Quick Cuppa -

For many, the mood is winding down from everyday/work-mode to Christmas (or simply pyjamas). It’s felt like a fast paced year this year, but I’m thankful for each day of it 🙏

I wish all my fellow bloggers a restful break over the next couple of weeks – in whatever way makes you happy 😘x

Right, drink up before your tea gets cold.

Quick Flick Through: Big Issue North

Whenever I buy a copy of The Big Issue, whatever part of the UK, there’s usually some interesting articles – not surprisingly this one did a double page spread on ‘Warm Banks’, ‘Heat Cafes’ and the nation’s struggles with heating bills.

Christmas lights fanatics who cover their houses in the most extravagant lights was another one, along with a three page spread dedicated to turkeys.

Other bits that caught my eye:

This new myth busting coffee table book written by homeless people in York sounds interesting:

…and regarding Christmas food waste, I dread to think how much will likely end up wasted. Offering excess food to guests is definitely a great way to avoid wasting food, along with freezing leftovers if you have space in the freezer! There is definitely a feeling sometimes of ‘better to buy a bit extra than not have enough’ and then find the scales have tipped a bit too far…..

Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a pear tree….. 🎶 misconceptions

In the UK, turtle doves are rarely seen at Christmas and tend to be active in the summer months; they migrated over to the UK from Africa apparently. Both birds are declining in number for a variety of reasons, and rewilding activities are helping to try and turn this around but more needs to be done to avoid them heading for extinction by the sounds of it.

Slightly different note.

Writing to someone on death row, like a pen pal – have you ever done anything like this before? It must create a very mixed bag of feelings on both sides.

Spotted

Party outfit

A Traid window display in London. Festive colours – check ✅

Talk about attention grabbing, I felt compelled to stop and stare!

Anyone still looking for that perfect Christmas outfit. Or a futuristic Flash Gordon themed party maybe??

Happy Birthday!

This was someone in the queue in front of me in TK Maxx.

Looks like someone might be getting some socks for their birthday, I guess you can’t go wrong, they’ll always come in handy right? Especially multipacks of grey. 😀

Overheard

Man: “I’ve bought all my Christmas presents”

Woman: “Well it’s alright for you. I don’t like any of my family”

There will alway be drama somewhere at christmas….😬

Didn’t Like

Creme Brulee. Tried it for the first time and it’s a no from me.

Finished

Topping up the bird food in the back garden – I went out in the pouring rain because I promised myself I’d do it today and just know I’ll end up not getting around to it otherwise. I could hear birds tweeting nearby while I was at it – they must have been watching me 👀 The delicacies include: