Mensch argere dich nicht

Well it just wouldn't be Christmas if there weren't any games.  Now while in the past we have cranked up the Wii and battled it out over karts, tanks, bowling and golf.  This year, however, we decided to go old school and fish out the board games.

German Christmas Market

Is that a big tree?

First day back home and we made our way over to the Minden Weihnachtsmarkt.  Amongst all the usual highstreet stores and under the gorgeous  Landhaus still buildings were row upon row of gorgeous little huts.  After visiting both the London and Oxford Christmas markets it was nice to go to a 'proper' markt.

Banksy eat your heart out

Giant 'life size' advent house

Ich hab dich lieb

Gebrannte mandeln any chance?

What a doll

Gluhwein shack

Last Day - got my mojo back

After five months today is my last day at the RC school.  It hasn't always been easy, the children were quite a handful.

 But after weeks of training they are finally a settled class.  It is such a shame to be leaving, but I case easy in the knowledge that they will be in good hands.

  The new class teacher is lovely and very similar to me in many ways.

The school were very welcoming and appreciative of me.  As I was finding it difficult to imagine being a teacher any more I am happy to say the school has most Definitely given me my mojo back.

I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me.  But I am very excited about being a teacher again.

Baby Nat's Christening

As we pulled into the car park of a lovely red brick church in Little Aston, I felt a wee bit nervous, as I always do. I love meeting up with friends, but sometimes it can feel strange to meet up after such a long time at a formal gathering.

This gathering was the christening of

Mrs M's, (the first) nee Miss C, son and a gorgeous little happy chap he is too.  These occasions while happy and full of love, can be quite a minefield of "it'll be your turn soon!"  And "so when will it be your turn?"  Luckily this wasn't the case on Sunday.

The only other couple that I knew, Mr and Mrs J, were very up to speed with all the comings and goings of our life.  And our mission to become parents.  It was so lovely catching up on gossip from my London School.

G.O was a bit concerned that it would be a long service, as all four of us had squeezed into what was obviously a pew made for three.  I reassured him that it's was a CofE service which would probably only last twenty minutes or so, compared to a cathic service which last about an hour.  

If I have learnt one thing these last few months, it's that the Catholics like to take their time and do everything with the proper amount of reverence.

I was right, we sang a couple of hymns (good old fashioned school carols) heard a reading and said a few prayers,  then it was the moment we had all Bern waiting for and......  nothing happened.  Happy baby = no drama.

The reception was held at a local sports club, there was a finger buffet, lots of balloons, bubbles, babies and Santa.  Before we headed home we were given our favours, personalised Christmas baubles'

He turned blonde with grief

You never know what you will see when you pop into Oxford

A devil, a knight and Father Christmas put on a little play in the pub, all in the name of charity.

They put on a little skit which involved Santa killing the devil and knocking the knight on his bottom.  

Which is when someone dressed like a doctor came rushing in to revive him.  All while the other customers sat and had their meals/drinks.

Only in Oxford!  To which G.On replied "it's like this every night!"

CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST 2014

This is my Christmas 2014 Bucket list

1.      Visit Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 

2.     Bake and decorate Christmas biscuits 

3.     Watch Christmas movies with popcorn, snuggled under a blanket

4.     Kiss under the mistletoe

5.     Have dinner by candle light

6.     Have French toast for breakfast

7.     Go for a walk around the village and look at everybody's Christmas lights

8.     Have a decadent hot chocolate

9.     Go and watch a carol service

10.   Decorate the tree

11.    Donate food to the local food bank

12.   Make a gingerbread house

13.   Go to the Ballet

14.   Send Christmas cards

15.   Go ice skating

16.   Write a letter to Father Christmas

17.   Read the night before Christmas

18.   Eat a candy cane

19.   Make reindeer food

20.  Take a family photo with everyone in Christmas jumpers

21.   Visit the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

22.  Drink Gluhwein

23.  Visit the Waddeson Christmas Market

24.  Sit by a real fire and toast marshmallows