Friday 16 December 2022

Friday's Fave Five - 16/12/22


3 weeks MIA.  Definitely time to look back and think about the things I'm grateful for and join up with others at Susanne's site - "Living to Tell the Story".

Susanne has a Christmas themed picture up on her post but the snowy one is apt for me right now - we had snow!  Lots of it (well for London) at least 5 inches fell from late afternoon and into the night last Sunday.




Tonight my garden doesn't look a lot different (although a few more footprints) because it has been so cold that the snow hasn't melted.  It's supposed to be a lot warmer by Sunday so we'll soon be at the slushy messy stage but for now it is still very icy underfoot.


Nathan and Ella were happy to be outside in the snow

Vinny wasn't so keen

The park near my son's flat.

Of course on Monday it caused total travel chaos and many schools were closed.  This country seems to come to a standstill every time we have more than a dusting of snow.

However, I am grateful for:

1)  Being able to stay at home in the warm and not worry too much about the cost of heating the house.

2)  Delivery drivers who are still working and delivering parcels and food.

3)  Living on a main road - we had to scape snow and ice off the drive to get the car out but once we get on the road it's all good - helps that we're on a bus route too - the road was passable fairly quickly on Monday.

4)  Grandchildren - seen 4 of them this week including time with just Rory on Thursday as he had an early finish at school.  Don't often get time with him on his own.  I had Vinny on Wednesday as usual and he had a very rare tantrum with me.  I told him that he could have one more episode of whatever show he was watching before he had to go home, not realising that the episode contained 2 stories.  I stopped the show after the first story and he had a complete meltdown - turns out the credits rolling after both stories signifies the end.  Silly Nanny!  Well he was not a happy bunny.  He ended up in the car with no shoes on and very grumpy.  I won't make that mistake again lol.

5)  A productive day today - I finally got round to making a Christmas Pudding and my Christmas cake now has marzipan on it.  Hopefully I'll get the cake finished tomorrow.  I also made a banana loaf using up the bananas that were very soft.  Yes I'm sure that some of you will have made cakes and puddings weeks ago but I can't remember the last time I did homemade ones so I'm grateful that this year I've found some motivation.  My Christmas tree was also up just after the 1st of the month.

Have a good weekend all.



11 comments:

  1. Yes, you do have quite a bit of snow! So glad that you didn't have to go out in it. I love that you were able to spend some time with your grands this week, as you continue to prepare for the big holiday. Your tree is lovely. Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The snow looks so pretty. Nice pictures of your grands! Enjoy the Christmas season with them!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, dear, stay warm over there! Is there anything cuter than little ones in snowsuits? Enjoy Christmas with your family!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You have been busy and now snow! I enjoyed this catch-up and the pictures of the kiddos. Your tree looks great and I know Christmas will be a blast with the little ones. Please tell us all about it!! Stay in where it is warm and safe!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Poor Vinnie ! Such a naughty grandma lol ! It took me one week to decorate the living, it could have been done in an hour, but I just had the courage to put two or three things around. I have the Christmas gifts, that's the most important. Dario will take care of the meal and bring it from Holland (I have the micro wave) for the 24th Christmas Eve, we are like the royal family and for the next day, I don't know. I wished I could have gone away hiding me somewhere, but unfortunately I can't do that. Hopefully it will be not too bad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is snow so unusual in London? I know the North gets its share each winter. One of the best parts of being retired is that when the weather hits, we don't have to venture out.
    I've bought the ingredients for my Christmas cookies but haven't started baking yet. I may let my hand give it a go this weekend.
    Merry Christmas Week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I didn't know snow was unusual for London! We hada 2 hour delay due to overnight snow on Monday morning. But we only got about 3 inches here in Albany, NY area. Yesterday we received 2 more inches of very heavy wet snow. Where i hike, in spring and autumn, there are 20 fresh inches (southern Adirondack mountains) on top of their already 8!! they can keep it up there. hahahah

    How cute your grands look in their snowsuits.

    Poor Vinney. HAHAH....it's crazy the things that preschoolers will have meltdown over.

    HAPPY WEEKEND!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've seen photos of London's winter wonderland! Just beautiful. I watched a couple of videos on You Tube of the Royal family attended the carol service. I'm glad you're warm and toasty and working on your home made Christmas goodies. My British mother-in-law made Christmas pudding and it was delicious. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I didn't know snow was unusual for London! Our area shuts down with snow--we don't get it often enough to invest in the equipment needed to clear it. Our little street gets icy, but thankfully we live near a main road that clears out quickly. I am happy to stay on when it snows.

    That's too bad about the tantrum with Vinnie, but it happens. It's frustrating when they are so upset but we don't know why and they can't quite articulate it. But I'm sure it has already blown over by now. Yay for a productive day! I haven't done much baking with both my husband and I trying to watch our sugar intake. But we're planning on making cookies with our grandson some time this week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You did get a bit of snow didn't you? We got lots of snow on the weekend. And it's bitter cold! Last night it was -38*C with the wind chill! I don't feel like going out at all. I feel for all the postal carriers and delivery people this week. Now is what you call pudding a cake? In Canada a pudding is like a custard.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Merry Christmas Wendy!! Wow, you did get snow. :-) Oh goodness. We are up to 17 inches and our entire state of Wisconsin is under BLIZZARD conditions for the rest of the week!!! We all have a feeling our Christmas plans are going to be changing.

    ReplyDelete

I love receiving comments and will do my best to acknowledge them, either by replying here or dropping in on your blog.

Thanks for stopping by.