Well, my final house guest left this morning, I have my home back!!! :-D :-D

Did you all have a lovely Christmas? We had a wonderful time! Ended up with 28 on Christmas day, a few extra people found their way through the front door, but, had plenty of food and drink to go around, the house feels really quiet now, I feel a little like Dr. Who in his empty tardis :-D ............But at least I have time for CD again.

I didn't get any pressies this year that I didn't like, charity shops won't be pleased with me this year :-) I seem to have enough perfumes to open my own shop though.

So, it's all over with yet again, all that fuss, but I loved every minute of it.

Hope that you all had a lovely Christmas too. :-)

Just got back from my mums. Dogs very quiet, kids tired and grumpy, house freezing cos we've been away. But, they all enjoyed it, I got my new camera and am frantically uploading anything and everything!! Not a bad Xmas, but it went very fast this year. As you can tell from the new avatar of monster puppy, Malachai! Latest trick? He can climb over baby gates and go wherever he wants!!

Hi had a fab time - but 28??? How did you manage.  I found it hard with 7 and 2 dogs.  You are a star!!

Here's wishing us all a healthy and happy 2009 x

We had 12 for Christmas day, went well, though tiring. dogs loved all the extra fuss :-) they were spoilt rotten with lots of presents, Dexter has been trying out his new frisbe today :-)
Boxing Day just hubby and myself, so lovely, watching the odd film etc.....everything in the excess!!

Not what sure what to do New year......:-)

Didn't see a soul!  Just me and the dogs!

Not here. :(  Hubby had flu from 23rd, baby not well from Friday before Christmas and I had cold from 24th.  Was rubbish.  All our nice plans scuppered. :(  And CD down, so no-one to chat to. :(

Just me and the pooch for Xmas- was feeling very sorry for myself until I ran into a lady I frequently see in the dog park. She asked after my Xmas- I said it was pretty uneventful- I asked after her Xmas and she explained that her husband died on Xmas eve. Made my lonely little Xmas seem pretty cheerful- as they say, there is always someone out there worse off than you are. Still doesn't make it any easier being away from your family, but atleast I know my lot are fit and well over in Australia. 

Real good time here, still ongoing with London visitors and friends sleeping over and sons and girlfriends constantly around.
I know that I am very lucky so wont grumble at all. Just be very grateful and appreciative.
Karen :)

Had the flu, I've seen nobody since last Wednesday and still ill now!  Hoping to celebrate Chrstimas Day on New Years Day.

Stormy84 how terribly sad,

I guess the Christmas period for many is also a very sad time, aswell as new life, death still happens every minute, every hour, somewhere in the world, I hope those who have lost (I expect there are a few out there) loved ones have been able to find some peace in this season of goodwill.

Before our meal we always give a toast to our lost loved ones and imagine them sat around the tables with us, it's a time (even when not true) that we imagine all of humanity joined together in goodwill, so even if devastatingly sad I hope those who lost others could still feel the warmth of Christmas around them, it is not even the religion that makes Christmas special (as it is celebrated by those not religious and even from other religions) it is the people.

For those who for whatever reasons ended up spending Christmas just with their pooches, (our loyal, faithful friends :-) )the goodwill and togetherness is still there in Christmas cards, Christmas is all about thinking of others and even a card says that just the same, so you were not alone.  :-) Even if you wanted to be. :-D

Thats lovely Carrington.

Being surrounded by people though doesn't mean you are not alone. I celebrated with 15 family members and for some reason this year I felt lonely. I usually love Christmas, its my favourite time of year. This year no matter how hard I tried I just didn't seem to be able to capture the christmas spirit. Spme of my family members have been very negative and while usually I can rise above it this year it has affected me badly and spoilt Christmas for me.

Fingers crossed for a more positive 2009.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year :)

Well said Carrington.
I guess for me this year it has been a huge wake-up call. Although my family can be a real handful I can't wait to be with them next Xmas and I promise I won't moan or be ungrateful :-) The only thing worse than having an annoying family Xmas is having Xmas with no family. Luckily I have the smoochiest, cuddliest, loveliest pup who kept my spirits up and entertained me throughout!

Stormy thank goodness you have the pooch. If you lived near you could have joined us.
We being my hubby, myself my 2 daughters and there families went out for Christmas lunch. My other daughter did Christmas dinner for the rest of the family, that didn't want to come.
I did Christmas dinner on boxing day, 21 people were coming but! one could not make it, so only 20 people came, even my xhusband comes. As with all his female friends, he still prefers Christmas dinner at mine, my hubby invites him. He just says "my gain his lose" life is to short.
It was a very busy Christmas hard work, but! loved it! The next is New years day I do it all again five courses. 3 starters prawn cocktail,melon, soup, not going to have turkey and gammon this time, Beef and Gammon. Then Christmas pud. Apple Pie, apple/strawberry crumble, gatuea, then mince pies & cheese & Biscuites. The hardest part is getting all 20 dinners out hot the rest is easy. Children make christmas with there excitment. The grandson who was 2yrs old on the 29Dec. Put a carrot out for the raindeer again by the chimney last night. I think he was hoping santa would come again.
All Have a Very Happy New Year. Bless you all,

Denese

Thanks Denese- it seems I am lacking generous friends like yourself! It does make you aware of who your true friends are when things go wrong. A close friend of mine from Australia called to see if I was doing ok, whereas my so-called UK mates didn't even call to say Merry Xmas. Still, I am just grateful for such a beautiful dog and the fact we are both moving to Australia in 2 weeks! Back to sunshine, family and relaxation :-)

Very quiet with one son home and us two old farts. went to my brothers Boxing Day about 16 of us altogether great. 27th collected our canal boat in Rugby and we two and the dogs went sailing. Fantastic trip really we went up to Welford and got iced in, about an inch thick, it was -6.9 on Saturday morning (3rd) and we got home about 12:30 and off to watch London Irish rugby, yesterday was all washing, bed changing and decoration packing. A friend had a drinks and nibbles Sunday late afternoon, back and a nice shepherds pie. Up 5:30 am dog walking and into the office for 7:30am. This morning no phones working, Sage accounts has a problem working and its been snowing but so far so good. Glad to be back to partial normality.

Quiet one here too, lots of dog walking, oh and I got engaged too !!!

Congrats thats a rather big aside comment!!!!

> oh and I got engaged too !!!

WOW! Congratulations! When are you planning to tie the knot?

Not sure on a date yet, I quite like the idea of next New Years Eve.

The most important thing is I want the dogs around me for most of the time, so as far as I'm concerneced it won't be a big do.  Our garden is big enough to have a marquee or something like that, but not sure yet really.  Just having ideas at the moment.

Neither of us wants a church wedding, just something small and simple.  If it were up to me I would just go off and do the deed with no-one else there, but alas his mother won't hear of that.  She's pretty upset that we aren't getting married in a church as it is.  In fact she hasn't even bought us an engagement card, and it took her nearly 6 hours to say congratulations, then she only did cause we asked her if she was pleased about it !!

I don't have any relatives so there is no-one on my side to worry about, just the dogs and they are very important to me, I don't really like the idea of someone looking after them for me for too long.

So any ideas are very welcome at this early stage in the thought process.

Many thanks for your congratulations, much appreciated.

A NY Eve Wedding/Party sounds like a fab idea if you can do it.  It would solve the problem everyone has of what to do that night & everyone will be in extra high spirits with in being NY Eve as well as your wedding.  I think the only hitch you might have will be catering, I would imagine most firms would be catering for bigger events but if you were to book them soon then that might solve the problem, or you could do it yourselves. Maybe you could check with your local registrar about availability.  You'd be able to have a really christmassey theme, lots of deep red, green & gold - plus there are loads of decorations cheap at the minute if you acted soon! You could serve Mulled Wine as your pre-dinner drinks & have fireworks at mid-night! Aww it sounds fab, I wanna get married on NY Eve now!! I've gotta wait until Sept 2010, you're very lucky!!! Keep us informed on all your choices!!

I will thank you ...

NY eve wedding and then party what a fabulous idea.
My OH walked in at 8am (after his morning run) with an envelope, it said a wedding had been arranged for 10am that same day. So I called my Mum and Dad they came, my OH phoned his Mum & Dad and they came down (about 15 miles away) my brother came off site ironed the front of a shit ( could not take his coat off!!) took some photo's, we had developed in the 1 hour wait place. His boss was the only one that knew as he had to take leave, I grabbed Angie next door and lent her a dress as my witness, I had a blue Next dress with a white collar and the deed was done.
His works made a collection a week later and we have a dinner service, Dad gave us £100, his boss 200 francs and we flew to Paris where we were going to celebrate my 36th birthday the next day, he had a special licence which I did not know about so all sorted.

You could have a quickie wedding a party and a church blessing later for Mum and family if you wanted. But your wedding should be yours, not anyone elses, I can remember every part of mine and we have been wed 18 years on 29th April this year, its you and your OH that matter.