Tuesday 6 January 2015

And that was 2014



What’s in a Name?

People in our family have been living with names I gave them over a decade ago.  We have decided that some of them need updating or made more appropriate and into titles that better reflect current interests and skills and philosophies of life.  Unfortunately no one has actually come up with a new name as yet.  So I have decided to give them each a temporary new name and see if they can suggest better.

These new names will become apparent over the next few blog postings.  And for a few postings I’ll give both the old and new names to help avoid confusion.  

What’s been going on…

We opened our presents on Christmas morning.   Son-who-watches-films (hereinafter known as The Chef) got quite a few DVDs and BluRays and we also (rather cruelly) gave him this puzzle.  There is a ball inside it and you have to get the ball out and then reassemble it.  


I had a try and after looking at the solution I knew the theory but hadn’t a clue how to do it in practice.



Washington looked over my shoulder but wasn’t much help.


Partner-who-loves-tea (hereinafter to be known as Partner-who-tends-minds) received some jewellery including a blue topaz ring, and amber ring and bracelets of crystal and aqua aura.
 

My presents included a lot of books and notebooks (no surprise there) and this super post box.



It goes well with my postbox collection which, you will notice, includes a US postbox thanks to Friend-über-special.


But an even bigger present was the announcement a few days later that Partner-who-tends-minds was prepared to agree to getting another cat.  (She would prefer a dog and has been against the idea of getting a cat since Ivy disappeared.  The death of a pet is bad enough but Ivy’s disappearance and the subsequent search and worry about her proved even more upsetting.)   So after the holiday period has died down we shall be off to the shelters to see which cat or kitten was made for us.
 

The Chef cooked Christmas dinner (leg of lamb) and it was as beautifully cooked as usual. 




It was only after I’d taken this photo that I thought about all the beautiful gravy boats and tureens that we have and here we are serving the gravy (two different types) in measuring jugs. 


On Boxing Day it rained heavily for much of the day but then around 4 pm it started to snow.  “It won’t stick on this wet ground,” I said, authoritatively.  
 


 The snow didn’t hear me.  And this was the scene twenty four minutes later.





The next day Elder-Daughter (formerly Daughter-who-likes-food) and Computer-and-Railway-Guy (formerly Son-in-law-who-cooks) called in and we swapped presents.  Elder-Daughter wore a super Polar Bear jumper – it even had a tail!


One of my Christmas present books, “When Findus was Little and Disappeared”, proved popular.



Three days later Daughter-who-Cares-for-the-Cosmos (formerly Daughter-who-takes-photographs) and Friend-and-Son-in-law=who-Clears-the-Clouds (formerly Friend-and-son-in-law-who-loves-otters) arrived.  




Oh goody – more present swapping.



And even the postman was in a good mood, delivering seven postcards. 



On New Years Eve we lit the fire in the living room and listened to Queen (as opposed to The Queen who was on Christmas Day).   



Big Ben struck twelve and 2014 was over…

24 comments:

  1. Lovely looking family and I love your Christmassy T-shirt! Can I make a small, none-of-my-business suggestion? Cats are by nature roamers and in our busy world they don't always make it through the traffic etc. just like Ivy. Here we have to keep our cats and small dogs inside because of coyotes. Keeping them in does entail the kitti-litter paraphernalia but at least the kitty stays your kitty for a much longer time. Just a thought. I know, I wouldn't have dreamed of keeping my cat indoors until we moved here and had to consider he might end up as a meal for a coyote.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We would love to keep our cat indoors, Chris, but it isn't feasible because we need windows and doors open for ventilation (some of them even in winter) because some rooms get so hot they would be unbearable without the airflow.

      Delete
    2. What about window screens? Even if we didn't have indoor cats, we couldn't leave windows open without screens here in NY because the house would be full of flies, mosquitoes, and who knows what other bugs!

      Delete
  2. 2015 arrived without any fanfare from me as I was safely tucked up in bed, having had the worst fluey cold since Boxing Day. Feeling a bit better now, thanks for asking.
    Nice postcards, and nice family pictures. Did anyone ever solve the puzzle?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you're feeling a bit better. No, the puzzle remains unsolved but it's pretty, isn't it!

      Delete
  3. It sounds like all that could be wanted out of a holiday! Happy 2015!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this post! I may have commented before, but with this computer, you can never tell for sure. I'm glad that Washington is tactful and knows when to keep his mouth shut! And I love B's polar bear sweater - so cute. And your dinner looks fantastic. Roast lamb with vegs and lashings of gravy -- has to be one of my favourite dinners ever! Also, Jo's hands and rings are lovely. Thanks for sharing your holidays with us. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am quite sure that Washington would now very well be able to solve the puzzle - if only he had thumbs...
    A new cat!! How lovely! I am very much looking forward to "meeting" whoever it is you'll take home with you.
    Good presents and fun jumpers all around, it seems, plus delicious food and the company of wonderful people - what more could one wish for this time of the year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done with the new names :-) I'm not sure about "cosmos" though. We shall get back to you, xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. A lovely and happy Christmas and New Year it sounds to have been.
    What a lovely dinner! lamb.... had not thought of that!
    Happy 2015!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think "daughter who cares for life on earth" might be more appropriate.

    We're not sure about the cloud one (Ian doesn't even work on weather), but haven't come up with anything yet. Will keep thinking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK, Daughter-who-cares-for-life-on-earth. I was as much thinking of how son-in-law dispels my clouds when I see him! But I look forward to seeing what you/he come up with.

      Delete
  9. Was great to see you over Christmas, sorry we left early to avoid any more snow. The journey back over the Woodhead Pass was spectacular if a little hairy in places.

    As for the new names, I can definitely live with Computer-and-Railway-Guy; seems to sum me up quite nicely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK, Computer-and-railway-guy! At least I've got one right. Perhaps Daughter-who-doctirs might be better for Elder Daughter..

      Delete
  10. Lovely post. Thanks for sharing. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for sharing the cosy Christmas pictures! "The Chef" seems a well-deserved name, but really - I think you should keep working on the rest! If not for anyone else's sake, then for your own! (meaning that each of the long ones must take you half a day to write each time!) Did Jo suddenly start preferring coffee? (I ask as a fellow tea-lover) As for he Who Clears The Clouds I want to know the story... Sounds like a Red Indian Chief! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo has gone on to much more coffee and to herbal teas which some people consider 'tea' but I'm not sure I do. Ian works for the Meteorological Office (though not on weather) but he also brightens my day.

      Delete
  12. I thought I commented on this fun post already, but since I don't see my face I'm giving it another go! I love all the pics of your sweet family! So cute! I do adore that polar bear sweater! What really had me smiling was the Santa t-shirt you're wearing! That's the spirit of the day! From all the yummy looking food to the smiles on everyone's face, it' looks like a wonderful holiday. Hope this year brings you health, wealth and happiness!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am so happy that you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Christmas....looks like a lot of fun.
    The ball puzzle is surely a mystery that needs to be solved and I'm sure someone has the solution on Youtube somewhere.
    There will never be a replacement for Ivy, but a new feline member for the household would be nice for the new year....best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It looks like you had a lovely Christmas & New Years. Love your Postal Box collection! Thanks for all the pictures--I enjoyed seeing your family and surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well we do have rather a tradition of changing or adding or subtracting names in our family so why not have a bit of a clean sweep with more appropriate names?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great post! Now I'm hungry for lamb dinner with brussels sprouts. Also - loved the postcard of Audrey Hepburn... how lovely is that, I ask you? Looking forward to seeing which kitty or kitties you adopted!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm surprised that Washington was not able to help. He looks a very clever bear. Like your postbox collection. Now interestingly I found my son pouring gravy into measuring jug till I put he boat in front of him. He is the stirrer on Christmas Day! No snow for us. Glad to have you visit and comment John. Hoping to get back into same myself.

    ReplyDelete

Hello - thanks for dropping by to leave a comment. Your comments are much appreciated even if I don't always reply. They will appear as soon as they have been moderated.

Blog Archive