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following prompt. Total word allowance - 100

Courtesy of Julia's Place

She was clearing away the plates from the Office party. She had been SO controlled, and had barely eaten anything. Her stomach growled in support. She had promised herself that she would loose the weight before her big date and she was determined not to fail. Truth be told, her colleagues were running a book on it.

Yet, she was SO hungry. Each time she passed the table she checked the last piece was still sitting there, begging to be eaten. She could just snaffle it as she walked pass. Could she pull it off?

Only time would tell......

Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #69

Beyond the Internet: Week 47 Police and Railway Staff records

Continuing the weekly theme, inspired by Family History Across the Seas

In the United Kingdom, British Rail existed until the 1980s when the Government of the time privatised it. Now our rail networks are covered by a series of different companies and your prompt this week has made me wonder exactly what happened to the employment records of those companies.

I have a Great Uncle who worked on the railways in Dorking Surrey England. I have never really explored into his working life and should!

As to Policemen in the family. My Great Uncle was in the army and after he left the force he remained working at a military base as a Policeman during the second world war. His service records are sealed and because it was secret work he was undertaking his police experience is also hard to track.

The Prison Service in England and Wales was in it's early development structured loosely on the Police force. When we married in 1994 we both had to ask the Governor of the prison we worked in if we could marry. There was never any question of us being refused, it was simply in the Prison Standing Orders and had never been removed!

Advent Calendar 2012 - Christmas Tree Ornaments

The collection of tree ornaments we have are ones that we bought from our first Christmas together.

There are others that were given to us by my Mum and each year Stuart and I buy at least one ornament to keep the tradition going. We tend to go for the reds and golds but there are some others that have special meanings to us.


A Spode china Millennium bauble which always has pride of place, and a gold bell which has a picture of a Border Terrier on the side,which we bought the first Christmas we lost our lovely Monty in 2008.

We also have a lovely set of the Lilliput Lane tree decorations as Stuart collections the lovely houses, and especially the snowy and wintry ones.

The decorations that we had as when I was a child are still with my Mum. The original fairy which I mentioned earlier this week is still in the family. I think Mum has it and she thinks I have it, and we won't know until we both put our trees up and find it!

As a child we used to have chocolate ornaments on the tree which I was never allowed to have until Christmas Eve, and even then, only one. Now I don't have them as we have our current Border Terrier, Alfie just incase he is tempted by the chocolate.

Culling a book collection

I recently read at Read in a Single Sitting the contemplation of book culling. I was about to respond to that post, but then decided that I would write the following post and then share the link. Crafty I know, but why type the details twice?

As I have allured to in recent weeks, we are having a change of direction. That change will undoubtedly mean that our belongings, those inherited and purchased will need to be seriously looked at. As we downsize and then potentially move overseas, even for part of a year we have to seriously look at our possessions.

For more than 25 years I had never culled a book. Then in 2005 I found Book Crossing and shared a few books using that medium, but I did not find that overly satisfying. I looked again at my book collection and divided the books into those I would keep and use - mainly non fiction, and those authors and fictional books that I would re-read.  The rest I have either sold via eBay or Amazon or given away to charity shops.

As I sit and write this I can see a rather full bookcase and I know if I strain my head and turn a bit I can see another 2. I can wander downstairs via the landing and will find another 3. Each one full of books. How can I part with any? Each one has a story to tell, not just the one within the covers, but also of how it came to live with me and be read and enjoyed.

Some of these books are genealogical, some are linked into part of my family and I would not be willing to part with them.  Hubby, although not a reader, has a rather substantial collection of fishing books and we have already agreed that they should be kept.

So, we have started in the reverse. Downsizing in the UK is not really a problem. We plan to sacrifice one of our spare rooms into an Office/ Study where we will house our books and my genealogical material. This house is 4 bedroom and if far too big for us!

Our overseas relocation is a slightly different story. At the point of shipment we will confirm together the amount of containers that will be paid for as part of that move. I am pondering on 3. There will be only a few electrical items taken - laptops, Christmas tree, I know, but I am the least festive person on the planet and I rather like our tree, so its relocating with us! The rest of our main electrical will not. The same goes for furniture nothing will be coming with us, apart from a couple of small pieces and the rest of the containers will be filled with our personal things - those inherited and photographs and books, and some inherited and special china.

On discussion with a friend, she advised me that I was cheating making the culling decision and perhaps she is right, but at this moment in time I don't want to cull some of those books. So I shall at some point go back through the collection and have another clear through, but as my Grandmother always said "if in doubt, don't do it" So I shall follow her advice and see where that leads us.

Deck the Halls – 2012 Christmas Geneameme

Playing along with Pauline from Family History Across the Seas here is

THE 2012 CHRISTMAS GENEAMEME

1. Do you have any special Xmas traditions in your family? - I think I have adapted the things I did as a child into my married life Christmas festivities, although I am not a very festive person!
2. Is church attendance an important part of your Christmas celebrations and do you go the evening before or on Xmas Day? - Sadly no. I used to go to Midnight Mass in my home town, but not since we moved to Devon.
3. Did/do you or your children/grandchildren believe in Santa? - I think my husband still does!
4. Do you go carolling in your neighbourhood? - No
5. What’s your favourite Christmas music? - All sorts
6. What’s your favourite Christmas carol? - I don't think I have a favourite, but if I had to select one it would be Hark the Hearlds
7. Do you have a special Xmas movie/book you like to watch/read? - We often watch Home Alone and the remake of Miracle on 34th Street
8. Does your family do individual gifts, gifts for littlies only, Secret Santa (aka Kris Kringle)? - No
9. Is your main Christmas meal indoors or outdoors, at home or away? - Definetely indoors!
10. What do you eat as your main course for the Christmas meal? - Turkey
11. Do you have a special recipe you use for Xmas? - Yes, Mum has a super recipe for Rum Truffles and a Christmas pudding & Christmas cake recipe
12. Does Christmas pudding feature on the Xmas menu? Is it your recipe or one you inherited? - Yes it does, it is a recipe that my Grandmother found in a magazine and since then both my Mum and I use the recipe.
13. Do you have any other special Christmas foods? What are they? - Gammon. As a child we always had gammon for tea on Christmas Day. Now I cook a slightly larger joint and we eat it for dinner on Christmas Eve and then the rest of Christmas Day.
14. Do you give home-made food/craft for gifts at Christmas? - Sometimes it depends on the person and the gift
15. Do you return to your family for Xmas or vice versa? - No they usually come to me & I cook!
16. Is your Christmas celebrated differently from your childhood ones? If yes, how does it differ?
17. How do you celebrate Xmas with your friends? Lunch? Pre-Xmas outings? Drop-ins? - A combination of all those!
18. Do you decorate your house with lights? A little or a lot? - Yes we decorate the house. Personally I don't like it, but I live with a Christmas baby!
19. Is your neighbourhood a “Xmas lights” tour venue? - No
20. Does your family attend Carols by Candlelight singalongs/concerts? Where? - Actually I used to always attend Midnight Mass in my hometown. Since moving to Devon I have never been.
21. Have any of your Christmases been spent camping (unlikely for our northern-hemisphere friends)? - Yes, we spent the Christmas of 1996 in Australia. I am simply not convinced of 40 degree and Prawns for Christmas Day, although it was lovely!
22. Is Christmas spent at your home, with family or at a holiday venue? - Home with family
23. Do you have snow for Christmas where you live? - Sometimes, but more often than not rain
24. Do you have a Christmas tree every year? - Yes, except for 1996 when we were not home from Australia until the end of Jan
25. Is your Christmas tree a live tree (potted/harvested) or an imitation? - We have a Blue Spruce outside and inside a rather lovely pre lit tree
26. Do you have special Xmas tree decorations? - Yes, we have a lovely Spode Millennium bauble that we bought in 2000
27. Which is more important to your family, Christmas or Thanksgiving? - Christmas, as I live in the UK we don't celebrate Thanksgiving!

I am taking part in the Geneabloggers Advent Calendar to read the posts - follow this tagline