Good evening!  I’m a bit late posting today as the dreaded task had to be done – Christmas shopping!  I have to be honest and say that this is the first year that I was dreading the trip that has become something of a tradition for Duncan and me over the last decade.  We get up and head off in time to have our breakfast in a cafe just off the market place, and then enjoy some empty shops before the crowds arrive.

But with each year early mornings become trickier and some days I can rival the youngsters for not being able to get out of bed.  Then there is the cold…and it was cold this morning!  Typically as the temperatures plummeted this week, so our central heating behaved in the same way as my body….it grumbled, then shrieked in protest, and finally refused to cooperate! So between dodgy pipework in the home and dodgy systems in my body, I have been snookered.  But I am pleased to announce that we did it…..even managed to find a very central blue badge parking spot and found that the cafe could cater for my increasing dietary restrictions.  The bulk of the shopping has been completed between today’s haul and my online exploits, and Duncan used the wheelchair as an effective battering ram as the crowds increased toward lunch time.

So now I am flaked out, dosed up to the eyeballs for my dodgy shoulder that constantly forgets the ball is supposed to live inside the socket, and have put together my favourite Christmas inspired posts of the week.  I have even managed to persuade the lovely girl to photograph our Christmas tree for you….

There is a blast from the past with eighties gifts (my generation – I had a Petite typewriter), a short story with a twist in the tale, suggestions for those of us with chronic health, crafts for the kids, food….food….and some more food!  If you don’t have time to check out all of the posts – please let me direct you to the final post (film) which will bring a smile to your face…hopefully without a Bah Humbug in sight!

1. https://fancypaperblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/christmas-presents-of-the-eighties/
2. http://www.mursway.com/2017/12/4-fashionable-christmas-films-you-need.html
3. http://www.thebigmoneysaver.com/55-non-toy-christmas-gifts-kids/
4. https://thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/christmas-cookies-and-afternoon-drinking/
5. https://bysarahwhiley.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/death-by-roses/
6. https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/christmas-recipes-christmas-dinner-the-starter/
7. https://www.mostlyblogging.com/inspire-me-monday-linky-party-160/
8. http://www.tomseamancoaching.com/holiday-throwdown-are-you-in/
9. https://wheelescapades.com/2017/01/01/christmas-new-year-and-those-in-between/
10. http://chronicmomlife.com/a-very-chronic-christmas-surviving-the-holidays/
11. https://www.redtedart.com/diy-christmas-pop-up-card/
12. https://humblefaithfamilywellness.com/christmas-break-stay-cations-ideas/
13. http://www.raisiebay.com/2017/12/christmas-finding-spirit.html
14. http://thethyroiddamsel.com/the-9th-day-of-blogmas/
15. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/448389706643263767/
16. https://thepinterestedparent.com/2017/11/fork-painted-christmas-tree/
17. http://invisiblyme.com/2017/12/18/the-christmas-tag-grinchy-or-merry/
18. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2017/12/18/help-me-raise-250-for-the-dogs-trust-by-leaving-me-a-link-to-your-blog
19. http://mommadjane.com/cranberry-orange-sugar-scrub
20. https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/12/18/smorgasbord-christmas-afternoon-video-happy-christmas-from-the-fur-family/

Please comment, like posts and share far and wide in the spirit of the season!  Have a great week,

Merry Christmas,

Claire x