Saturday in the town centre

Today was my mum's birthday, plus my sister Carole was coming over from Bolton with my nephew Connor, so originally she was going to my mum's for a bite to eat then meet me in town later. Train travel being the way that it is, her first train was cancelled then the next one was 20 minutes late, so with evidence like that a change of plan was in order. Simple, meet in town and have a bit of lunch there, that was the plan and surprising it worked.

Here we are all together, Connor has his Bieber flick going on and is bored instantly, out comes his phone, he is now entertained, this gives us adults a chance to chat and catch up. As this is Blackburn there is not usually that much going on, unless you are looking for the magic mirror. A magic mirror you may ask, what is that?

Elegantly put, a magic mirror is an ordinary mirror but with special properties, one of which tells you that you need more blusher, secondly it will advise you  that your scouse brow of choice needs a little more filling in, and lastly your foundation doesn't need blending in and perhaps even needing another layer. I know when I was younger a similar magic mirror was available, but when you wanted to look like Siouxsie Sioux, more was definately more, and bright orange Oompa Loompa face masks where not the in thing.

Anyhow a few hours were passed wandering aimlessly around town, popping into the odd shop to get possible ideas for Christmas presents until it was time for my sister and Connor to get a return train home. Returning to Morrisons for little shopping we all went our separate ways, me to continue my lazing about, as a simple wandering is quite tiring for me at the mo, but fresh air is needed sometimes.

Happy Birthday Mum 

xx

Christmas

In some ways i was quite dreading this christmas, that being the first without my father, and wanted it out of the way and onto the new year as quickly as possible.

Carole, Mark and Connor would be joining myself and my mum at my mums to celebrate this year, Mark had expressed his intent to cook dinner, and so with no argument from the rest of us, his duties were allocated. No sooner had he arrived, he set to work, it was then up to the rest of to make sure we all had enough to drink, and open presents.

As my brother was not going to be joining us, new father and all that, we set up my camera to record the grand present unwrapping, and so with lots of ripping crinkling and oohs, this was accomplished.

Mark busied himself with food preparation and soon the table was laid and filled with an assortment of festive foodstuffs. Roast parsnips, sprouts, roast spuds, carrots, turkey, sausage in bacon and champagne. Toasts were made to us all and my late father, even Connor was allowed a small glass of champagne. My dads last bottle of red wine opened and was quickly consumed, hmmmm, good choice pops.


No sooner that we had started eating, it was all over with, crackers pulled, dodgy jokes told and strange gifts puzzled over. The table was then removed and the grand sitting began. Christmas TV does not improve with age, but selectively it has its high points. Couple hours later more food is laid out for us to gorge ourselves, more wine is drunk, and we are also.



Slowly all begin to succumb to the days excesses and sleep beckons. Despite the dread, i think we had a good day, thanks to all who made it so, and a special one for Mark for a lovely dinner.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, bring on 2009