And so Christmas rolls around again...

Christmas was a slightly different affair this year with no Maya to spend it with. Fortunately for me (although not for Maya and Chris), Chris was still waiting for his visa, so he came to mine and we hung out together. Double bonus for me, as it meant I had a resident cook :-). It was a very quiet, laid back affair - lots of eating and watching rubbish TV - just a usual Christmas for me! Particularly enjoyed the back-to-back episodes of 'The World's Strongest Man' that we watched on Christmas Day! Oh - and Top Gear... and Dr Who....

Well thats Xmas done for another year...

And so it is already 27 December and Xmas is done and dusted for another year. Slightly different this year as Maya had to work so she didn't get to mine until about 6pm on Xmas Day. Chris arrived on Xmas Eve so we just chilled out during the day watching TV, making the trifle (me), making the dinner (Chris).

We had yet another delish meal created by Chris and then just relaxed watching the Xmas TV specials - Dr Who and Top Gear! Maya was crashed out by 11pm - cumulation of lots of longs days catching up with her.

Boxing Day was spent much the same way - lazing around my lounge, eating leftovers and watching TV :-).

Very chilled out, very relaxed. I wonder where I'll be next year...?

Mhairi set me a Xmas challenge following my 'Where's my Xmas mojo' post. For those who haven't read it, here it is...

You sound like you need a Christmas bingo challenge!

1. Visit and photograph the Christmas windows at Liberty, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.

2. Eat three out of the following
a) mince pie
b) brandy butter
c) candy cane
d) mulled wine
e) Christmas pudding
f) egg nog

3. Sit on Santa's lap and get your photo taken

4. Put up a Christmas tree or at least some decorations

5. Listen to Do They Know It's Christmas at least five times

6. Put a bit of tinsel on your hat or lapel

Let me know how you get on!

The weather is somewhat scuppering my efforts, but I can state that I have had mince pies, and have put up my Xmas tree :-). Slow but steady process - although I'm not sure I'll complete the list before the 25th...

Pretty sparkly Xmas tree

Pretty sparkly Xmas tree
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

My pretty sparkly pink xmas tree with the first of the pressies under it - not all for me tho. There's a few there for Maya and Chris :-).

Where is my Xmas mojo?

Who knows, but it seems to have well and truly left me...

I started off this season determined to throw myself into the swing of things, but it just hasn't happened - and I'm not feeling the yuletide-ness at all.

I did go to my work party this year which was fun - it was black tie-ish, so I dressed up and put on some heels which was good. Although by the end of the evening I was taking them off to rest my feet!

I am looking forward to stopping work though! And there are a couple of things I still want to do - a visit to the Winter Wonderland and a trip to the Panto might change things hopefully!

Merry Christmas

Chris had to work on Christmas Day so Maya and I had a very lazy day, watching tv and prepping the veges for the dinner. It was quite strange to have to wait until the evening to eat and open the presents, but once Chris got back he could finally relax and we could start our Christmas proper.

I had struggled to get into the Xmas spirit this year, and didn't have any decorations up, but Maya wasn't having any of it, and bought me a lovely wee Xmas tree which is lit up with pink lights - it is so pretty, and did help the Xmas spirit!

Yet again Chris cooked a delicious chicken, and I was really quite spoilt giftwise by the pair of them. I'm particularly looking forward to trying out my new bottle of whisky - The Peat Monster! From the tasting notes it looks like it will be just what I like!

We had planned to go ice skating on Boxing Day, but we decided not to do it - Chris was knackered from the long hours he'd been putting in, so we decided just to amble along the Thames path to Kingston and go for a drink. A much nicer and less strenuous way to spend the late afternoon :-).

Lounging, Xmas night, 2008

Lounging, Xmas night, 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Sunset along the Thames, Boxing Day 2008

Sunset along the Thames, Boxing Day 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Maya, tree, champagne and 'Only Fools & Horses' - true Xmas day!

Maya, tree, champagne and 'Only Fools & Horses' - true Xmas day!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Maya, Chris and the dinner, Xmas eve 2008

Maya, Chris and the dinner, Xmas eve 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Pre-xmas panic...

I only did a half day at work on the 24th and Maya came round about 4ish. We then headed off to the supermarket to do all the last minute shopping that needed to be done. One supermarket down, with most of what we needed (except for custard and potatoes) we headed off to the other one to finish our list.

Shock horror! It was closed!! Slight panic set in as we had no custard for the trifle, and still had no potatoes for the dinner! Fortunately M&S came to the rescue with the right type of spuds (King Edward) and also custard :-).

So crisis averted we headed home, safe in the knowledge that our dinner was safe!

Christmas 2007

Was a very low key affair. Kevin let us use his house as he disappeared back up to Wem for Christmas, so me, Maya and Chris spent the day with a lot more space and better TV toys etc than we would have had if we'd spent it in my one bedroom flat!

Chris cooked us a lovely roast chicken, we opened our presents and then we just watched lots of TV...

Boxing Day we headed off for the second year in a row to Hampton Court to go ice skating. This year though I passed the skates over to Chris...

Maya and Chris and dinner

Maya and Chris and dinner
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Me and Maya amongst the ruins of dinner!

Me and Maya amongst the ruins of dinner!
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

And here they come...

And here they come...
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

The ice before the skaters hit

The ice before the skaters hit
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Boxing Day Skating

So on Boxing Day Maya and I headed off to Hampton Court Palace to go ice-skating while Kevin headed off to Tottenham to watch Aston Villa lose 2-1...

The skating was fab - and I almost lasted the hour without falling over. Until I was taken out by one of the ice marshalls!! So after landing on me rear end somewhat ungracefully I decided to retire from the ice and take some photos instead.

After the ice skating we thought we should round off the day with a trip on the Merry Go Round as well... You're never too old for a Merry Go Round!

Hampton Court Palace and lights... (2)

Hampton Court Palace and lights... (2)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

See the pretty lighting... This kept changing colour all through the skating...

Maya skating (in hat) (2)

Maya skating (in hat) (2)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

Boxing Day skating at Hampton Court Palace...

Kevin and Maya with the fruits of Kevin's labours...

Kevin and Maya with the fruits of Kevin's labours...
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.

And us about to enjoy the meal :-)