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 :)
Monday 31 October 2011
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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