I thought I would start this week’s blog with a quote from Shakespeare, not just in deference to the BBC’s ongoing tribute to the Bard’s monumental talent, but because I have been entertained right royally this last month in a myriad of different ways! And of course many of us will take up the role as we entertain our families and friends for Christmas – what are your plans? Thank as always for continuing to support me here on the blog – I so enjoy hearing about your lives and it’s even nicer that we can keep in touch in the interim via Instagram and Facebook. I was staggered to see the response to some of my more recent posts and it really does cheer me to feel so connected to you..
I’ve have had a lot more time this last six months to socialize, particularly in the evenings and since I last wrote I saw a fabulous musical production of Paul Gallico’s story ‘Flowers For Mrs Harris’ that you may know better as ‘Mrs Harris goes to Paris’ the film starring Leslie Manville. Lovely Debbie Flint organized the tickets for us and we met with producer Andrew Collins at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith where it was showing. It was one of the most beautiful productions I have seen in a long time. The actors who played Ada, her husband George and her best friend Vi were particularly brilliant, but the whole cast were talented with fabulous voices and accompanied by a tremendous musical score. I wanted to see it again immediately it finished but sadly the run was only until the 25th of November and when I asked at the box office they were not planning on a tour. More is the pity I say! If you’re not familiar with the story, it’s set in the early 50s and stars Ada who works as a charlady in London. She spies a stunning Dior gown in the wardrobe of one of her clients and sets her heart on buying one in Paris. There were several points in the play where Debbie and I were in tears, but it does have a happy ending and is an experience I will never forget.
Entertainment of a different sort when we met up with Debbie Greenwood and her husband Paul in London to enjoy the lights and then a meal at Joe Allen’s restaurant. They are great company and it was lovely to have a chance to catch up. Last week I took a trip up to Bromsgrove to visit my son Jack and stay overnight and we made the best of the clear cold day to visit the German Christmas market in Birmingham City Centre. We had such a lovely time enjoying the scenery, buying a few Christmas gifts and sharing a bratwurst and then rounded the evening off with a steak dinner. It’s been a tough year for Jack in many respects but I’m very proud of how he has pulled his life around and is definitely making headway.
On Tuesday this week Colin and I took the train to Camden where we met up with a few of his old friends and enjoyed a cracking night at the Jazz Café watching Mama’s Gun – a great band who I feel are going to be mighty one day.
Of course it’s far busier at this time of year than normal and although I had great plans for being more organised, still I’m running around like a headless chicken when it comes to buying and wrapping presents! How are you getting on? Have you put your tree up? What would be your earliest memory of Christmas? Who are you planning to spend it with? What was your most memorable present? Do drop me a line below and we can compare notes. I remember my mum making the Christmas cake in our washing up bowl! She always made a massive cake and was probably the only person to eat it – that was if you could chew your way through the icing which was always rock hard 😊 She used to always put a thruppenny bit or a sixpence in the Christmas pudding too, and it’s something I still do to this day although it’s a five pence piece now. We always had a Mrs Peeks Christmas pudding but sadly I don’t think they sell them anymore. Do you make your own? I will be making my own mince pies in memory of Mum and have a few days with my sister next week where we may well do some pre-Christmas cooking together.
So as you’re reading this, there’s only two and a half weeks to go before Christmas Day itself – I do hope that you will be able to spend it with people you love and if you’re working, you will be appreciated. I’d love to hear from and don’t forget you can keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram too. I promise to post another blog just before then and we can compare what we are planning to watch over Christmas and if you’ve got any book titles to suggest to me too. Take care, and stay warm!
With my love,
Ali xxx
Elaine Sallis says
Hi Ali lovely blog. Well the tree is up, the presents are wrapped. Today I went to my 3 youngest grandchildren’s Christmas Assembly at Tewkesbury Abbey. It was lovely and emotional as the eldest did a reading and it’s her last Christmas at Primary School. We will be at my daughters for Christmas lunch. My Aunt lived in Bromsgrove I spent a lot of time with her when I was a child. Have a lovely Christmas. Elaine x
Alison Keenan says
Dear Elaine, I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog. It sounds as though you are very well organised and how lovely to have seen your grandchildren’s Christmas assembly. You must’ve been very proud when your eldest did her reading. I hope you have a lovely time with your daughters for Christmas lunch and that’s the New Year will be a good one for you. Love Ali XX
Susan Lewis says
So glad to hear you are enjoying life Ali. Put my tree up although live alone still enjoy getting the decorations out. Have watched the decoration programmes and it made me think of you, and how much we miss you. Dont do social media so lovely to hear from you, I used to look forward to your weekly blogs .Living in the Devon coast we have had some very unfavourable weather so our town lights only just going up. London looking good .Take care.Love Sue xx
Alison Keenan says
Hi there Sue, so glad to know that you still enjoy getting the Christmas decorations out, and I’m glad that you watched the QVC Christmas shows – I miss them too! We had a lovely holiday on the Devon coast last summer but I’m sorry you’ve not had good weather. I hope you have a very happy Christmas though love Ali xx
Margaret says
Christmas has come upon us very quickly,We are in the middle of decorating the sitting room,we seem always to be busy around this time.Its a sad one for us this time as I lost my Brother and Cousin within a week of each other,and it’s difficult to get motivated.But I shall have about fifteen this year ,it’s all about family.I wish you a Happy Christmas time with your family,looking forward to the Carol services it really feels like Christmas then,x
Alison Keenan says
Dear Margaret, firstly I’m so very sorry to know of the double loss to your family. It is incredibly hard to find the motivation to do anything when you are grieving but I hope that having the family with you this Christmas you can all lean on each other for support.
I very much hope you enjoy the carol service and will have a happy time in spite of having had such a difficult year. May the New Year be easier for you, with my love, Ali xx
Sue says
Hi Ali, I have just got home from doing the Christmas Markets and sightseeing in Prague. It snowed and was very cold but it is a beautiful city. If you haven’t been and get the chance make sure you look up. The architecture is exquisite. It was rarely bombed during the war so the buildings survived. Love hearing from you.
Alison Keenan says
Hi Sue, I must definitely get to Prague next year! I have heard so many wonderful things about it and particularly at this time of the year. I hope you and yours have a very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Thank you for keeping in touch, love Ali XX
Loraine Plumb says
Hi Alison you have been a busy bee seeing people, we have had people here but I think I said before we are all going to a place near Weymouth for Xmas so looking forward to that. We have been to see the girls at school concerts etc so always a lot going on. I unfortunately had a bad cough leaves you feeling tired but beginning to feel better, my niece has been really poorly with covid it’s definately still about. Les and I are looking forward to our break to Rome on the 21st January. He is planning on retiring probably by April I hope he does. Hope you all have a lovely Xmas in your newly renovated home it’s beautiful. Much love Loraine. Xxxx
Alison Keenan says
Hi Loraine, I’m sure you are very much looking forward to going away for Christmas and being with the family. It sounds as though you also have been very busy I’m just sorry that you have been struggling with a bad cough. Colin has been far from well these last few weeks but he’s much better now. I hope that you and Les have a wonderful time in Rome and the year ahead will bring retirement and more time together. With my love, Ali XX
Roz says
Hi there. Yes Christmas comes round so quickly and you wonder how! Yes you have been busy and like you we retired last October and the days spin by. I am going to my group next week for our Christmas buffet. The group consists of ladies who have had breast cancer. As I have read your book, I will be taking that with me for a raffle prize and am sure it will be supportive to someone there. All raffle monies will be going to a homeless charity to help people who have nothing to set up their home. So I will also be taking a bag of household items too. Also going to a lovely restaurant with 2 neighbours for our Friday Christmas lunch and looking forward to venturing out after hip op a few weeks ago. I like your wall paper! Hope you get a lot straighter soon and like reading your blog. Keep present wrapping! Bye for now.
Alison Keenan says
Dear Roz, I am glad you are healing well after your hip op, and what a lovely idea to have a group of friends who have all been through the same experience with breast cancer. I do hope you enjoyed the book and that’s a great thing to share it around, especially as it could be helpful to someone. I hope you enjoy your Christmas buffet and the Friday Christmas lunch too. Glad you liked the wallpaper – we carried on with it round the bifold doors and the big window too. I’m glad you also enjoy the blog – happy Christmas to you and yours. Love Ali xx
Karen Brooker says
Hi lovely Ali, great blog as ever. I watched the film Mrs Harris goes to Paris recently and absolutely loved it. Lesley Manville was so good in it. What lovely outings youve had. My earliest memory of xmas was being so excited to see if father christmas had been i couldnt sleep! Me and my sister would be listening out and we would get up way to early and were told no its too early go back to bed! We would eventually fall asleep until morning and then race downstairs! The presents are now wrapped and have just finished making the cards. Just the decorations to go. My son finally got to get his own place recently but he will be coming home for mum’s xmas dinner! Love from Karen xx
Alison Keenan says
Dear Karen, lovely to hear from you and share your Christmas memories. You and your sister sound exactly the same as Jenny and I – we were forever asking our nanny or mum was it time to get up! Just so exciting waiting for Mum to open the sitting room door so we could go in and see the presents. I’m glad your son will be coming home for his Christmas lunch – I’m sure you miss him now he has moved on. Have a very happy time together, love Ali xx
Mary Morphy says
Hello Alison, well you’ve certainly been busy and I l9ve reading about your family, visits and adventures. The house is looking fabulous, the wall paper is stunning and I’m sure with all the walls papered your room looks exquisite.
So Christmas has been up in my house since the middle of November but as I’m due back at work on 2nd January, Christmas will be packed up before I go back between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
I used to love New Years Eve but I think as I’ve got older I don’t really care for it. John is obviously working and the thought of going to a crowded pub no longer floats my boat. Maybe its just a me thing, content at home watching the TV.. We have Arthur this year, and I’m on Grandma duty while his dad pops down to the pub with his sister as her boyfriend. These days I’ll be lucky if I make the fireworks at midnight!
I went to the pantomime at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury with my sister and my daughter last week we’ve been going for years and have already booked for next year..Kevin Clifton was one of the celebrities and the pantomime dame is just brilliant. A fabulous funny Aladdin, with lots of innuendo, bad jokes and water! ⁶
Me and my two besties always have a Christmas day out, this year we are off to Battersea Power Station on 19th Dec and a trip up the viewing experience. Train is booked and hoping the weather is dry…
Last few days of school this week, always busy so I’ll be pleased that my alarm won’t be going off on Monday!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a very happy abd healthy 2024. Much love Mary
Alison Keenan says
Hi there Mary good to hear from you and I’m so pleased you like the wallpaper. I’ll be posting the finished room in my final blog of the year. I’m not sure we will be celebrating New Year’s Eve, but my friend Joanne is coming with her family for her birthday on New Year’s Day. We will look forward to that very much. Glad you enjoyed the theatre – we are going to the Palladium in London to see Julian Clary, Jennifer Saunders and a few other famous names. It’s been organised by James Murden the QVC guest, and a lot of my old friends will be coming along too. It was so funny last year I’m very much looking forward to this year. Enjoy your day out at the Battersea power station on the 19th I’m sure you and your friends will have a ball. I’m sure school has broken up now so you can enjoy laying in bed a little longer in the mornings. I wish you, your family, little Arthur and John a very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Thank you for keeping in touch with me, love Ali xx