goodbye 2010, hello 2011

its that time of year again..when we ring out the old and in the new... but before we do I just want to look back on 2010.  2010 saw me turning a new decade! To overcome this hurdle I wrote a list of  40 things in my 40th year!... (some of these due to timing have been carried over into 2011 which just prolongs the fun!) and set out to achieve.

I did lots of things in 2010 ... here are my favorite things from 2010....

• Birthday celebrations ~ 3 friends & 2 family hit 40 in 2010 .. lots of fun!
• Christmas in New York
• Festive Frolics with Tony Hadley
• Rome ~ a beautiful city, a stunning backdrop for my 40th.
• Johnny Wilkinsons thighs!.. cold winter night in Jan 10 was so much better watching him play rugby!
• Girls lunch in Paris.. lots of laughter
• Apple phone ~ how did I live without it!
• Michael Buble ~ amazing
• Michael Bolton ~ Hampton Court & Royal Albert Hall - stunning venues for a spectacular evening.
• Pret -a -Portea - Berkeley tea .. a must for any fashionista... change seasonally with the new collections.
• Priscilla ~ soooo good I saw it thrice!...

2010 was one of my loveliest years for a long time... I embarked on new adventures and took some time out for me and I know that wherever my nan & gramps are they would be happy to see me moving on with my life, the loss doesn't go away but the pain softens and you learn to live without them, as difficult as that may be.Happy New Year everyone, thankyou for all your lovely comments. Looking forward to a fun-filled adventure in 2011.

Wishing you all lots of Love, Luck & Laughter in 2011.
Tx

Back from the Blizzard!

and the weather prediction wasn't wrong!... it seems that snow was a major factor in my ability to fly either direction across the pond this Christmas.

I was lucky to leave JFK on the first scheduled flight after the airport opened... a 7 hour delay ( 4 of which were sitting on the tarmac at JFK being de-iced!) and luggage is having an extended vacation in NY! .. so a little jaded and bed is calling.
Thank you for all the get well & Christmas wishes from last post... I'm feeling much better, and Christmas was lovely. I hope that all your Christmases were great too.
Over the next couple of days I am going to:

1. blog backwards (date not sitting!) to update you on my Christmas and my fabulous time in NY! 
2. catch up with friends
3. catch up with my Journal your Christmas album ( I have set myself the task of completing it by end of Jan as due to sickness, snow & stuff its a little behind!)

Fairytale in NY...

Let it Snow and by golly  it did!.... Monday morning saw a winter wonderland in NY. This resulted in a lot of people going nowhere... but it did look fantastic! A hearty breakfast was required and then out in the snow!

Blizzard on Boxing Day...

waking up to every TV channel reporting Blizzard notices!...snow would start at 12, getting heavier by 4pm  with Blizzard hitting NY by evening with 40mph winds. There weather men were spot on!
Morning for me was Pancakes for breakfast and then I jumped on the subway and headed down to the Village. Strolled around and then walked back up towards the hotel as snow was beginning to fall.

After stopping for a rest I headed back upto the Park to have fun in the snow.... check out the difference between Christmas day pics & Boxing day pics... what a difference a day makes.

After drying off and a long hot bath, it was time to head out again... this time to see the much acclaimed Merchant of Venice starring the legend that is Al Pacino. Unfortunately camera was left back in hotel... but a fantastic night ... an amazing actor with a fantastic cast.

Christmas Day in New York...

can it get anymore magical?...I didn't know what to expect as this was my first Christmas abroad, but I couldn't have picked a better place to be. On awaking I opened the parcel that my niece & nephew insisted I pack.. it contained a grey cashmere jumper & socks which obviously became the Christmas day attire and some $ to spend!. After a coffee & Christmas gingerbread cupcake I headed up towards the Rockefeller to attend Christmas mass at St Patricks cathedral. This is a first for me church on Christmas day, but St Patricks is a beautiful church and it felt the right thing to do in New York. I think it will be the first time that I have experienced 'security guards' managing the Q's and people for a church service. Even the Bishop had his own personal bodyguard!

After mass I walked up 5th avenue to Central Park. The park was very busy but the atmosphere was lovely everyone wishing each other a Merry Christmas, free hot chocolate was being given out at Wollman Rink where skating was very popular. I managed 20 minutes but spent half of that sitting on the ice!

Whilst walking through the park I saw 2 brides having their wedding photos taken which was lovely.

Times Square was next which was extremely busy as the majority of places were open. I picked up a half price ticket for a broadway show for Christmas day night. By now lunch was required, between Times Square and my hotel I found a lovely Bistro which was very Christmassy. Lunch was lovely... Stuffed chicken breast, pumpkin & potato mash & spinach... followed by Apple pudding with cinnamon icecream... mmmm.

In the evening after a much needed rest I headed back to broadway Times square for my Christmas night entertainment which was the Donny & Marie Christmas Show!!... fantastically kitsch and soo NY!.. pure fun... Loved it!

Happy Holidays!...

Christmas Eve Shopping in New York

arriving in New York just after midnight Christmas eve morning was very exciting. I don't think I believed that I would get there what with all the disruption, but yes I checked in hotel & quickly unpacked and headed for bed for some much needed sleep.

They say that this is the city that never sleeps and boy they weren't wrong!... so what do you do when you are wide awake at 5am in NY Christmas eve morning... you head to Macy's for a spot of Xmas shopping!. Fortunately my hotel was next to Macy's, so I took full advantage of their 24 hr opening for the 3 days leading up to Christmas!.. bags dropped back to hotel breakfast was needed before heading up to Bloomingdale's.Similarly to us all the dept stores had started to reduce Holidays stock... so much advantage was taken.
Christmas eve turned into a bit of a shopping day for me, including a pop over to Michael's on the west side and much browsing of the Christmas windows. Macy's stuck with their Believe & Miracle on 34th street theme, although did love the cupcake tree in home.Bloomingdale's was all virtual Peace, Love, Merry & Happy.
Barneys had a foodie window which included Martha!
Shopping complete, a Magnolia cupcake & coffee stop was required at the Rockefeller centre where I watched Santa skating. Quiet evening in with take-out & watching back to back Christmas movies before Christmas PJ's were adorned ready for visit from Father Christmas!... no mince pie to leave, but substituted with a Red Velvet Rockette cupcake from Magnolia Bakery....

Tinsel, TGI's & Tony...

Christmas week has been a week of festive frolics!...

Monday (20th) saw the team night out, from work, a first for us but lots of fun had by all in Zizzi's. snow falling outside London was a winter wonderland!
Tuesday (21st) was a night out with the girls... TGI's & Tony Hadley at the O2... a fantastic night out and what we thought would be a crooning christmas evening, turned into a rocking festive frolic!... TH has still got the charm and hasn't lost his touch singing True even without the Spandau boys! We all had a great time and really set us in the Christmas spirit.
Wednesday (22nd) was my last day at work and at the point is still wasn't confirmed that my flight would be leaving the next day so I headed over to my brothers for the evening with a boot full of parcels and we had a lovely family dinner. Brad & Lib were very excited ( especially Libs) even speculating that if she went to bed then and slept the next day santa would come early... as she has probably appeared more times on his naughty list this year, than his nice this was under huge debate!
Hope that your Christmas build up was fun.....

Under the Weather.....

in so many ways!.... apologies for lack of blogging but have been struck down with the dreaded flu virus. What started as a cough & cold two weeks ago manifested into a week under the duvet feeling very sorry for myself ( ala Bridget!) with antibiotics & large volumes of cough syrup.

I am feeling considerably better and Dr declared me fit to fly!... which of course brings me onto another under the weather moment... I am of course due to fly from Heathrow on Thursday... mmm one thinks I won't be going anywhere!

A Perfect Christmas.....

was my journal prompt for the 4th december, as I'm not perfect! ......I'm a little out of sync! with the journaling!

Also this week Kirstie & Phil's Perfect Christmas debuts on TV ... loved the children's party, especially the icecream snowballs and cakes! ... can't wait to see what the next few nights have to offer.

So getting back to my perfect Christmas... mmm this prompt sent me off into a little daydream.... which does include George Clooney lounging on my sofa!

My perfect Christmas would include a few of my favourite things!:

1. Skating at the Wollman Rink Central Park ~ New York
2. A Pottery Barn Christmas Tree & Porch...
3. Snow!
4. My Nans Christmas Dinner
5. A little Blue Box ala Tiffany.
6. Lashings of Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
7. Christmas Carols by candlelight at the Rockefeller
8. George Clooney, Sofa, Fireplace...Christmas.... don't need to say anymore

aaah the dream was good whilst it lasted!

what's your perfect christmas?

Taste of Christmas....

Today i had an indulgent day off work. As a treat my friend had booked for four of us to go to "Taste of Christmas" at the Excel centre in Docklands. As one of my friends hasn't started her Christmas shopping, this was a kick start for her...

There was some fabulous wares on offer, as the designated driver I oped out of all the alcoholic tastings.. but the girls did a half hour beer tasting courtesy of Waitrose.. and discovered a fabulous Gin called Berkeley & Bloom, and a chocolate wine....

Alongside the alcoholic beverages there was numerous foods for Christmas on offer including some lovely sweets & treats. There was also a demo chef area, where celebrity chefs were cooking with chocolate!... Anthony Worral Thompson made Chilli chocolate brownies, Christmas chocolate & cranberry cheesecake trifle and Hot Chocolate.. mmmmm very yummy. Talking of yummy the very scrummy Jean Christoph Novelli made Chicken with chocolate & wine, which smelt gorgeous.

I got a little side tracked at the Tate & Lyle stand, demoing Christmas cupcakes!...

the weather outside is frightful

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow......

London is looking a little like this:

it is very cold!..... lots of Hot Chocolate required to keep warm!. Today's journal your christmas prompt is weather!.. and photo prompt is splashes of red......Today's is also the 6th anniversary of the loss of me beloved nan, and even though the weather is awful I will endeavor to get to the cemetery to lay the wreath that I have adapted. She is so very much missed. x

The Countdown has begun!...

it is now officially December which means many things:

1. The tree at the Rockefeller Centre was lit last night!... hooray, as I will be spending Christmas in New York, i am very excited on seeing this!check out the lighting ceremony here. I was there last year and saw the lovely Michael Buble, Kylie did a guest slot this year... if only the tree lighting in Trafalgar square was as fabulous as this!

2.This year, as it's my 40th year I've decided to journal my Christmas... not something I have done before but as this year has had many "first's" and it's my 1st Christmas abroad i thought i would join in with Shimelles classes and blog/journal my countdown to Christmas.
3. I am soooooo not ready!
......the holidays are coming!!!!!!