And That's the End of the 2023 Season

Well, it all sort of fell apart at the end there - this year certainly wasn't going to go easy on me!

Since the last post we went to the Beecraigs Festival of lights, hosted Friendmas, then we had our liverpudlian friends stay with us, complete with Ren:

After that was the home run to Christmas. Well, it should have been, I was drafted last minute to sew curtains for the eldest sister. Her MIL (which, seeing as I was 10 when she turned up in my life is really a bonus grandparent at this point) is very unwell so is moving in with my sisters family until she's ready to move on to whatever the next adventure is. This meant a very last minute, very urgent refit of the conservatory and a lot of hemming needing done. A lot. 

Of course, muggins showed up trying to save the day armed with the sewing machine and presents.... And promptly face planted as soon as I was out the car. Downplaying my new war wounds, the curtains were fixed and I hoped that karma was gonna be on my side for a little bit. 

Did I mention that was the Thursday and we were flying the Saturday? 

We finally ticked Christmas at Disneyland Paris off the bucket list. My good dead paid off as, despite my knee looking like a bruised grapefruit, everything went smoothly. Flights on time. Taxis on time. Got booked into the hotel no problem. It went perfectly.

We followed the American tradition and gave out gifts to all the staff on Christmas day... Which totally isn't a thing in Paris. St Nick was looking down in us though as our merry gift giving was met with absolute shock and delight from the cast. So much so that we were gifted with some complimentary fast passes from the lovely crew at the train station - we absolutely did not expect any kind of reciprocation to the key chains we gave out, so we were absolutely dumbstruck to be pulled aside and handed them.

Honest thoughts? If you just want to go for the season, go at the start of the month as it was heaving. If you want to be crazy and try and start a new tradition giving out cards, then go for it. That's what made the day actually feel like Christmas to us. 

Missy was not forgotten - she had a midweek break being spoiled at our friends. We had sent her off with a mystery stocking and really did appreciate the photos of her "opening" it. 

Then it was home and here we are. Hubby is back to work (the joys of retail) and I've been catching up on sewing and generally trying to recharge my very much exhausted batteries. 

Talking sewing, hubby was very unimpressed with the Wish merchandise. We had a tremendously wonderful meet and greet with Asha, the main protagonist, and he wanted Star. But the only Stars available were either ginormous, or hard and not very snuggly. So I present to you, my first attempt at designing my own embroidery pattern for the face, Star:

Is he a bit too chubby? Yes. Is he a bit wonky and out of proportion? Absolutely. Does he look like he's wearing a onsie? Yes, although I don't understand how. But am I chuffed to bits with it, and more importantly, is hubby? Yes. So all is well. 

On that note, I hope you all have a lovely festive season. I'd also like to wish you all a happy New Year and most importantly, I wish you all a 2024 that offers you no more than can fit on your plate. I am done hoping for "my year" and so I merely ask that it be one with trials I can cope with with dignity and grace.

As is tradition, I raise my cup of tea to you all. I hope the chapter can be cleanly closed on 2023 with the happy moments at the front of it, and that 2024 offers many more to you.