YEAR AFTER YEAR!

The Christmas week was, thankfully, uneventful.  We finished work on Monday evening and I thought we might take the opportunity to do something fun on the Tuesday, but despite having plans to make the most of my time off, we sat and watched a couple of films, ate left overs and had a relaxing Christmas Eve.  

Two years ago, I planned to host an afternoon tea, in honour of my youngest grandson, but due to circumstances beyond my control, it did not happen.  After much deliberation, I decided that the Sunday between Christmas and New Year would be a wonderful time.  My motives were not all together pure!  As we perceived work would be quiet on Thursday and Friday, I thought I would have some time off to prepare, (pure enough,) but I had considered a lot of neighbours may be out of town for the holidays.  (Not so pure!)   Those who are normally out of town answered first, with a resounding, "How wonderful.  We will be there", or "Yes, I have my family coming, we would love to come!"  Not to mention my accosting a couple of neighbours as they drove to and from the complex!  By the time most of the replies had been received, I was looking at about thirty five mouths to feed!  

Christmas morning was spent drinking coffee and organising my living room to allow the best use of space, and bringing in folding chairs from my shed, conscious of the time as we had dinner reservations at two, in deep South Austin.  

Lunch was fun!  It was not perfect, as Dana's dinner was inedible and the little one's order came up wrong, twice, resulting in us canceling his whole meal, as he had been dining off everyone's plate before the second attempt was rejected.  However, the atmosphere was good,  Dana was given an alternative, the company was pleasant and we were not in a hurry.  I took my grandson outside to feed the ducks, whilst his mum ate her dinner in peace.  We all came back to my house, and watched Teddy open his presents.  I had made the decision to only half wrap them, as the element of surprise tends to get lost on a two year old if there is too much work involved!

Thankfully, our prediction was correct.  Work was not completely inactive, but it was slow.  I started to prepare for the weekend.  Mince pies and Bakewell tarts.  As my numbers were rising each day, (or appeared to be,) I had been rethinking my menu.  Of course, an English Afternoon 'High' tea must have a Victoria Sponge.  Finger sandwiches are probably the next 'staple', and of course, scones! It had started!

Much of Friday was spent making trifles and chocolate mousse.  My theory (which turned out to be slightly askew) was that I had to make one of everything for everyone whom I thought was going to attend. That meant thirty odd individual desserts.  My biggest problem was fitting everything into the fridge.  My kitchen took some time to clear up, but by the time Dana came home, it looked as if I had not done much of anything all day!

I had decided that, despite having a lot to prepare, I really should take some 'time out' and go to see my grandson at his 'activity' centre on Friday morning.  It is a structured session where the little ones 'train'.  It is a good way to get them to listen, whilst having fun and performing and learning some developmental skills.  Each week prizes are given to those who performed very well, and to 'encouraging' parents.  I had told my daughter (somewhat tongue in cheek) that it was 'fixed' as I was sure she should win every week!  No one was more encouraging, supporting and active than me on that morning.  I crawled like a bear, roared like a lion, climbed like a possum, leapt like a frog, jumped like a kangeroo, and ran around the obstacle course continually for forty five minutes.  I called to all the kids to let them know they could "do it!" and took part in all the events.  "When they say 'competition', they don't really mean it the way you think", said my daughter, but it was too late.  The tug of war was going to be won by my grandchild's team, and it was!  However, when it came to the prizes, I was overlooked! The person who won the 'most encouraging' called out a couple of times, and barely leaned over!  My daughter and I left, knowing we had really won, and did not need a prize!  "It is fixed!" I told her before we burst into laughter!  Of course, in reality, I did not need to win, but everyone who knows me would have found my participation, and subsequent loss, highly amusing!

After shopping on Saturday, taking my step-daughter out for lunch, and baking a couple of cakes, I finally called it a day, and wrote my list for the following day!  

I spoke to my sister on Sunday morning, in the safety of my kitchen.  She was unconvinced that I would be ready by four!  Samantha came over at three, and helped me organise the space.  We had tea and coffee on the trolley, a St. Clements juice in a glass tree shaped water dispenser, with tea cups and saucers on hand!

The sweet and savory tables (at the risk of being boring by listing the goodies) had four plates of different finger sandwiches, salmon rissoles, individual bite size quiches and of course, sausage rolls.  A lemon drizzle cake, coffee cake, individual trifles and chocolate mousses, mince pies, Bakewell tarts, a chocolate Swiss roll, gingerbread, scones (with cream and jam), and the piece de resistance, the Victoria Sponge.  

A success it was!  The young man whom I accosted at the beginning of the week turned up with his wife, and a couple who said they had tickets to a basketball game came on later.  A few cried off sick, and a couple did not turn up, but there were about twenty (or so) who turned up, and thankfully took some plates of food home!  I was delighted it had gone so well!

The next week started and we were one of the few places open on Monday.  Tuesday started early, and I spent most of my home time getting my 'downstairs' back to normal!  Our maintenance man was still away form work, returning after the new year, so I was taking care of the skimmers.  After being totally satisfied that everything had been put away and returned to its place, I went down to take care of the pool.  As well as emptying the pales, I took the brush down from its rack, and brushed the filters on the bottom.  My water bottle slipped out of my pocket, where I had put it whilst doing my 'job'.  I stretched out to stop it falling in, at the same time, twisting just enough to allow my phone, which was in the other pocket, to fall out, and head down to the bottom of the pool!  I stood for a second and shouted, "No!"  I then tried to brush it to the side, but it was in (probably) the only actual 'dip' in the surface.  Taking off my coat, and sweatshirt, shoes and socks, wearing what looked like a swimsuit and t-shirt, I dived into the water.  It really was the only way.  However, I had not considered how cold it would be, and could not hold my breath for as long as I thought.  I had to come to the surface to take a breath, and saw that the phone had been moved out of the 'dip'.  I cajoled it to the shallow end, and went in again to retrieve it.  Never again will I doubt the benefits of a cold plunge!  

Relating the story, once at work, I started to laugh.  Thankfully, only one person saw me, and she thought I was there in my costume, swimming.  What a way to end the year!

Our new year was uneventful, and the rest of the week continued with us babysitting on Friday night enjoying a couple of days off at the weekend.  The weather was pleasant and it was warm on Sunday morning.  However, a cold front was promised.  Temperatures threatened to drop below zero overnight and my plants needed to be covered and protected.  

Once again, happy, and healthy new year to all!  I do not have any resolutions.  I just hope that it will be eventful in good ways and uneventful in bad!  Whatever your new year brings, mine will probably bring ........... another story!