Christmas space (Rom Jul)

I like the Norwegian name for the stretch of time between Christmas and New years: "Rom Jul", meaning "Christmas space". This year we filled the space with some nice walks, a visit from our friend Darren, and some serious Nerf battles.

Ready for Nerf warfare!

Back into the car after a long walk in the Ashdown Forest

Rhodri and Darren

We've also watched lots of films on the telly and played some good boardgames and talked on the phone to our family and friends, and the whole week of Christmas space has been bliss. Now we need to get ready for New Years Eve! We have decided to organize a party at the village hall for a few families in the village, so hopefully that will turn out ok.

Riding lesson

Before Auntie Sions left for New Zealand this evening (!), she and Rhiannon went for a private riding lesson at Tremaines. It looked like they both had an enjoyable time and everyone behaved themselves, so definitely a success.

Merry Christmas!

We have been deliberately refusing to get caught up in the anxiety about food preparations and perfect presents for everyone in the run up to Christmas. Nevertheless, a certain amount of thinking and preparation ahead of time is actually required if the event is to be perceived as a success! I think this year we nailed it in terms of striking the right balance. We've also been able to spend good quality time taking long walks in the forest and carving out time to be with some people - not many, though! We did invite Charles and Simon over on Friday night for drinks and nibbles, and that was absolutely wonderful.

Anyway, today was the main event! We slept in until 9am, although the kids were up much earlier (of course). Here is a collage I made from the photos taken throughout the day:

We had a relaxing morning of slowly opening presents and enjoying warm cinnamon rolls with coffee.  Rhiannon got an electric guitar and Tryfan got a Lego set he has been wanting, but the best part was that the kids put real thought and joy into choosing and buying gifts for all of us, including each other. That was truly heartwarming to observe.

All 5 of us pitched in to prepare a lovely meal as well. While the turkey was in the oven, we went for a walk down to the Coach and Horses but sadly arrived just as they were closing. We weren't too sad though because the purpose was primarily to get out of the house and stretch our legs, which we did!

Sions and the rest of us with the Coach & Horses pub in the background

We ended up sitting down around 4:30pm and had a great meal: Nigella's turkey, Kristin's spicy stuffing, sprouts that even Sioned liked (!), and roasted potatoes, carrots and parsnips. Yum!

We followed with some Christmas cake and sour sweets...

 

And then lounged on the sofas until bedtime. Merry Christmas!

Lewis elves

Rhiannon put our faces onto Elf Yourself and here is the product:

Cuddling

It is so great having Auntie Sioned here! She is really fun to be with :-)

Kicking off Christmas for real

This afternoon Auntie Sioned arrived, which meant that we could kick off this year's Christmas for real! As it happened, my friend Lou and some of her kids happened to be coming over this afternoon, too, and it culminated in a wonderful, creative gathering of friends and family. Lou brought a whole bunch of twisted willow branches as well as ribbon, fabric, decorative sticks, and other items of fabulousness.

 It was a little tough getting started and deciding what to create with all these beautiful materials. In the end Auntie Sioned made a wreath, Rhiannon made a different sort of wreath and also a door hanging piece, and I made a chandelier. It took me a few tries to get the balance right, but I'm happy with the product. Rhodri is less convinced, but he doesn't have any better suggestions, so he will have to live with it. Ha ha ha!

Nesting birds chandelier and Sioned's wreath

Anyway, the whole afternoon was just perfect in terms of allowing us to relax and tap into our creative sides while listening to Christmas music and getting immersed in our own projects. I'd love to make a tradition of this!

Elves in the house

Today was Christmas Jumper day at school, where the children were allowed to wear Christmas-themed jumpers over their school uniforms.

We actually don't have any such jumpers in our household, but they do have matching elf pyjamas, which sufficed for today.
Here they are in front of our happy tree.

Festive activities at school

This is the last full week before Christmas, although we still have school Mon - Wed next week! Anyway, that hasn't stopped the festivities from commencing.
Today was the annual Christmas roast dinner (lunch) at school which is always a fun event.

Rhiannon, Sophie, Jed and Tommy with their Christmas hats on

Not sure why our girl is standing on a table!

Then later today - actually this evening - all of the Year 6 students were taken out to dinner in the wide world by their teacher! They went to Cafe Rouge in Haywards Heath and had a lovely meal altogether as a special Year 6 senior student treat. There were some parents there too (because transportation to/from was still required) but they sat elsewhere in the restaurant and kept out of the kids' way.

It's a very busy and fun time of the year just now, but we are really looking forward to the holiday period.

Christmas Fair

Today after everyone woke up, we had some breakfast and then squeezed everyone into lil Jimmy the Green and drove down to the school for the annual Christmas Fair. It was kind of a drizzly day - not the most inspiring for a school fair - but we made the best of it. The event could have been actually quite grim and pathetic, but everyone pitched in to create a festive atmosphere.

The amazing James played the piano outside all day under the sun umbrella which we had decorated with solar powered (and charged) fairy lights. Danni went home and brought back her event shelter which provided cover from drizzle. Rhodri manned the BBQ with a couple of other people, and then there was the whole inside scene which I never did see.

Here I am in my stall - I always do something with sticks. This year we made these hanging stick ornaments in the shape of a Christmas tree that could then be decorated with glitter glue.

Rhiannon and the rest of the Kestrels class put on some stalls in their classroom with games that they thought up themselves. Rhiannon's game was called Santa Flips, which was a challenge to flip a plastic bottle and try to get it to land upright. Apparently it was a huge success and they had some fun too!.

Rhiannon's party - take 2

After the fabulous Tree Lighting evening, all the girls from Rhiannon's year came over for a sleepover. Cat and Bruno came too, which was great. Rhodri was out all evening for a men's Christmas Dinner, so it was just a houseful of girls + Tryfan and B.

Everyone got into their onesies and helped Rhiannon open presents, then we all watched Pitch Perfect 2 and ate popcorn. At 10:30 pm, I sent the girls to bed but they didn't actually go to sleep until closer to 1 am. It was a fairly successful night: no tears, no injuries, no arguments!

Christmas Tree Lighting

We always look forward to the annual Tree Lighting in the village hall, and this year did not disappoint!

Warren was the MC (again) and the evening contained performances by some trusty regulars as well as some newcomers. Danehill school performed several songs, as did the Danehill Handbell Ringers (see video below). We also sang some carols as a group and heard a new trio perform an excruciating 5-song set, which was about 4.5 songs too long! The finale was a poem and comedy sketch performed by Mr Fish and his friends, this year expanded to include his little brother (Diddy Fish), and elderly lady on piano, and of course Charlie Chuckles who was part of the act last year as well.

What I love most about this event is the small village Britishness of it all - the MC leading the audience in a carol that isn't on the program and most people don't know the words (skipping the one that is on the program with all the words printed), the actual turning on of the Christmas Tree lights witnessed through the window rather than gathering round the tree, the moment when the music sheet for the Handbell Ringers fell off the stand and everyone's head tilted to the left simultaneously, the sweet and eccentric Fish teenagers with their funny and heartwarming act, the general chaos of the scene with all the kids aged 2-5 apparently allowed to be free roaming up and down the hall, the older kids escaping to the outside playing tag in the dark and getting muddy in their nice clothes, and finally the mince pies and warm cider at the end of it all. I always come away from the evening with tears in my eyes at the funny, wholesome, loveliness of it all.

Rhiannon's birthday party

Today after school we had all the Year 6 kids over to our house for Rhiannon's party. They are a small year group, so it was only 10 kids + Rhiannon and Tryfan.

First they all went to the Jubilee Woods across the road and played "Capture the Flag" until it was too dark to see. Then they came back to the house and had some food, then decorated mini gingerbread houses and finished with a glow in the dark dance party!

At 6pm we all got our shoes and jackets on and headed over the road to the village hall for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

Ears pierced!

Rhiannon's birthday present this year when she turns 11 is for her to get her ears pierced.
Since next weekend looks like it is actually going to be really busy, we decided to go this morning and "git 'er done". We went to "R. Stevenson Jewellers" in Haywards Heath at the recommendation of other mothers in the village whose daughters have had them done. Here she is before the big pierce.

Russell "R" Stevenson was the man for the job, and he did such a good job of making it gentle but special. He did the first ear by surprise - getting her to believe he was going to take a few minutes to get things set up. The second one was a bit trickier since she knew what would happen. Anyway, it was all done pretty soon and now here is our girl with holes in her ears.

Russell showing Rhiannon her ears

After we were all done, we walked out of the shop and Rhiannon felt a bit woozy so we sat in the sun on a bench for a few minutes and then decided to go out for a late breakfast at Cafe Rouge.

 It was so nice to be out and about with my girl.

Quick trip to UAE

I took a quick trip for work to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates this past week.

I left on Saturday morning and got back today. It was a good trip work wise and I got to stay in some nice hotels. I even made sure to get some use out of the beautiful swimming pools which nobody seems to ever be in!

 Anyway, it was fine but I am really glad to be home! The only bad thing is that my computer died a sudden death on the flight home so I have to get that fixed tomorrow.