Category: Family life
An Epiphany.. x
Yesterday, the 6th of January was Epiphany – the Christian feast celebrating the wise men meeting baby Jesus, but also informally recognised as the date by which (certainly in Europe) all Christmas decorations have to be down. Which really seems a far better date to make New Year Resolutions – far away from hangovers, chaos and tinsel – and when there’s a general sense of cleansing and moving on. There’s been time to think about what really matters and mull over plans. For instance, I’m taking on this idea..a thought jar..a place for one captivating thought or quote a day which can be put away for a rainy moment…it’s by my computer now.
Charlie and I have also started on our Epiphany Tablecloth..an idea adapted from the lovely Kerry from Love Those Hands at Home (who also sells vintage linen at her etsy shop)…she re-blogged a special story about a family Christmas cloth, with little messages embroidered on every year by members of the family, of love, of happiness, of major events. I recognise my limitations and before Christmas is too much..but now? I want to reminisce about Christmas and year gone by, and I so appreciate these treasures created out of nothing but time and love till they have a magical, talismanic quality created by and just for the family.
Each family member writes their name and something on the cloth with pencil (We want it to be special so we’re using a vintage irish linen tablecloth) then it’s simply embroidered. The original cloth was made with red and green embroidery thread for alternate odd and even years…we’ve gone for white and creams, just to be a bit different., to be able to use it at different times of the year…and keep people looking closer..
There was another post that hit a chord.. Rachel Olsen wrote on the Huffington post about not having a list of resolutions that will inevitably get broken, but rather have a single word that encapsulates the whole year. I’ve thought about what my word would be..fitter? tighter? creative?
But the one I’m going to go with is ‘Zone’. If I can zone my mind to all the things I really want to do…then they’ll all happen.
Well..that’s the plan!
Laters, Zoning already…Kate x
Happy New Year!! xxx
Happy New Year!!!
Laters, Kate x
Merry Christmas!!!! xxx
It’s the final countdown…
I hope we all have our essential winter accessory on for these last crucial hours?..if not, find one quick..share if necessary..they can make the difference between life and laughter…
(Bella can rest assured)
Laters – and may the force be with you – Kate x
The Jewels of Christmas..
The truth be told, Christmas is MY time of year and all I really want to do is indulge in every bit of glitter and tinsel going. What stresses me is being separated from that by all the mundane crap that requires wading through with super strength Hunter wellies – the everyday AND the present buying/the wrapping/the sending/the cards – it never stops. I alway say I need my bah-humbug rant in November when I’m out of synch with everyone else, running round like a headless chicken trying to get ahead of the game so I can truly enjoy the magical time in calmness and serenity (well, that’s the plan). I will admit this year has been a bit mixed..I left the Great Furniture Move a bit late in the day which put the squeezers on, but I’ve learnt from previous years to knuckle down and keep moving so no matter what most of the main bits are in place with a few days to spare..a few more decs to hang, a few more pressies to wrap (those that need batteries), a few more cards to drop at neighbours (it’s like dinner parties..the closer you are, the later you turn up) but there has been time to sit down and smell the cinnamon..
We’ve painted our four 99p reindeer for the Christmas table..the idea was to go all scandi/red n white n gold..so we lost the silver glitter…
(Charlie likes them kissing)
To be teamed with elegant gold Christmas trees from Ikea…but then something started happening..
We did a trip to our local haberdashery shop and there were these wonderful hot pink fluffy pom poms..how nice on the trees?..and dare I say..on the reindeer??
Then the flood gates opened to an avalanche of colour and fun..the upshot? We’re going back to the shops tomorrow to get piles of pink, red and orange tissue to make HUGE pompoms to hang from the ceiling!
I feel the doors of heaven starting to open….
Laters, Kate x
Eyeing London x
We headed to the South Bank on the afternoon of the big storm (the one that brought down a theatre ceiling. Allegedly. It was certainly dramatic) It was only 3.15 pm when I took these but it felt so much later…there was a distinct line between light and dark with a foreboding air.
We were there to meet up with a very dear friend and her two children..they’d come round to ours the previous day but had left a much beloved chetah behind, and as they lived in Devon it was the perfect excuse to see them again.
Y’see, we went through infertility together, holding each others hand..in fact we were a group of three strugglers….Heidi (who we were meeting) eventually had two – twins, a girl and a boy via IVF, I had my two (IVF and otherwise)..and superwoman Karen?..she adopted 4 siblings to keep them together! We will forever remain in awe of Karen.
Christmas will always be a poignant time, now and then..at the carol service I still light a special candle for those walking that horrible path. If you know someone or think you might suspect a problem – be kind to them, especially at this time of year – don’t ask..just give them an extra large glass of something and a cuddle. And if they need to escape..let them.
The heavens never opened on us..we just had the light show,
but I’ve rarely seen skies like it.
There’s also a Christmas Market at the South Bank, full of a different kind of atmosphere.
And if you haven’t sorted your centre piece for the Christmas table? How about a very large, edible gingerbread house!
Laters, Kate x
Counting Down…
These are the photos of what I should look like, instead I’ve reached that peak of frenzied chaos where I’m no longer waving but drowning. It’s completely my own fault – I made the slightly bonkers decision to re-arrange all our furniture under the pretext that we have to fit 16 in for Christmas day but the truth of it?…I just wanted a nice spot for the Christmas tree. The resulting domino effect has been apocalyptic with all my ancient secret stashes of mess exposed in all their glory..the piano? moved to the dining area where the large wardrobe/hide everything cupboard was…the cupboard? It’s contents exploded throughout the entire house and has been moved to the top floor and is now sitting in a pool of debris waiting to be re-stocked. The large carpet in the sitting room on which life sat? (the ‘things’ under the coffee table? the bits down sides? the paper monsters that breed on their own?) moved to our bedroom.. to go under bedside cabinets/ the chaise/little tables all full of hibernating stuff – and do you know what lies beneath our bed? I do now and it’s not a pretty…and has been filling our bathroom for the last 2 days…
Somewhere under the layers of boxes, bags, files and papers I have presents waiting to be wrapped, cards to be sent, decorations to be put up…the children broke up from school yesterday..and for the last 4 days? Playdates every single day…my parents are living with us whilst their house is re-built….the cupboards are bare, the supermarkets are heaving and I just want to find a nice black hole to climb into…
Say a little prayer for me to the God of sanity..it’s either that or alcohol..and any more and I’ll be permanently pickled…
Laters, Kate x
Door-Candy x
The word on the street in the South West London ‘hood is that festive bling matters…bugger the size of your car, house..waist…What hits the spot in December is your door-adornment slash taste ranking. The competition is hotting up…
So far there are no reported cases of wreath-rage,
but those in the know fear it’s only a matter of Christmas time…
Laters, Kate x
Hmmmmmmmm……
Disaster! I lost my phone!..I’ve found it again thanks to the icloud ‘find phone’ computer option which sets the phone bleeping till you can locate it (genius. First time I’ve used it. Won’t be the last.)..but I think the perpetrator’s have left some incriminating evidence behind…
Maybe I should be more worried by these ones….
(Don’t they know Father Christmas is all seeing, all knowing??)
(Except he wasn’t) (But he is now!)
Laters, Kate x
Tis the season…
You know it’s Christmas…
1. When a mince pie becomes an acceptable meal substitute..and egg nog equals a portion of protein.
2. When the inbox sends out it’s own SOS due to spam overload.
3. When you go out to buy a party dress and come back with a fire engine.
4. When you search for your heels and find them in the dressing up.
5 When you find yourself multi-ing the multi-tasking..writing the shopping list on the toilet whilst texting the plumber.
6. When the kids suddenly start acting nice.
7. And as a result they fool you into taking them Christmas shopping and just when your impression of an suppressed, repressed, depressed packing mule has reached it’s limits someone always needs a wee.
8. When the list of things to take to school is representative of an expedition to climb Everest..white plimsoles, black plimsoles, red trousers, red top with tinsel, baked bean tin, bottle of wine, raffle tickets, jar of sweets, tray of cupcakes, nativity dvd return form, another tray of cupcakes, cards for the entire class…winning lottery ticket?
9. When you get undressed at night and you find multiple smiling Father Christmas stickers attached to your bum.
10. When you point out a cloud that looks like a snowman with a funny hat. To a stranger.
11. When the dvd player stops working because there’s a snow globe inside it.
12. When sorting out the laundry is classed as ‘me time’.
13. When you realise sewing on tinsel to a red top is a nightmare and the red is actually your blood.
14. When you tell yourself that a hangover with children is just not worth it. Again.
15. When you realise a trip to the hairdressers is a spa day.
16. When you realise that amaretto with mulled wine should be classed as an A1 drug.
17. When you walk round the supermarket singing carols. Loudly. And out of tune.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
