If 2005 was the year of new responsibilities, then 2006 was the year of small miracles. Recently someone in the blogosphere defined a miracle as being an event that was hoped for, but seemed so far from the realms of possibility, that often hope had disappeared. Then, out of the blue, this wonderful thing would happen. The Miracle. Away from any religious context, a miracle is something so special that it can restore faith and hope, lighten the darkest of dark days and tip the balances in your favour a little.



2006 has for me, been a year that seemed strange to begin with - as every new year does. Almost uncomfortable. I shrugged off my teenage years, leaving them in a box by the side of the road, before (metaphorically) driving off into my twenties. In late January, after much cajoling (anyone would think it was a chore!) my then-Fiancé and I decided to get married and embark on the next stage of our lives, as one, together. This in itself was a miracle above all miracles. I had a terrible idea in my head that we'd never get married, but my woes were put aside and we did the one thing that came very naturally to both of us.



Preparing for that and afterwards, clarified things in my mind about who I was and then, where I wanted to be in the future. The honeymoon put so many ideas in our heads, dreams we carry with us wrapped in gossamer and kept closely to our chests.



Little miracles because getting married and getting a job were just 2 things I didn't ever envisage happening anytime soon. Yet fate and fortune played their hands deftly and here I am.



As for 2007 I don't know ~ who does? But as I write this blog entry, wrapped up nice and snug in the new goose-down duvet (so warm!), listening to Sufjan Stevens, I know that life could be alot worse. I don't know what 2007 will bring, but if it only brings the same things, I shall be forever grateful.



So tonight, at the strike of 12 (we'll be listening to the bells of Big Ben strike the hours on Radio4, if either of us can stay awake!), huge storms raging at our walls, I'll raise a cup of kindness for Auld Lang Syne ("times gone by") and wish for many more small miracles in 2007.

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas is once again over and done with in such an unusually fast time. In-between then and January there is always the down-time, still festive, but with all the shine taken away ~ at least that's how it's always felt to me. The big day itself was lovely, pudding, turkey (free-range, local), food a-plenty, and my mother even did the washing up (isn't she an angel?!). Christmas this year has been made much nicer by listening to Sufjan Stevens' 'Songs for Christmas' at every possible moment, as well as the pure goose-down duvet that we were given as a present (so warm!). Snuggling and listening have been two of our high priorities.

We had a lovely week, but now it's back to work (for me at least) and to the beginning of a new year. But we'll forget about that (a different post for that, I feel) for now, and I'll leave you with the last remnants of Christmas chéz VintagePretty.

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I got one of my christmas presents early - my husband demanded I open a little parcel that plopped through the letterbox this morning. He was worried it wouldn't come in time, it had come all the way from Hong Kong! It was the most heartfelt presents he could've given me - two of my favourite things wrapped up together (Sufjan Stevens and Christmas). Strangely enough I didn't even know these albums existed, which led to much trepidation on my husband's part, had I just not known about them, or didn't I like them?! Thankfully it was the former, and finding these beautiful songs made me feel all the more christmassy.



We went to a local garden-centre to find some more lights for the tree (a bad time to do it, when it's already decorated, but c'est la vie!) because it was much bigger than last year's and looking a tad bare in places. I couldn't believe just how quiet all the roads were, and how sad the garden centre looked as the staff were already taking the christmas things off the shelves and putting big SALE tags on them. But we had a coffee, watched the meagre bird-life through the windows (obviously sensible enough to still be in the nest!) and got a couple of last-minute presents.

I have only got to make some mince pies, then I'm all done. I am working tomorrow, but only half a day, so it's not going to be too bad. We also pick up our free-range, local turkey and my mum makes the 160-mile trip to stay for the week. I am so excited.

This will probably be the last post I have the chance to write before the big day, so I'll get it all over and done with and wish you guys the Merriest of Christmasses possible. May you have a warm, happy, safe, loving and peaceful christmas, may your wishes be answered, and may you enjoy it completely. So with that in mind, love to all of you and yours at christmas!

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Christmas, that is. Sneaking up on those poor folks who didn't see it coming. The next few days are going to be spectacularly busy, and would you believe that I'm working on christmas eve too?! Thankfully I won't be on my own, we're running at a reduced capacity food-wise and it's only half a day, but still! I must be up early to fight the traffic, and work, watching the clock until 1 when we can shut up shop and go home for christmas.

But deep down I'm still so excited. I hear all the songs and I remember when I was a child, hearing the bells on santa's sleigh. Watching the made-for-TV films about Christmas, it's all wonderful. And the best bit? On The Big Day I'm going to have those I love the most around me.

And how could I not laugh when presented with the below-pictured item? It is apparently a "raving rabbid" (and I've known enough of those little blighters in my lifetime ~ if you name your rabbit Flopsy, you're in for trouble - you've been warned!) from a computer-game, merchandise of which my husband is given regularly (lucky blighter!). I've been told that he's accompanying my husband back to his desk when the xmas break is over, but I'm getting attached to the little fellow. Just watch, he might bite!



Currently Listening: Ed Harcourt ~ Rain On The Pretty Ones and Kim Robertson's ~ The Holly and the Ivy

Today it is the shortest day for us folks in the Northern Hemisphere and also 6 months to the day that I got married. I must admit this occasion hasn't gone unnoticed, but with all the preparations for christmas at hand, it has been hard to get ready for christmas and find the time to actually do something special. But my husband came home armed with a bunch of red roses and carnations, and a bag of goodies from a little Chinese supermarket in the city. It contained our favourite celebratory food: dim-sum. We started this tradition last year on my birthday, at my request that we should find a new and interesting food to enjoy. And as a birthday girl always gets what she wants - my lovely husband obliged. Needless to say we ate too much (those little glutinous parcels are deceptive!) and since has become a tradition. I'm not very enthused with the peanutty "gelatinous rice balls", dim sum yay, GRB weird.

And I still love him to pieces.

I also just realised that I haven't told anyone on here very much about the big day. Because it was a midsummer wedding, our cakes were based on a really natural hedgerow theme, which stands for everything we are. My mother did all the sugar-work, my MIL baked the cake (we believe in sharing the stress...) and an idea popped into my mothers head - a Brambly Hedge cake. As that was a story-book I loved as a child. Summer Story is based on a midsummer wedding, where Poppy Eyebright and Dusty Dogwood marry and float down the river - all very summery and romantic. So that was the inspiration for our cakes at least. Butterflies, dog-roses, clover, bees, snails and squirrels adorned the three cakes that we had, and everyone was in awe (including us!) at how beautiful they were.

~*~

In other news, I managed to fight the hoardes and get our christmas shopping done, minus foil, because it wouldn't be a shopping trip without me forgetting something important, now would it? In pure panic at the thought of having to fight for a parking space, a trolley, a cash machine and to get anywhere near the centre of town I decided I wouldn't splash out on the spiced gingerbread latté that I'd promised myself and instead just got the dog's presents (yes, we're that sort of people, and no, we aren't precious about our dog - she's only getting a dog toy and some treats. Although she did get her own card in the post today, from the vetinary surgery!) and the shopping. Eh, I'm good. I managed the lot in under 2 hours, and was away just as it was starting to get very hectic.

I spent the rest of the day under a mass of ironing and cleaning. The bin in the kitchen had decided to leak its contents, leaving the bottom of the bin rather, icky to say the least. But no more! It is now sparkly. I just have an enormous amount of vacuuming to do, a bit more ironing and we're all done, just in time for me to work on sunday. I cannot believe it is less than 4 days until christmas, I don't know where the time has gone! But I have regained my christmas-spirit (it was lost when last weekend's excitements ended) and am now ready. How about you?

Ooooh, and before I foget, I got the most beautiful card in the post from Mimi! Thankyou ever so much, it was beautiful and the wording so heart-felt - It made my day!

I have just had the nicest weekend! I'm still recovering from the insane amount of activity. The Parents-in-Law (with brother-in-law) came up to stay and I don't think I have laughed so much in ages. It was made more special because there is the festive vibe in the air, Newcastle was lit up with the prettiest array of lights, blues, whites and flashing snowmen hung over the streets. We saw Clementines, just like Nigella mentions in her Christmas programs, and men selling French fancies, Dutch pancakes, waffels, sweets, olives. It was a feast for the senses, which made us all the more hungry for our meal.



My husband had decided to book a table at a teppanyaki restaurant that he'd been to before. Teppanyaki is a form of Japanese hot-plate cooking, very bizarre indeed, but the floorshow was definitely worth seeing! You are seated around a hot-plate and the food you've chosen is brought out and cooked in front of you, with the chef usually doing something funky with sharp implements! We had a ball!



We walked past Fenwicks in Newcastle, which is a shop I love. If nothing else for the cookware department, where I could happily spend many hours trying to decide between silicone baking sheets vs. non-stick. We laughed some more, at inappropriate things (silicone turkey basters, come on!) then went outside and wowed at their Christmas window display. In previous years it has been A Christmas Carol (I think) and The Snowman, this year it was the turn of Gulliver's Travels. It is a sight to see, as you walk past the many large windows, different parts of the story is read out to you over speakers.









On Saturday we all ventured out to Corbridge, explored the scenery, the shops and the food, had a wonderful time then made our way home for a home-cooked meal. I got to test my hostess skills when our oven physically couldn't fit two chickens, a tray of roast parsnips and a large potato dauphinoise (which turned out to be a masterpiece!). It did all work out well in the end, and the christmas puds were, to my extreme delight, far tastier than anything a supermarket could churn out! We all fitted around our table, lit by candles and it was a really special time for all. I still keep saying to myself "I can't believe I got it all on to the table, on time, all together, perfectly cooked!". I am very pleased with myself.





Our pudding, flaming gently.

Can't you tell it was a productive Friday? With my trusty Be-Ro book I baked up a storm, and felt much better for it. Especially when I got to present my husband with a kiss and the afore-pictured plate. There is something so completely different about christmas-baking. The smells are different, there is occasion where perhaps there isn't usually (except the occasion of eating - which can be good enough in itself!) and you get to make pretty designs, christmas logs, trees and little people, all decked in glâcé cherry fragments.

Work went well, by 2.30pm I was exhausted, with someone playing the bongos on my head (or rather in my head) and what I think was a temperature, despite numerous doses of paracetamol. But soldiering on I am. I have finally wrapped a package for you, made a christmas card for you, and have nearly got a parcel for you - all hideously late, which I can only apologise profusely for!

I have got such a busy week coming, so I really must keep going. The house has to be spick and span for a visit by the in-laws (formerly the out-laws... rest assured my humour has not been effected in any way) and my brother-in-law next weekend. I am looking forward to seeing them all, even though it will be very very cramped indeed in our wee little house, having to accomodate five. I am assured that, way back when, our neighbour was a little boy (some 60-odd years ago), there were no less than seven people living here - so I guess five doesn't look that bad after all! I am getting a tad stressed about food though. I really enjoy cooking a meal for the two of us, but seeing as we're not social butterflies and don't have children, I don't get much practise at cooking for hoardes of people. Especially two men who could easily eat me out of house and home! I have taken a leaf out of some cook books, and can wing one of the nights, as we'll be going out for a meal on the other. It's a pity that they'll only be up for 2 nights - but it's better than nothing, at least we'll get to see them at some point!

So, those are my plans for the week - today has been my day for vegetating, tomorrow, productive stuff begins!

Currently Listening: alternating between: Ralph Vaughn Williams' - English Folk Song Suite for Military Band (honestly, so beautiful and lively) - and Tchaikovski's Nutcracker Suite - a perennial christmas favourite.

You know I mentioned I went out and found this gorgeous christmas tree? Well, I really excelled this time - the tree I saw didn't seem that large - it looked very similar to the one we had last year, and was priced the same, so I got one that I knew we'd like. And like it I do - it's marvellous. When it was wrapped up in its net, it still didn't look that big, if anything I could've sworn it was smaller. We re-arranged every bit of furniture to accomodate our new arrival (we had to do this as it'd be going in the 'fireplace' - but that space was already occupied with a chest of drawers), which turned into a marathon furniture-moving session that lasted literally hours (with tea breaks in between!). We took the 2 inches off the base of the tree and gave it a good drink, and took its net off. Lo and behold, it turned into this absolutely enormous tree - just shy of 7 feet high and 5 feet wide. Our living room has turned into a domestic scene from the pine wildernesses of Norway - you definitely cannot miss our tree - and neither will Father Christmas when he makes his visit (it wouldn't even fit in the full-frame of the camera!)!



We managed to wake up a sleeping ladybird, so we carefully caught her and popped her out into the garden.



The smell is wonderful, it brings back so many memories - as does decorating it. I couldn't leave the tree bare, so I diligently towel-dried it (it was raining outside!) before starting to decorate. The husband was thinking about bed - it was a rather late night, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Now it's fully decorated, and although it's rather big, it is wonderful!



As for the Beary-Fairy on top of the tree - don't ask! We found these baubles last year in the January sales, and I loved them the moment I saw them.



We also opened the Lebkuchen last night as well. If you haven't tried them, they are a cross between a biscuit and a cake, small and usually glazed with icing or chocolate, and taste strongly of anniseed, ginger and liquorice. I love 'em - and they are a fixture of Christmas as much as a turkey.





I was also very studious and marzipanned the xmas cake. I don't like it to be too thick, nor too thin. On opening the packet, the smell of almond was brilliant. One of my favourite smells. Now it really is the beginning of christmas!

We all have our little obsessions, don't we? Interests that, well, interest us and pique our desires to learn more. Well this time of year is what makes the rest of the year fade into oblivion. This is definitely my 'golden quarter', between Halloween and New Year, there are so many things to see and do. The nights are darker and colder and everything changes. I go from light fish dishes, quiches and the salads that mark summer, to hearty soups, lasagnes and stews which mean utter comfort and security. My thoughts are instantly catapulted to glittery lights, christmas music and the writing of christmas cards. Instantly, almost over night, I too change. On the first of December my only thoughts are of family, togetherness and how ecstatic I'll be when we finally have our tree.

The run up to the big day itself is the best bit, when I was a child it was always christmas day that I loved the most. But now I find myself looking at bright, twinkly lights, seasonal music from Elton John to Frank Sinatra to Slade, the smells of cinnamon, orange and pine with my favourite thing, the smell of tinsel. In my advancing years (!) this hasn't diminished in the slightest, it has, if anything intensified. But now it is the whole of December that holds the promise of a new year, new light and new things to be discovered. It also brings with it the passing of age and the changes and responsibilities. In less than a month, I will be what is generally deemed "fully adult". Exciting? Yes. Scary? Oh yeah!

And today was the first proper day that I felt christmas all around me. Going to the xmas-tree shop, finding my ecologically-friendly* Nordmann fir that has become our tradition, and smelling the smells of all the pines around and finally becoming excited. The thought of having to wait a day longer than necessary - too much to bare! So tomorrow afternoon, in the rain and gales that are promised to this way blow, a christmas tree will be arriving just for us, and I just can't wait! The decorations are in their boxes, still beautifully wrapped, hand-blown cut-glass baubles and the lights... the lights!

I was going to start this post explaining (if that's possible) my fascination with christmas lights. My mother-in-law would tut and roll her eyes at me, thinking this was a superficial addiction to all-things-sparkly which she is sure I have (I really dont!). But my love of christmas lights stems from early childhood memories of our christmas tree. From opening the box (kept up in the loft) and unwinding them from their newspaper-roll, to seeing them glitter and glow pleasingly on the tree. It does not stop there - and it appears I'm not the only one! There are websites and museums online chronicling the life of the humble christmas light. How fascinating to see the difference in bulbs and lights through the years from 1900 to now! Some of them still work to this day - and how could you resist some of these and these on your tree? For now I'm going to indulge myself, just for tonight, by plugging the strings of lights, and tripping the light fantastic!

Currently Listening: Sarah McLachlan - River

*Ecologically friendly because we buy from a reputable retailer who plants two new trees for every one felled. This should be a pre-requisite for any tree you buy - and make sure it comes from reputable source!

I am writing this in one of my many breaks, which have now become compulsory ~ I can't believe just how tired I have become since this infection. It now takes me ages just to clean a bathroom because I have to do it in little slices and having to psych myself up to do the simplest tasks. Insane. The antibiotics are still making me feel woosy so I'm taking lots of probiotic yogurt stuff, plenty of natural yougurt. The antiobiotics are doing something, but I don't think they're working as well as they should. So I'm might make an appointment to see the doctor for the end of the week, I'm sure it should've cleared up by now, but it doesn't seem to have done so yet.



My appetite has diminished, good for the waistline, but miserable for meal-planning and cooking. My heart (and stomach) have left the building and want only cups of tea (I won't even tell you how many of those I'm consuming) and the odd pick at food. Oh, and odd cravings for sausage rolls, chicken and mayonnaise and Lebkuchen. Which at some point I am going to have to give into. Seeing La Mia Cucina's blog mentioning one of my favourite sweet-edibles, biscotti, made me instantly want to make some myself. Which I did, in pieces, because even staying focused for half an hour is difficult at the moment. It went very well, it was very easy to make, and tastes very much like the Italian stuff - I love it.



The rose petals are from my William Morris (Auswill) rose, which despite it being December, in the most northerly county in England (and on the cooler East of the country), is still flowering. There is no more evidence needed that the whole world has gone to pot.

I did have time to listen to a very good Radio4 programme on English pastoral music - the link is here to listen again! With works from Gerald Finzi whose Clarinet concerto is amazing.

Whilst I have been luxuriating in bed, reading and sleeping or sitting on the sofa watching dreary TV my darling husband has been busy. I gave him a brief - a new blog, please. Easier said than done. Two days hard work, hours and hours of testing, swearing and uploading later and doesn't it look amazing? I am the luckiest girl!
Note the beautifully elegant menus ~ you are but one click away from links, profile info, archives and blogrolls! It has made me positively squee with delight. Hand crafted, artisan web design, eh?



I am feeling ever-so-slightly better. I am still pumping the amoxicillin like it's out of fashion, the dose is enormous, so those are making me feel pretty woosy (I won't even go into the 3am toilet calls...), but I'm sure I'll be on the mend soon. I can't wait to get our xmas tree either, today was the day my hubby ventured up into the loft to find the lights, decorations and other assorted wonderful things - hopefully we'll be able to find a tree this week. It won't be long until the in-laws are up for the weekend and by then I want this place to look like something out of Santa's grotto. I did manage to make the xmas puds, in stages, with the help of my husband (well, someone has to do the strenuous stirring). We made 4 in all, one 1 1/2 pint, 2 1 pints and a tiny one that we ate for dinner. With cream.

Ok, there has been enough excitement around here for one day - I'm off to rest and recoup my strength for tomorrow and more antibiotics.

Nice Lady Doctor: What can I help you with today?
Me: I, um, feel awful. I've got a bad cough, wheezing, temperature, chest pains and I keep coughing up grainy, funny-smelling phlegm (I saved the best for last, ya?)...
Nice Lady Doctor: You poor thing! Did you have a cold a while ago?
Me: Yes, but it got better and so I carried on and didn't think anything about it. Now I feel horrible.
Nice Lady Doctor (after having listened to my chest, and taken my temperature): You've got a temperature and there is a wheeze on one side of your chest. It sounds to me like you've got a nasty bacterial chest infection. It probably came on since your cold, because your immune system was low. You need at least a couple of days off work, in bed or watching bad TV and reading Heat magazine (she actually said that!), you'll feel like s**t for a while (she said that too!!), but the penicillin will help.

So dear friends, I'm taking her advice (apart from the Heat bit, I can't remember the last time I actually read a magazine, so I bought myself GoodHousekeeping!). I had to do the awful thing of ringing work and telling them (I feel so guilty) that I wasn't going to be in, even though I promised I'd work Saturday as well. But I really don't feel good, as I type my mind is off with the faeries, and I've got a stonking headache and temperature. So I'm off to bed now, with hot water bottle as the chills are coming and going regularly, and counting my blessings that I haven't got anything worse. Thankyou all for your kind comments - I might be a tad on the tardy side of blogging for a while, forgive me? Oh, and Happy December to all of you ~ what a way to start the month, eh?