MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS ..... FROM MY HOME TO YOURS ..........

Brought the Christmas tree stand in from the shed and put the tree up. Stayed up all night to watch the election and saw something scurry under a cupboard ..... we had brought a mouse in with the stand and obviously disturbed him when we filled the stand up with water !!! I sat up all night watching the election with a saucepan in my hand { I wasn't going to hit him with it .... I thought I might catch him with it .....  } 

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas.

XXXX

GETTING ALL CHRISTMASSY at BELTON HOUSE ..........

This is Belton House, built between 1685 and 1688 by Sir John Brownlow. 

It is surrounded by formal gardens and a series of avenues leading to follies within a larger wooded park.

At Christmas, it is transformed into a magical, after dark, illuminated trail and, as you walk through a towering Tunnel of Light festooned with over 100,000 pea lights, the mesmerising voices of the Singing Trees can be heard in the distance.

The formal gardens spring into life with topiary trees lavishly draped in twinkling lights that dance in time to much loved festive classics.

There are traditional fairground rides, a fire pit to toast marshmallows and walking under the stars with mulled wine or hot chocolate completes the overall experience. 

It was a delightful way to begin our Christmas celebrations. 

XXXX

all photographs via me

A THORN BETWEEN TWO ROSES .....

My husband was cutting down some ferns and asked me to tell him how far to cut them ..... I went out into the garden with nothing on my feet but flip flops, no gardening gloves, nothing ..... I told him what he wanted to know then, I spotted the rose that goes over the arch so, ran in for some secateurs and a step ladder and started pruning ..........

Hands are now cut to ribbons !!!!! I always have to do everything straight away and can't be bothered to don the right equipment .....

I saved these three ..... the last of my Penny Lane rose for this year although, the St Swithin out in the front garden is blooming like mad ! 

Looooook !!!!!

 A thorn between my sister { right } and my cousin { left } .....

 This is us a few years previous ..... not in the same positions ..... my sister is the taller and older one { haha !!! } at the back, I'm on the left and my cousin on the right. 

 

Went to see The Good Liar ..... I enjoyed it even though it was a bit obvious and I'm not a Helen Mirren fan !!!!!

XXXX

images 1 - 7: via me, image 8: via google

WE TRICKED AND WE TREATED ..........

Actually, we just walked around the streets for a couple of hours and there wasn't a lot of tricking going on  !!!  I was given the job of carving three pumpkins which I was very proud of considering I only had about an hour ! 

So many people dressed up and the houses looked brilliant .....

One guy opens his garage and really goes to town ..... fantastically decorated for charity and, even better, at the back he has a bar !!!

I was never he biggest fan of Halloween as I feel Guy Fawkes is our thing but, I'm really warming to it !!!!

XXXX

All photographs taken by me !

LILY PARR SCULPTURE ..........

Yesterday, ahead of the women's World Cup, a statue has been unveiled of football star Lily Parr - considered the greatest female footballer of all time ..........

..... and, the sculpture was created by my niece, Hannah Stewart !!!!! 

Lily Parr was born in 1905 and pioneered women's football, scoring 900 times over her 32 year career. Lily was known for her large appetite and almost constant smoking !!!

The six foot, chain smokers wages of ten shillings { 50p } per game, were reputedly supplemented by packets of Woodbine  cigarettes !!!

She played in front of a record crowd of 53,000 fans at Goodeson Park. The statue has been placed at The National Football Museum in Manchester.

Well done Hannah.

XXXX

image 1: via itv, image 2: via latestly, image 3: via ilovemanchester

ALL ABOUT BABIES ..........

I'm afraid that its all about babies in our world at the moment but .....
 

..... we haven't let the grass grow under her feet ..... at nearly three weeks she has mastered shapes and faces so, maybe she could be added to the list of contenders for the position of Prime Minister !!! 

I promise that there will not be many more baby posts ..... it's just that I haven't done much else lately !

XXXX

NEWEST GRANDCHILD SAFELY DELIVERED ..........

Our new grandchild arrived safely on Tuesday 7th May .....

Welcome to the world, Harriet  

XXXX

image 1: via etsy, image 2: via me, image 3: via Zara