Here we are, already five days into 2024, which cheers me as I’ve always been a little superstitious about years that have odd numbers in them! Does that make me odd? Probably, and a little daft too, because last year couldn’t have been better really, with our two family weddings, and my foray into the world of retirement! So how was your Christmas? I know that some of you were with family, and others spent the festive period on holiday, so I really hope it all went according to plan and you were truly relaxed by the time we hit the countdown for New Year?
This year I enjoyed every minute of Christmas because in spite of the somewhat frantic build up to it, the festivities themselves were truly relaxed and happy. However, Colin and I made far too much food for the family gathering on the 23rd December, and although the children descended like locusts on the gammon cooked in Muscovado, we had an untouched cottage pie left that is now in the freezer waiting for a time when we have six people here to feed! Literally all the children came to visit that day with the exception of Lily who lives in Australia. It was wonderful exchanging presents, catching up with each other and playing games with the grandchildren. We only took this one photo on the timer, but it’s a great memory. Sam and Elise stayed with us for Christmas Eve as did Jack and this year I made them all stockings – something I’ve not done for at least five years – and they loved them! We all sat about in our pyjamas with the log burner lit, and opened our presents before having a bacon sandwich for breakfast. Having left them to play various games and watch TV, Colin and I made the lunch, which turned out really well although we ate so much there was no room for Christmas pudding! It’s still in its box with a pretty impressive “eat by” date so I might keep it and then serve it up in the summer when we have a BBQ! Luckily there was plenty of cold meat for us to take when we visited my sister Jenny and Linda on Boxing Day, the first time in years we’ve seen them at Christmas time. They have such a lovely little cottage in Hampshire and always decorate it beautifully and so, after eating far too much food (again) we settled down next to the log burner and played games all evening – it was great fun and totally festive.
The following day we drove to Sussex to pick up my godmother Edna who came to stay with us for a couple of days. It was her first visit to us at Christmas, as she used to spent it with her late partner John, so it was a real treat to have her with us and for her to see the tree and all the new decorations. Colin did all the cooking, spoiling us with a turkey and ham pie one day and then Beef Wellington the next – both truly delicious and a real spoiley to have everything made for us. The weather was so grotty we didn’t do a great deal, not that I’m complaining as I’d started to feel a bit mouldy with cold symptoms that were then accompanied by a dreadful cough which I still have, but luckily didn’t pass on to Edna. It wasn’t Covid though which was a relief as Edna had been really ill with it last year and I would have felt awful it she had caught it from me!
We had a couple of days just to chill before New Year when we had offered to host my friend Jo’s birthday party which was definitely fortuitous as following a minor knee operation on the 19th December, she had fallen and broken her ankle! She had to spend the whole of Christmas wearing a whopping great boot that she will need to keep on until the end of January. Christmas was definitely a challenge for her, so it was lovely to get her to literally put her feet up and allow us to do it for her, although she did prepare all the veg bless her! We had her meal of choice – cheese fondue – and I made her a carrot cake for her birthday. It was the second one I’d made over Christmas as my children prefer it to Christmas cake! I almost grated the ends of my fingers in with the carrots there were so many 😊 It was so nice though to get everything ready in our new dining room, and lovely to see her children and her partner Simon’s girls too with their new granddaughter Penny. Funny to think I’ve known Jo – or Yo as I call her – for 53 years now! So many shared memories of life, loss, love, joy – all of which are truly special to both of us.
Do you still keep in touch with folk you’ve known since school or longer? I know sometimes we change, or we move away and move on and those people are no longer in our lives. But there’s a saying I know that makes absolute sense to me – “Friends for a season, friends for a reason or friends for life…” Does that resonate with you? And talking of friends, I had a cracking night out last night with many great folk from QVC as we laughed our way through this year’s Palladium Panto, Peter Pan! Julian Clary, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot and Jennifer Saunders were just a few of the amazingly talented cast and it was thanks to lovely tech guest from QVC James Murden who organized it for the second year running, making it possible for us all to meet up.
So before I sign off, I thought I’d ask if you’ve made any resolutions for this New Year? Joining a local exercise class maybe or creating a vegetable patch? Learning how to knit or play a musical instrument? I’d promised myself to start playing the saxophone but haven’t got anywhere with that yet so… we shall see!
Take care and may this year bring you everything you dream of that will make you happy.
With my love,
Ali xxx
Roz says
Happy New Year to you. Like you our Xmas was busy and we had a peaceful New Year. We had a family meal 2 days before Christmas Day which was lovely and with our puppy and baby granddaughter who will be 2 in February, that too was busy. My husband has been a “diamond” in doing lots of cooking and caring over the last few weeks as I am recovering from a hip replacement and do not know what I would have done without him. You may remember me saying in a previous blog, I took your book to my Xmas lunch meeting with my group and a lady there picked it as a raffle prize so that your wisdom and thoughts will be passed on. I have not made a resolution but to myself I have said, to be kind to others and to myself. Looking forward to March when we spend our time in Dorset again. I hope you are nearer completion of your decorations. Keep busy!
Alison Keenan says
And a happy New Year to you too Roz. I’m so glad that your husband has been doing a great job of cooking and caring for you over the last few weeks and I very much hope that you are feeling far more mobile now. I do remember you saying you took my book to a Christmas lunch meeting and I’m very glad that someone picked it as a raffle prize so hopefully it will continue to serve its purpose. I love your resolution to be kind to yourself and to others… One of my favourite sayings ever to my children was “if in doubt be kind”. I think it’s served all three of them very well. Take care, and I hope the rest of this month goes well for you. Love Ali xx
Loraine plumb says
Hi Alison what a lovely time you had makes me feel tired just reading it. 😆 We enjoyed our stay in Dorset but it was slightly tainted on Xmas eve when the neighbour and a man down the road moaned because we parked the cars on the driveway of the house and they said we couldn’t we explained we were only there 3 nights but the man was nasty and it left a sour taste, we now know there’s a lot of animosity between the air b&b and the neighbours and we took the brunt of it , also it’s on the market which we didn’t know for obvious reasons . Apart from that all was ok the girls loved their presents, now Les and I are preparing for our trip to Rome on the 20th of this month. Loved all your photos have a happy and healthy new year. Love Loraine. Xxx
Alison Keenan says
Hi there Loraine, lovely to hear from you and not long before you and Les head off to Rome – I’m sure you will have a wonderful time. I have such fabulous memories of Colin and I there for a honeymoon eight and a half years ago and this is a place we are determined to revisit. I’m sorry about your upset regarding parking. We have been very lucky with our Airbnb stays, but you are right, I can leave a sour taste. I hope you were able to resolve it with the owner. Wishing you and Les a very healthy and happy New Year
Vanessa Easterbrook says
Happy New Year.Well after swerving Covid since pandemic we both came down with it New Year’s Day.So been laid up in bed with horrendous cough.Hoping desperately it will hurry up and go!
We have so many lovely things planned for this year so staying positive.
Anita says
Hi Alison, well I’ve managed to jump from the Facebook page to your blog with the link supplied. Thank you very much!
I’m glad you had a lovely Christmas, and it’s nice when you can actually use your room that you have been visualising how you would lay out for Christmas for ages. It look like you had a wonderful time.
As far as friends are concerned, I was 10 months old, when my best friend, and lifetime companion was born, and we have been together ever since! Childhood, Christmases, second husband for both of us, and we bridesmaids to the first one, and matron of honour to the second and godparents to our children. as you can imagine, the list goes on and on from hanging upside down in trees sledging in the snow, we always say we had the very best of childhoods. We are both grandparents and I expect with your friend Yo, somehow you don’t feel like two people but 2 halves of the same one! We have been together 65 years now!
I wasn’t meaning to do a long reply, so I best get on with tea, but I’m glad to have made the transition to your blog.! Happy New Year to you and yours and look forward to hearing from you at some stage. With love XX
Alison Keenan says
My dear Anita, I’m so glad you did take the time out to give me such a lovely reply. Your memories and the way you describe your friendship sounds identical to Yo and I. Two halves of the same person… I love that analogy 🙂 I share many of your memories and the experiences you went through to get there and without friends, my life would be very much emptier. I’m so glad you have found me here on the blog and I hope you will keep in touch this way from now on. Happy New Year to you and yours, with love Ali xxx
Mary Morphy says
Happy New Year to you and all your family, I’ve so enjoyed reading about your festive season celebrations and your recap of the year.
Christmas seems like a lifetime away now, been back at school two weeks and it’s like we’ve never been away. Christmas was packed away before New Year and normality resumed!
I am so enjoying the cold weather, I love it, winter is here, hooray! The beach is beautiful this time of year, quet, clean and invigorating. Although lung fulls of cold air do make me cough!
I am enjoying rare peace and quiet so making the most of it watching a film and a large Bailey’s on ice next to me..my excuse is it was opened at Christmas and needs using up!
Happy January. Lots of love Mary
Alison Keenan says
Hello there Mary, and a happy New Year to you and your family! Whenever I have a glass of Baileys I always think of you 🙂 I’m sure Christmas does seem an age away now that you’ve been back at work for two weeks. I was loath to pack away the tree and the decorations but the room still looks lovely and with the fire lit it’s very cosy. I would love to come and walk on the beach at this time of the year, in fact any time of the year! And I do hope that your rare moment of peace and quiet will be the first of many this year. You must look after yourself, lots of love, Ali xx
Gail says
Hi Ali, loved reading about your Christmas. It’s lovely that you all seem to be flourishing , especially when I look back at all the things that went on in your life at one time. Onwards and upwards 👍. You are very lucky to have such a big family, something I always wanted. Now I feed my craving by watching ‘Just the Bells 10’ on YouTube (love that family). Hope you find the time at some point to have a look at their chanel, I love ‘em.
When are we going to see you back at QVC then as you did mention it on your last blog. Please inform us when please as I’ll be sure to watch. I don’t watch QVC so much now for various reasons, but I’ll definitely watch you, that’ll be nice. Will you be mentoring a product?
Well, what’s happened in my life, wow wow wow, too much to mention! Not all good I’m afraid, but can’t mention it in case people see it on here. One good thing is I’ve moved to the coast and I love, love, love it, just wish I had done it sooner.
I’m a bit worried about Julia Roberts though as I haven’t seen her on tv for ages. Perhaps I’ve just missed her but I sincerely hope she is well.
It’s lovely to be able to keep in contact again so I look forward to your next blog.
Take care and speak soon xxx
Alison Keenan says
Hi there Gail, lovely to hear from you and a very happy new year to you and yours! I’ll see if I can check out ‘Just the Bells 10’ – I loved This is Us on Prime – maybe you would too 🙂 I’m sorry things haven’t been all that good but so pleased that your move to the coast has made you happy. Don’t worry about Julia, I think she is back beginning of February but if you have a look on Instagram she’ll tell you herself that she had a regular procedure and is healing well. Thank you for keeping in touch here – new blog incoming! Take care, love Ali xx