A Matter of Choice

Christmas was always going to be strange for many people this year, for some a little strange would be more than they could hope for of course but I'm staying away from the absolute sadness and horrors of the world like I've always done on my blog.     I'm talking about the people I know and know off in Cyprus, those who would have traveled back to the UK, or elsewhere,  those who were expecting family to come here, those who would have met friends for Christmas dinner in a restaurant, or had a large gathering at home.  Our restrictions changed mid December and a 9 pm curfew came into place. Soon after  all bars and restaurants had to close.   We were allowed to have up to 10 people in our houses  (but randomly only 2 people could meet outside).   Most Christmas events had been cancelled, so no markets, school shows, parties etc.   All the towns still put up the Christmas lights which were lovely to see as long as you were...

Here we are in what is usually the strange week of the year between Christmas and New Year, when you you're not quite sure what day it is, and you feel vaguely guilty about sitting around doing nothing, feeling like you should probably be eating more healthily, drinking less and getting outside more.  2020 may not have given us much but it's made me feel a lot less bothered by this week!  I love Christmas and the whole run up but every year around this time I feel a little uncomfortable,  happy but also like I *should* be doing something - getting outside for a lovely winter walk,  especially when people are doing in through snow and frost and we usually have gorgeous blue skies over Christmas (the rain comes in the next couple of months)  But this year I am not being lazy, I'm just being sensible by staying home!  I've made peace with over eating and drinking,  assuming we are about to enter into another full lockdown we can reacquaint ourselves with ...

I used to join in with many blog link ups and tags but they either happen less or I read fewer blogs these days.  However I came across this from Life As Kim and thought I'd relive the good ol' blogging days.  How did you spend last Christmas? As we usually do, at home with the boys and my parents. For the last few years we've had Christmas at ours rather than my Mum and Dads,  they live in the same apartment building so it's not a massive change but as soon as we got a dining table large enough for us to all sit round I declared that Christmas would be ours! How are you spending this Christmas? Same as usual,  we are lucky here in Cyprus that although pubs and restaurants are closed until 31st December we are able to meet in groups of up to 10 people in private residences so the 6 of us are fine  and our day will be the same as it would be in a normal year.  What’s your most memorable Christmas memory? Well, that's an impossible question as there are ...

Christmas is coming,  whether you like it or not, covid isn't going to stop it. It's going to be a strange one for many this year of course but it's still going to happen regardless. Lots of people have had sudden changes to make with the latest lot of Covid restrictions meaning all bars and restaurants have to close (unless offering takeaway) in Cyprus, and many have known for a while they would have to make changes to their usual plans.   I hate seeing that 'Christmas is cancelled'  though there has been a lot online to be sad about this year but that is the most depressing thing yet.   Christmas plans may have changed either a little or a lot but the 25th December will roll around regardless!  I love Christmas, and the month of December and I feel so very lucky that our Christmas will not look much different to usual.   Apart from school celebrations being cancelled (which one of the boys is very happy not to have to take part in...

Everyone has a Christmas traditions story to tell and I love hearing how they differ between families and yet are still all so similar,  always full of memories. Santa or Father Christmas?  Growing up he was only ever Father Christmas to me but somewhere over the years he became Santa!  I don't know if it's anything to do with the fact we live in Cyprus- what do people say in the UK these days?   I don't know if it was me that started saying Santa to the boys or if I got it from them, but they never say Father Christmas.   The children at school would either say Agios Vasilis or Santa so they were quite confused the first time someone asked them about Father Christmas. Christmas Eve Traditions What did you do on Christmas Eve?   Were you a church family going to Christingle or Midnight Mass,   or did you stay home and drive your Mum crazy as you were so impatient for the big day? We sometimes went to the Christingle service ...

Happy new year dear blog readers! On New Years Eve I'd taken the boys to Paralimni town centre just as it got dark to see the Christmas lights as we'd not got round to going there yet and I felt like we hadn't left the house in days.  We came home to a warm house,  music on, bubbly chilling and so our traditional NYE evening was about to get underway! Mum and Dad arrived and we celebrated with lots of food, drinks and music. Mostly sat ( and at various points dancing) and singing along to youtube,  all the old songs that it wouldn't be NYE without! Even Leo was singing along to Chas and Dave! Just before midnight I played our usual countdown which ends with the 'bongs' of Big Ben and a rousing rendition of Auld Langs Syne - although we don't get the chimes live at midnight, it's just not New Year until I hear them!     We all stood outside on the balcony (luckily it was not raining yet)  and I opened the front door as is the tra...

The obligatory end of year / new year posts are in full swing so I'm looking back over the year through my photos.   I took much fewer this year than in previous years, trying to live more in the actual moment than looking at everything through a camera.  I take many photos of the boys, this year I've been hard pushed to get one of them (especially Leo) to pose for a photo without dabbing.   It became a personal mission of his to 'dab' on anything, everything and everywhere, and most video clips taken would have included 'flossing' somewhere. I've got hundreds of photos of them over the year but looking back there are few that would be worthy of printing or framing.  I'm not a great photographer (that's Aaron's department) but I love a scenic pic.   I've got lots of sea and sky shots, many of the same place as I can never resist!  So here are 12 of my favourite photos, one from each month of 2018. January  I love ...

Tis the season to be jolly, and to 'make memories'  (have I ever mentioned that I hate that expression?)  so I guess it's also the season to blog about those memories too? I loved our Christmas, it was simple, full of family, friends, food and fun. Our carefully planned amazon order containing most of the boys presents has still not arrived, and I was upset when I realised it would not make it in time,  luckily my parents saved the day and helped us get gifts for the boys to open but I realise I should have known my boys better and not worried quite as much. Christmas morning was probably our best yet,  now the boys are a little older they understand more and they didn't try and open everything in a mad panic and have it all done within minutes.  Stockings were opened, and then we had a break for breakfast before returning for the remainder.  The boys were so happy with their all their presents, the shower gels, a new sponge each, sweets, chocol...

Last week at Slimming World I lost 1.5 lb which left me 2lb to go to reach the target I had set a couple of months ago which was to lose a total of 1.5 stone by Christmas.   It was very tight but in a fit of optimism and determination I declared I would do it. I realised it might be tricky with the plans I had for the week, the main one being the girls night out at Mojitos restaurant for their Christmas buffet,   anyone who lives here will know that while that is a guaranteed amazing meal,  it is not going to make losing any weight very easy! Once home from SW group last week I shopped, planned and cooked.   I exercised, I walked and ate tons of fruit along with slightly smaller meal portions. Wednesday evening I went out to a Carol concert and had dinner out from a limited menu choice.  I offered to drive so I would stick to diet coke and not be tempted by the wine. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning (I'd had good intentions for...

Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year for parties and celebrations but unfortunately not the most wonderful time of the year for your waistline.    There are different ways you can approach this; First option is to say stuff it it's Christmas and eat anything and everything you fancy - if anyone points out you will put on weight then eat them too! Second option is to avoid all parties, don't drink,  refuse all treats and generally make yourself feel like you are missing out.  Personally I have always gone for the first option, and traditionally start January maybe half a stone heavier and feeling a bit rubbish.  This year I am ATTEMPTING* a third option, one that Slimming World has been suggesting to me for many years.  I aim to stick to the plan when I can  (oops I sound like I've eaten a SW consultant now - sorry!)  The plan being - not to eat mince pies for breakfast 'just because it's Christmas' Not t...

Last week was Decorating Day, I thought it was a little early when Aaron suggested it -  yes you did read that correctly! He was sorting out the storage boxes and (wrongly) assumed I would be wanting to put the tree up on the 1st December,  of course he still thinks they should go up much later but he's realised he will never win on that one.  I consulted the calendar and realised it was the best time to put them up as we were busy the following weekend. It has to be a weekend - not really sure why but I feel it is a weekend activity, traditionally with the first mince pies or something similar and a baileys or three - ahh that explains the weekend thing! It turns out that we put them up the same time for the last two years running at least, thanks to facebook memories, so he guessed correctly. As soon as it was mentioned Louka pointed out that it was his turn to put the star on the top this year.  I had no idea if he was right, and assumed that they were bot...

After a month of chocolate for breakfast and increasing excitement Christmas day finally dawned. I really hadn't slept well - I was so convinced that one of the boys would wake up and demand to get up at some stupid hour that I was waking up with every little noise all night long.  I heard Leo go to the bathroom at 5:30am and was expecting him to come in, or at least go and look to see the presents but he went straight back to bed! Eventually I heard Louka come out and as I lay listening for the reaction Leo jumped out of bed to show him and explain.  I walked down the hall and loved hearing Leo show Louka that Santa had eaten the mince pies and drank the 'Maximoki'  (it's their name for Whisky - I have no idea where it came from!) The boys had been desperately hoping for Lego Dimensions, which was literally the only thing they asked for.  I had asked many times if there was anything else they would like and both would look at me blankly in reply. The only ...