Doing It Our Way

Hello! I hope your Xmas was exactly how you wanted it to be. William was thrilled with his present, a catnip Donald Trump, which he dragged around by the hair, chucked in the air and gnawed at for hours.

How decadent, sherry at 11.30am!!!

I wore a 1970s green velvet Quad dress with huge Mediaeval - inspired sleeves, bought from a charity shop in town earlier this year for £2.99. I wore it with some vintage green leather cowboy boots, the Tutti & Co pendant I'd found on Vinted and wore a 1960s chain belt around my head.

Jon's in his current favourite, a Zara charity-shopped shirt and, as he didn't have to go further than the bin, kept his slippers on all day.

The boys came round at midday and after presents and a Xmas toast we sat down to lunch. The lads started with melon and Palma ham drizzled with balsamic vinegar, I just had the melon.

The carnivores had Spanish chicken, chicken breasts and chorizo cooked in a tomato, vegetable and butterbean stew, and vegetarian me had the stew with added courgettes and basil. 

We'd taken advantage of the 8p vegetables on offer in Aldi and made Duchesse potatoes, oven roasted shredded sprouts cooked with olive oil, sea salt and sprinkled with vegan bacon bits along with honey and mustard glazed carrot and parsnip batons with chilli flakes.

 The boys brought Xmas cake, Lindor truffles and a rum-infused Stollen which we made short work of whilst playing an epic five hour game of Trivial Pursuit , eventually won by my brother.  Cheers!

My presents included a Greek hamper from Tony.

Barry M makeup from Jon

Also from Jon a pair of radical tea towels and a radical calendar. 

Liz made me these amazing merino wool arm pom poms inspired by Carla Rockmore.

 

From Liz and Al, a fair trade jewellery box, Nag Champa (not pictured, already being burnt) and a 00% mulberry silk pillow case.

From Liz's mum, Hazel, posh biscuits and some damson chutney handmade by Rob, Liz's brother.

This replica cowgirl chic pattern comes with free dressmaking lessons from Liz, which will be essential for tackling the tricky bits! 

My brother Marcus bought us this Parallel Lines clock, an album both Jon and I bought when it was first released in 1978 ...and still own our original copies.

Boxing day started with a walk to the lockers to drop off my Vinted sales, hence the reason why Jon's got his boots on and despite spending the majority of the day with my nose buried in my book (A Place of Greater Safety, which I've finally finished), I still wore clothes, a vintage Mohanjeet, Paris woven cotton maxi skirt with an All About Audrey marmalade velvet wrap top.

After a couple of chilled-out days at home, its time for some fresh air and exercise. The flask's full, the sandwiches are made and a National Trust property awaits. I'll be back with photos very soon.