Our Christmas dinner... Yummy!
Sunday 25 December 2011
Friday 23 December 2011
Press Release!
Wowzer, just found out that my advent window is in the local paper! Check out my fifteen minutes of fame here:
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9410485.Saltaire___s_advent_calendar_being_revealed/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9410485.Saltaire___s_advent_calendar_being_revealed/
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Monday 19 December 2011
Most Christmassy Feeling Yet...
I'm currently sat in a window seat at the magnificantly Art Deco furnished Slavia Kavarna in Prague. I am drinking red wine and slurping beef broth whilst listening to a pianist tinkle 'White Christmas' and watching the snow fall onto a beaten red tin tram right outside.
This is genuinely the most Christmassy I have EVER felt. Happy, happy, happy :-)
Prague Old Town Square
Christmas spirit is alive and well in Prague with fantastic Christmas markets, larger than life angels and real snow!
Check out this photograph of the beautiful Christmas tree right next to the markets and outdoor (yep, in -10 temperatures!) stage.
The tree is so large it makes you feel like a child again staring up at it's sparkling branches. The flat golden coins that you see hanging are bigger than my head! Now that is what I call a Christmas tree! Very impressive.
Check out this photograph of the beautiful Christmas tree right next to the markets and outdoor (yep, in -10 temperatures!) stage.
The tree is so large it makes you feel like a child again staring up at it's sparkling branches. The flat golden coins that you see hanging are bigger than my head! Now that is what I call a Christmas tree! Very impressive.
Saturday 17 December 2011
Had to share this...
I've just recieved this image on an email and I simply had to share it on here!
My friend's homemade Christmas tree topper. A star, created using buttons.
Genius!
A Prague-ish Christmas
I have just arrived in Prague in search of some Czech Christmas magic. I am hoping for cheesey nativity scenes, mulled wine, Christmas markets and fairy lights galore.
Tonight I am having an early night so tomorrow I can, fingers crossed, search out these delights and report back here.
So watch this space...
Wednesday 14 December 2011
A Step by Step Guide to...
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| Position the tree in a secure stand. |
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| Collect and collate your decorations. |
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| Get decorating! Lights, beads, baubles that's the way it goes! |
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| Close up of our "Nights Of Wonder" themed handiwork! |
Monday 12 December 2011
Arthur Christmas...
Perhaps the best Christmas movie since Elf... Maybe even The Snowman... Nah, Elf is pretty good!
Anyhoo, a happy, rollercoaster ride through Christmas Eve with the Claus family as seen through the eyes of Aardman animation studios.
I can't describe it without giving too much away or plastering on so much hype that you're only going to be disappointed.
Simply put, GO AND SEE THIS! It genuinely is Christmas-tastic!
Sunday 11 December 2011
Saturday 10 December 2011
Friday 9 December 2011
Monday 5 December 2011
Advent Window 2011
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| Advent Window No. 2 |
Advent Time!
The start of advent means only one thing in Saltaire, that the Living Advent Calender will be up and running!
The basic idea is that 24 houses are each allocated a date in advent and then create a Christmas window to be illuminated on their given date! So far this year we have had collage, fashion and painting displayed in innovative ways, charting the progress of advent.
I am very lucky to have been chosen to participate for the second year running and this year, as hinted earlier in my blog, my theme was Noah's ark, as in, "The animals went in two by two." My theme represents my number two status on the calender as well as my house number!
Exciting stuff... Photograph to follow :)
The basic idea is that 24 houses are each allocated a date in advent and then create a Christmas window to be illuminated on their given date! So far this year we have had collage, fashion and painting displayed in innovative ways, charting the progress of advent.
I am very lucky to have been chosen to participate for the second year running and this year, as hinted earlier in my blog, my theme was Noah's ark, as in, "The animals went in two by two." My theme represents my number two status on the calender as well as my house number!
Exciting stuff... Photograph to follow :)
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Sculpture Gallery
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| An over-sized floral display. |
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| Is this the red branch Christmas Tree recycled from a previous year? |
The sculpture gallery almost always contains my favourite Christmas decorations at Chatsworth. I think it is for the simple reason that the room feels magical, special and about as CHristmassy as you can get!
Somehow, between the stone statues and the coloured lights, you feel bathed in the warmth of Christmas. It truly makes me feel like a child again; I somehow recapture that youthful excitement and freshness.
Contemporary and yet traditional, witty and yet wholesome; a room full of juxtapositions that somehow totally works and really emits that famous Christmas spirit!
A fantastic experience and one I would genuinely recommend if you haven't already experienced it, this room is like no other decor you will see.
Monday 21 November 2011
It is now officially the Christmas season...
... Because I have just seen this year's Coca Cola Christmas advert on TV for the first time this year.
Holidays are coming...
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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| The Chapel at Chatsworth |
Fans and/or regular visitors to Chatsworth at Christmas may have noticed the recycling of the centre piece from "A Hans Christian Anderson Fairytale Christmas" in 2009.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Apparently the family really do eat their Christmas dinner here...
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The dining room dressed for Christmas |
Chatsworth at Christmas
One of my all time favourite family traditions is going to see the decorations at Chatsworth House. This year's themes was visual Christmas Carols and we had so much fun going around each room trying to guess the carol before bursting into the appropriate song!
I will upload a number of pictures from Chatsworth over the next few days, see if you can guess the themes!
I will upload a number of pictures from Chatsworth over the next few days, see if you can guess the themes!
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Monday 14 November 2011
Traditional Turkey?
Is Turkey a Christmas must have?
It is one of the things that normally features at the top of my shopping list and yet I'm not a massive fan of it. Ok so that's not exactly accurate. I like and eat turkey quite a lot; in sandwiches, in stir fries, in curries, the list goes on.
But that's the problem you see, it doesn't feel special enough for Christmas dinner's main focus. Plus when there is only two of you, is a turkey really an appropriate choice? We'd be eating it for weeks after the main event and there's only so many turkey curry buffets you can cope with. (We've all seen Bridget Jones right?)
So, this week we have taken the decision to part company with turkey and instead we are going to go for a nice joint of beef which we both love, we can get in a small enough size, we don't have to pre-order at the butchers and feels luxurious and special. Plus we get to legitimately eat Yorkshires with our Christmas dinner. Score!
Which leads to the question, what are you having for Christmas dinner and why?
It is one of the things that normally features at the top of my shopping list and yet I'm not a massive fan of it. Ok so that's not exactly accurate. I like and eat turkey quite a lot; in sandwiches, in stir fries, in curries, the list goes on.
But that's the problem you see, it doesn't feel special enough for Christmas dinner's main focus. Plus when there is only two of you, is a turkey really an appropriate choice? We'd be eating it for weeks after the main event and there's only so many turkey curry buffets you can cope with. (We've all seen Bridget Jones right?)
So, this week we have taken the decision to part company with turkey and instead we are going to go for a nice joint of beef which we both love, we can get in a small enough size, we don't have to pre-order at the butchers and feels luxurious and special. Plus we get to legitimately eat Yorkshires with our Christmas dinner. Score!
Which leads to the question, what are you having for Christmas dinner and why?
Sunday 6 November 2011
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Saltaire Inspired
To see images of last years advent windows before they disappear to make way for this years batch, click on the link below! I was number 2, so simply click on the second thumbnail for a full image of my advent window from 2010.
I think numbers 19 and 22 were my favourites last year, such clever ideas! See for yourself here:
http://www.saltaireinspired.org.uk/livingadventcalendar/
I think numbers 19 and 22 were my favourites last year, such clever ideas! See for yourself here:
http://www.saltaireinspired.org.uk/livingadventcalendar/
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Monday 31 October 2011
Christmas Bucket List
I hate the term bucket list but seen as I can't think of an alternate phrase it would seem that I am stuck with it!
So, down to business! A Christmas Bucket List (CBL for short!) is basically what would I like to do for Christmas before I die.
This list has been inspired by a baking blog which, is here if you are interested in reading about a foodies baking bucket list: http://bakelady.wordpress.com/
I have only been thinking about this for about 10 mins or so and will probably have to add to this a fair bit in the future but I wanted to get started so here we go:
Sarah's CBL:
1. New York; including Times Square for New Year's Eve.
2. Scotland; perhaps in a log cabin with a roaring fire in the middle of nowhere, surrounding by crisp winter walks and fir trees.
3. With friends; I tend to spend Christmas with family but would love to have all of my friends around one big table on Christmas day before getting tipsy and playing charades and pictionary!
4. Russia; snow, snow and more snow plus skating on frozen rivers, sounds like a dream!
5. Carribean; sun, sea and blue sky, a potentially surreal experience.
6. Norway; I think they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve which would be interesting. Also, I might catch a glimpse of the Aurora.
7. Edinburgh; this would have to be a two week jaunt really as would definitely want to include Hogmanny.
8. Skiing/snowboarding; unsure where or with who but think the activity in itself would be AWESOME fun especially at Christmas.
9. Iceland; I'd love to try those thermal spas, can you imagine sitting in hot water surrounded by snow at Christmas. Glorious.
10. Saltaire; this is my Christmas destination this year and I am very excited! With the advent windows (more about that later), carols, winter bandstand and Zumba Bradford Christmas party to look forward to as well as the big event itself I am one lucky lady!
And that is all I've got so far...
What is your Christmas bucket list? Feel free to post up some extra ideas :)
So, down to business! A Christmas Bucket List (CBL for short!) is basically what would I like to do for Christmas before I die.
This list has been inspired by a baking blog which, is here if you are interested in reading about a foodies baking bucket list: http://bakelady.wordpress.com/
I have only been thinking about this for about 10 mins or so and will probably have to add to this a fair bit in the future but I wanted to get started so here we go:
Sarah's CBL:
1. New York; including Times Square for New Year's Eve.
2. Scotland; perhaps in a log cabin with a roaring fire in the middle of nowhere, surrounding by crisp winter walks and fir trees.
3. With friends; I tend to spend Christmas with family but would love to have all of my friends around one big table on Christmas day before getting tipsy and playing charades and pictionary!
4. Russia; snow, snow and more snow plus skating on frozen rivers, sounds like a dream!
5. Carribean; sun, sea and blue sky, a potentially surreal experience.
6. Norway; I think they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve which would be interesting. Also, I might catch a glimpse of the Aurora.
7. Edinburgh; this would have to be a two week jaunt really as would definitely want to include Hogmanny.
8. Skiing/snowboarding; unsure where or with who but think the activity in itself would be AWESOME fun especially at Christmas.
9. Iceland; I'd love to try those thermal spas, can you imagine sitting in hot water surrounded by snow at Christmas. Glorious.
10. Saltaire; this is my Christmas destination this year and I am very excited! With the advent windows (more about that later), carols, winter bandstand and Zumba Bradford Christmas party to look forward to as well as the big event itself I am one lucky lady!
And that is all I've got so far...
What is your Christmas bucket list? Feel free to post up some extra ideas :)
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Tuesday 25 October 2011
New Discovery
I have just discovered this mass of information online and it looks like there is all sorts going down this Christmas in our local houses, galleries and museums. Click the link below to be taken directly to the page!
Cultural & Family Activities
Monday 24 October 2011
Garden Centres and Christmas
I have no idea why but to me garden centres and Christmas are intrinsically linked. I do not start feeling truly Christmassy until I have made the annual pilgrimage to at least one and spent a good few hours perusing their Christmas wares.
What gets me is; why do garden centres always have so many Christmas decs and have such great displays? It is not your garden that you usually decorate (unless you are the type that likes flashy but flat Santas stuck to your outside walls) or at least it is not the most important part of the decorations. Is it?
And yet garden centres are like the Mecca for all keen Crimbo decorators like myself. I get up early and have bacon butties as sustenance for the long trip ahead. I arrive five minutes before opening time expecting to get in, which I usually do, but also expecting it to be empty, each year forgetting the hoards of people just like me doing exactly the same.
Inevitably it will be a trip involving gawping at exotic fish, using toilets that smell of your granny's lavender perfume and perhaps a watery cuppa if you can spare the time and bear the queue. Inevitably I will buy nothing or, on occasion, the odd piece that happens to fit with this years theme which was of course planned during a similar trip last year.
For the sad truth is this annual trip is actually a planning session not for this year, oh no, for the following year. I now know exactly how I want Christmas 2012 to look and what I will need to make it happen.
And as soon as the sales start I will go and buy what I need to make it happen before packing it safely away in the cellar till next year!
What gets me is; why do garden centres always have so many Christmas decs and have such great displays? It is not your garden that you usually decorate (unless you are the type that likes flashy but flat Santas stuck to your outside walls) or at least it is not the most important part of the decorations. Is it?
And yet garden centres are like the Mecca for all keen Crimbo decorators like myself. I get up early and have bacon butties as sustenance for the long trip ahead. I arrive five minutes before opening time expecting to get in, which I usually do, but also expecting it to be empty, each year forgetting the hoards of people just like me doing exactly the same.
Inevitably it will be a trip involving gawping at exotic fish, using toilets that smell of your granny's lavender perfume and perhaps a watery cuppa if you can spare the time and bear the queue. Inevitably I will buy nothing or, on occasion, the odd piece that happens to fit with this years theme which was of course planned during a similar trip last year.
For the sad truth is this annual trip is actually a planning session not for this year, oh no, for the following year. I now know exactly how I want Christmas 2012 to look and what I will need to make it happen.
And as soon as the sales start I will go and buy what I need to make it happen before packing it safely away in the cellar till next year!
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Lucky (me living in) Leeds
Leeds is a great place to spend the festive season and living so close to such festive spirit is always quite heartening.
Shopping here is simply a must for so many northerners with visitors descending on the quaint Christkindelmarket in thousands every year. On top of that Leeds also boasts the Corn Exchange, Victoria Quarter, Thornton & Queens Arcades and that's without considering the regular high street!
As well as shopping Leeds can compete for a cultural Christmas too as it has the WYPH and The Grand who both put on spectacular Christmas performances of pantomime, opera,ballet and theatre. Then there's the annual Mayors Christmas Carol concert which is so much fun and everyone gets involved singing along.
Phew-ee I am almost out of steam and I've not even mentioned the carol singing and brass bands in the streets, decorating of Temple Newsam, City Varieties festive offerings, craft and design shows at Kirkstall Abbey and Harewood House with it's impressive line up of festive events.
It's strange because generally (as most people who know me will confirm) I am not a massive fan of Leeds as I prefer cities that have sentimental value attached to them like Liverpool and towns like Northallerton. However, at Christmas, I genuinely do love Leeds for throwing itself into the festive spirit with both feet and successfully pulling of a varied programme of exciting and engaging events.
So... Leeds, I salute you Sir!
Shopping here is simply a must for so many northerners with visitors descending on the quaint Christkindelmarket in thousands every year. On top of that Leeds also boasts the Corn Exchange, Victoria Quarter, Thornton & Queens Arcades and that's without considering the regular high street!
As well as shopping Leeds can compete for a cultural Christmas too as it has the WYPH and The Grand who both put on spectacular Christmas performances of pantomime, opera,ballet and theatre. Then there's the annual Mayors Christmas Carol concert which is so much fun and everyone gets involved singing along.
Phew-ee I am almost out of steam and I've not even mentioned the carol singing and brass bands in the streets, decorating of Temple Newsam, City Varieties festive offerings, craft and design shows at Kirkstall Abbey and Harewood House with it's impressive line up of festive events.
It's strange because generally (as most people who know me will confirm) I am not a massive fan of Leeds as I prefer cities that have sentimental value attached to them like Liverpool and towns like Northallerton. However, at Christmas, I genuinely do love Leeds for throwing itself into the festive spirit with both feet and successfully pulling of a varied programme of exciting and engaging events.
So... Leeds, I salute you Sir!
Tuesday 18 October 2011
So what if it's not Halloween yet..
I love Christmas and all things that surround it including but not limited to; present buying and wrapping, visiting the relatives, cooking the food, deliberating over decor and finding the perfect party outfits.
I decided as soon as I joined Blogger that a Christmas blog was defo in my remit and that I better crack on with it asap! What kind of Christmas-forward person has their presents all boxed off by mid-October but no blog set up hmmm?
So, long story short, here I am blogging about Christmas!
I can't guarantee regular postings, endless wit, free gifts or anything else remotely enticing other than Christmas in all it's glory!
I certainly think that's enough and I hope there are some people out there like me who might enjoy this online Christmas extravaganza.
I decided as soon as I joined Blogger that a Christmas blog was defo in my remit and that I better crack on with it asap! What kind of Christmas-forward person has their presents all boxed off by mid-October but no blog set up hmmm?
So, long story short, here I am blogging about Christmas!
I can't guarantee regular postings, endless wit, free gifts or anything else remotely enticing other than Christmas in all it's glory!
I certainly think that's enough and I hope there are some people out there like me who might enjoy this online Christmas extravaganza.
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