It all started so well!

Over the past few years it has become a tradition to complete all the chores and then, when every thing is ready for Christmas Day, go out and have a mooch around the early sales and have a cuppa ( surprise, surprise).  Today was no different - except that we are so ready that we left home early - around 9am!  On the way we had a lovely surprise - my niece, Bethan, gave birth yesterday to a bouncing baby boy- Benjamin Isaac Burt.  It was an emergency section - since they both had sepsis- but both are on a drip and doing well, thank goodness.

The traffic was very light and shops empty, which surprised us but made the morning all the more enjoyable.  I even managed to get a bargain in Poundland's 50p sale!!

Mum and Dad bought me these two Christmas baubles in the sale as well!

So, all in all, it was a lovely, chilled out morning - which all went downhill fast when we got home and opened the post.  Dad switched energy supplier around a year ago and it has been a year of hassle and arguments.  At of the end of October, he was in credit to the company for a large amount yet now has a bill for a small amount that has arrived with a threatening letter.  Of course there's no one on the end of a telephone to sort this matter out - and boy did I try- and, all the time, I am aware that Dad had a triple by pass last year and just doesn't need this stress.  On a more minor level, I ordered something from Amazon that should have arrived today - but the delivery firm say that they are unable to deliver until Tuesday 27th.  Now it's not a present so not essential but it all adds to the stress!

I just need to lie down in a darkened room now!

Tonight I plan on continuing, and perhaps finishing, the embroidery of a Splendid Sampler block - it all helps to reduce the blood pressure I guess!

Finally, may I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  At least I can start to to reveal some of those Christmas makes from tomorrow - although some wont be given until next Thursday!