Day 361 - Boxing day
Prompt 361
"May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!"
- Author Unknown

A very cold,windy but sunny day spent as always with friends walking from rye harbour to the sea, a soup and whisky lunch at a pub and then dinner at alternate houses. this year we went to their house and spent an excellent and relaxing, peaceful time after the maniac few days we had had!

Day 360 - Christmas Day
Prompt 360
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, Help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa's on his way; He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother's child is going to spy, To see if reindeer really know how to fly."And so I'm offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although its been said many times, many ways, A very Merry Christmas to you."
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

I have never set my pudding alight until this christmas when i was persuaded by DS2 and his partner to do it!!

Cannot put this day in the right place!!

Day 353
Prompt 353

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child"
- Erma Bombeck
Reflect on Christmas past. What are your fondess Christmas memories?

I have many happy memories as an only child with a fun Dad who made my Christmases magical for me!

One childish memory is of me as a single Mum opening presents one year that were under the tree BEFORE Christmas and being caught sellotaping them up again by my oldest son!! yes I am a poker and peeper LOL!!

Day 359 - Christmas Eve
Prompt 359
"The family is one of nature’s masterpieces."
- George Santayana

After 3 days of "Come dine with me" at each families homes!! Here is a photo taken this evening at step DS's home and eating supper on Christmas Eve after going to their Parish church to a Christingle service.

Day 358
Prompt 358
"Everyday is a cause for celebration."
- Anonymous

Well I have been able to celebrate every day of Advent by not only lighting my candle and reading 'A Feast for Advent' by Delia Smith (not a cookery book) but having joined the UKS Advent swap I have had lovely presents to open daily. today I also had my Dizzy dot team SS to open too.

Day 357
Prompt 357
"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~ Peg Bracken

My DH is not really a Christmas Grump(Bah Humbug), His philosophy is that the true spirit of Christmas is giving your time and love to others less fortunate, the homeless and those who have nothing. he hates the long build up to Christmas and all the money people spend on presents for a day which has totally lost it's meaning for people who celebrate it, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 356
Prompt 356

"The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung." ~ Phillips Brooks (1835-93), American Episcopal bishop, wrote 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'.

Today was the fourth Sun of Advent and although I went to church in the morning I couldn't sing or hear very well, so didn't go to the carol service this evening and felt very sad that I missed the beautiful carol music filling the church.