CHAOS

Yep my living room is looking like this right now;

Yep its the time of year I get to spend writing essays! I have been counting down the words all day, aplogies to those of you following me on twitter you are probably bored of my posts!

I need to share this image, yes its food again. I loved this meal as it was almost free. The fish was caught by a family member and given to me. The vegetables were a gift from foodari as a thank you for placing my christmas veg order with them. I have been ordering my veg from this local supplier for several months now. I love the freedom their box scheme allows for these reasons

1. the food is always fresh and tasty

2. I choose exactly how much goes in my box

3. I choose exactly what goes in my box

4. I order when I need food, it is not a regular subsrciption like many other box schemes.

5. They even delivered to me during the worst of the snow when I couldn't get my car out of the road.

6. the staff are all very friendly and polite

and these are just some of my reasons, I could extend the list lots more. It is not just me that gets excited over a vegetable box the children also love them. I never tell the children what is in the box so when I call up the stairs the farmer has brought the veg box it is guaranteed to have them fly out of bed and down the stairs in seconds. This is the box they came down to this morning

Stephanie was particular impressed by the hidden treasures in the paper bag in the back they are her favourite vegetables of the moment, brussels sprouts.

Our lovely Family christmas

This year none in the family was particularly looking forward to christmas due to my lovely Nanna dieing in November, all of us at some point would have been going to visit her, she really was the monarch of our family. For my aunt and cousin Christmas without my Nanna would be particularly bleak as they lived with her all their lives and as such have never had a Christmas on their own.
Christmas is a time for familys. So I am pleased to say that all though Nanna was obviously missed we have had a lovely time anyway. My sister, her husand and my neice have been staying with me for a week and a half already and are likely to be here at least another week. My brother came to stay from Christmas eve and went home yesterday evening. On christmas day I had 11 people (including myself) to cook for. I was a bit nervous of this as its rather a few more than my usual handful of people. I realised my table was too small and I had a too few chairs. However with some planning and resourcefulness we all sat at a table in the kitchen. It looked like a scene from Goldilocks. With 3 differently sized tables being used. The dinner was a complete success as well.
After dinner we went to a different aunts house for tea and to play games. I was asked to take along my wii so that we could play that. Oh my did that wii provide some entertainment. It is one of my most extravagent purchases but we LOVE it. And now so do the rest of my family. I think it would be good if we all made an effort to have a regular family day where we get together to enjoy games (elctronic or otherwise).
I am now looking forward to next christmas when we will be able to do the same again, with another adition to our family (my cousin is 20+ weeks pregnant).

I have had such a lovely Christmas and was particularly pleased when both of my children said they have had their best christmas yet.

Despite the extravagances we have indulged in, I have managed to have a Christmas where I have considered my eco tryings! The thing I have done which can be considered eco are;

1) buying some of my gifts from ebay (second hand).
2) buying my vegetables from a local box scheme
3) buying a free-range organic turkey from my aunts friend who has a local small holding.
4) cutting down on the amount of presents I have bought, and limiting them to ones I am sure they will use a lot, and will last.
5) My sister has brought her dogs with her so there has been little in the form of food waste!

Merry Christmas to you all.