What Lovely Gifts

One of the highlights of Christmas day is receiving lovely handmade gifts. This year I once again joined in Chooky’s Secret Santa Christmas Swap and was thrilled with the gift that came across the ditch from Lyn.

She couldn’t have chosen anything better.  I love table runners and had only commented to Mick the day before that I needed another Christmas table runner.

Lyn must by psychic.

The fabric is great, Christmassy, but not too much so, if you get my drift.

Thanks Lyn and thanks Chooky and Googy Girl for getting us all organised.

The other lovely gift I received came in the post from Lou on the Isle of Man.  It was a brown paper package tied up with string and I forgot to take a photo of it.  I was hoping it may be filled with my favourite things……..OK, enough of the corney jokes.

Well, it was!

Inside was a little box.

This is what was in the box.

But there’s more……..

Lots of my favourite things……buttons, and more buttons, ribbon, a little cross stitch kit, scissors, a seam ripper, poppy thimble and poppy day badge.  It was amazing how much she fitted into the box.  It was loads of fun opening it all.  Thanks so much Lou.

While I’m at it, I’ll show you a couple of my special decorations that are new this year.

Firstly the little wreath from Lou’s box of goodies.

Then the bauble she made from Christmas cards.  A great way of upcycling and pretty to boot.

I bought this little birdy when I was visiting Lou earlier this year.  There are  couple of rather tasty shops just up the road from where she lives.  I have a feeling that some of my gifties came from one of them.)

I’ve saved the best till last.  This was a gift from Lou when we visited her earlier in the year. It is just gorgeous. A truly beautiful interpretation of the Legs of Man.

Are We There Yet?

Last Saturday we hopped up bright and early and headed off on another of our adventures. It was a lovely, crisp, frosty morning when we left home at 7.00am.

We went for a drive in a hire car – a bit flasher than the buzz box we booked, but we won’t complain.

To our first via point.

I did a bit of this.

Ready to go.

We then spent rather a long time in a couple of these.

There was a couple of hours in between flights to stretch our legs.

Once we finally returned to solid ground, we found a bus station for the next leg of our journey.

After a couple of hours wait, we hopped on this little beauty.

We flew over the countryside.

Over the cities.

Over the clouds.

And finally, we caught a glimpse of our destination.

Not quite there yet, just had to collect a final hire car.

At last, 40 hours after we left home, we had arrived.

So, where are we?  This might just give you a clue.

The three legs of Man.  Yes, we are back on the Isle of Man, this time for three weeks.  We have come over to watch some classic bikes racing.  A similar format to the TT, but apparently a totally different feel.  We’re really looking forward to it.