This pretty well sums it up
Time spent with my daughter almost always involves cake and pretty things, and this week was no exception. The shops were all a-twinkle and we gazed our fill. A brisk walk through the park was rewarded with hot chocolate. A shopping session required something a little more substantial.
The Christmas market was fun but I never did find one of those angels. I tried on a hat and thought about playing ‘hook a reindeer’, but I hung on to my Winter Pimms instead. The Helter Skelter did look tempting though.
No doubt about it, Christmas has come to Nottingham. I hope your preparations are going better than mine. I have a naked Christmas tree in the corner. Time to get my fairy out and find her some friends. It won’t be quite so grand as this.
Just one more weekend to go. Enjoy this one, and don’t forget to pop in on Cate with your six words. See you on Monday, when we’ll get out for a walk together to blow all those cares away. See you then!
I have two daughters one is 30 and the other is 35. I have a son in the middle of the girls. I enjoyed seeing your daughter with beautiful auburn hair. The cake and decorations made my mouth water and wish to shop. 🙂
Hi Robin! Happy New Year to you 🙂 So funny because I just this second posted this week’s 6 words and I thought you were commenting on it. I was scratching my head and wondering if I’d had a little too much to drink. If you have a look you’ll see why. Sending hugs! 🙂
Lovely day out with your beautiful daughter Jo 🙂 xx
We only had a couple of days, Sherri, but we made the most of them 🙂
definitely festive and plenty of beautiful things! love the wreath! 🙂
My daughter made the wreath, LolaWi, and that’s her front door. Glad you like it 🙂
I feel all Christmassy now, having looked at your photos! 🙂
Sending Christmas hugs 🙂
I love your opening line ‘Time spent with my daughter almost always involves cake and pretty things’….as it should be :-).
And what a wonderfully festive gallery of images. I want that wreath for my door (when I have one again) and the cake for my tummy. Looking forward to seeing your Monday walk.
It’s just up, Lisa 🙂 Thank you so much! That wreath is on Lisa’s front door. Have a happy week!
OMG. Just saw it. Spectacular. You’ve outdone yourself. Now I want the wreath for my door and the second anchor picture for my wall (when I have one). And those sunset lit skies. Fabulous
Bless you, sweetheart- you are so kind! Wishing you a very fabulous Christmas 🙂
Back at you! Ho Ho Ho 🎅
I love the wreath and the view through to buildings – palimpsest! It’s a great shot of your daughter (?) too.
The wreath is on Lisa’s front door, and yes- that’s her! Though not a particularly good shot. I took one of her lined up with the ‘tin soldiers’ too but that is less than flattering so it’s not here 😦
What a warming post Jo ! Lovely to see some of your explorations in seach of tea and tinsel and angels . Sounds as though your beginning to get into the swing of it now … tree decorated … time for some floury hands maybe 😉
Lisa looks a darling fun gal ! Have a great Sunday Jo x
Oh no, not floury hands, Poppy! 🙂 Sunday lunch, a heap of ironing and an even bigger heap of cards to write. I’m getting there 🙂 Let me know when the baking’s done and I’ll pop by for a sample 🙂
You’d be welcome to homemade sausage rolls and mince puffs anytime you’d like to drop by Jo 😉 we’re down at the seaside so will be working up an appetite one way or another ! Hope to post soon . MMmm Sunday Lunch …
Sounds like a great idea 🙂 It’s lovely and bright here after yards of rain yesterday but I’ll have to restrict the strolling to the virtual kind 😦
tutto bellissimo, ma quella fetta di torta prima di fare colazione mhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
buona domenica
Buona domenica, Annalisa e grazie 🙂 🙂
very nice photos! Thanks!
Many thanks, Kathe 🙂 Have a good weekend!
This looks wonderful, Jo – what a lovely time you must have had with your daughter. The cake has made me hungry now 😀
I don’t even have a Christmas tree yet, so you’re one step ahead of me even though yours is still naked 😉
I am proud to report that the tree is now cloaked in loveliness, Dianne. It was lovely to spend time with Lisa and to see her so happy. 🙂
Oh, I’m disappointed to hear that you didn’t find another pretty angel. That slice of cake looks amazing.
You should always buy then and there if you see something you really like (and can afford it), don’t you think? But there’s still cake 🙂
Yes, I do agree but we don’t always remember this, do we. The cake would have gone a long way to making up for it.
Fantastic pictures, Jo. Have a wonderful advent time,
Pit
Hi Pit! 🙂 Thank you so much. I was just thinking that I hadn’t been to yours lately. I’m still playing catch up since the Algarve. Same to you too 🙂
Don’t rush, Jo. I know how difficult it is to keep up with all the blogs one has on one’s radar: very time consuming.
Looks grand Jo – did you try the helter skelter 🙂
I really did want to, Robin 🙂 🙂
I love that sign! Looks like you got to do a lot of both!
We did, Mlissabeth! But best of all was to see my daughter so happy. 🙂
It looks like you’re having a wonderful and festive time with your daughter. I love the photo of her peering down the steps. Enjoy! Thanks for the beautiful photos!
I felt a bit behind, Jill, what with the Algarve and then Nottingham. But the more time you have the more it takes, doesn’t it? Tree’s up now. Cards and shopping next! She’s great company and I really enjoyed my trip. 🙂
Lots of pretty things, Jo, especially that cake. 🙂 What a lovely time you had. xx
I did, Ad! 🙂 Lisa is great company. Your turn soon? We’ll save you some snow 🙂
Gee thanks. 🙂
I’m full of ideas about what buying for my relatives and friends…..but they are so many and my budget so small !
Fantastic post!
I’m lucky that I don’t have many people to buy for, Anna, which is a good thing because I’m not a very good shopper. I like to look though 🙂
Loved your post and (ha) I thought I was the only one with a Christmas tree still not decorated! Today will be the day though, that and get a start on the cards – way behind this year. Loved seeing the decorations in Nottingham, have a lovely weekend Jo.
We bought the tree yesterday, Mary, and it was looking so forlorn in it’s tub. Happily it’s decorated now and I just have finishing touches to do. (and card writing and shopping 😦 ) Thanks- you too! 🙂
Looks like you are having a wonderful time with your daughter Jo! We are going away for the holidays with our family so this season has been wonderfully relaxed.
What with the Algarve and then Nottingham I am totally unprepared, Sue. I did get my tree up today and the house is starting to look festive. Lisa and Leo throw themselves into the spirit before hand, but they like to spend the holiday quietly together. I always think I’d like to be away but the opportunity never arises. You’ll be ready for that hol when it comes 🙂
I’m a bit of a ‘bah humbug’ when it comes to Christmas. I really miss those frantic days of cooking and baking and shopping when the kids were little and my parents came to stay for a few days (they had to as there was no transport home and I didn’t drive then) so the house was heaving! And the smell. The smell of baking, the pine tree and spices. Maybe I can find a suitable candle 😀
I do like your Christmas photos though and the cake. The Christmas tea seems a tad expensive though. Only one sandwich? Anyway I am sure you and your darling girl had a fab time and I bet people couldn’t take their eyes of you both – so glamorous the pair of you!
I don’t bake, though I probably should. 🙂 I like the sound of Viv’s Noel tart though. Normandy’s a bit far to go for high tea but I’m awaiting an offer 🙂 We were actually quite virtuous and Lisa had halloumi salad (followed by that cake, naturally). I’m not crazy about the afternoon tea idea but they seem to be everywhere. A table full of ladies sitting nearby had the tea and they seemed to eat and eat…. 🙂
The scented candles give me a headache sometimes. Tree’s up now and I’ve got some lovely flowers on the hearth. It’s quite amusing shopping with Lisa. Every second person gawks and every third says ‘you look fabulous’! 🙂 🙂
I no longer bake because we’d have to eat it all! I miss doing that. I don’t have a tree either, but maybe I will when (?) we move. I quite fancy a driftwood one, saw some in New Zealand that I really liked. Or perhaps I could make one?
Not sure about the driftwood style. Bit modern for an old fashioned lass like me. Next Christmas- now that will be interesting, won’t it? 🙂
I certainly hope so Jo!
Pictures are so positive and so holiday-type, they bring us warm feelings of the forthcoming holiday!
I love the Christmas atmosphere but am not great at shopping, Ann. I just follow my daughter 🙂
Is it the afternoon tea that’s put that mischievous look on your daughter’s face? The city looks lovely with its Christmas gown on 🙂
She actually had a healthy halloumi salad but there was cake too- of course 🙂
I’ve given up making mince pies and instead make my mother’s invention of Noel Tart: a large tart dish lined with shortcrust pastry, spread the bottom with boozy homemade mincemeat, and add a frangipane top (2 eggs 100 grams each butter, sugar, ground almonds, almond essence and orange flower water) sprinkle with flaked almonds, bake and enjoy.
not 100 grams of essences! Just a splash will do…..
Sounds fabulous, Viv! I’ll sign on for some of that 🙂
Lovely jubbly. That’s what I miss about not being able to drive myself about. Jock’s idea of a shopping trip is: an unalterable list, in, grab, out, home, with no time to look at all the wonderful displays or snitch a treat or two.
I think most men come in that category, Viv. Leo will tolerate a small amount of shopping, so long as there’s cake 🙂
sehr schön, hab eine frohe Vorweihnachtszeit. Ernst
Danke, Ernst 🙂 You too!
Decent looking cake there – white chocolate and almonds?
Spot on, Richard! 🙂 Love a man who knows his cake.
Looks lovely there.
I’m feeling fairly organised but I have 2 difficult presents yet to get. Difficult cus I don’t know what!
Have a happy decorating weekend Jo!
Oh, I hate those ‘don’t know what to get’ presents, Debs! Going to be busy, that’s for sure. 🙂
Oh looks like you had a glorious few days with her. 😊
I did! Nothing done at home yet, though. Got to get going! 🙂
Well my Christmas preparations are almost non existent….have bought loads of mince pies to take back as prezzies for the hotel staff and that’s about it!
It’s different abroad, isn’t it? Thanks for reminding me about the mince pies 🙂