Friday 22 December 2017

December 22nd and Decking the Halls with boughs.............

Yesterday being the Solstice it was the day for bringing in some greenery.

From the garden I collected some bits of Rosemary, Elaeagnus, Ivy, a few pieces from the Leylandii and just one little piece of Bay from the plant that moved in a pot from the smallholding to here via Ipswich. It's been planted out now but needs a few more years to get going so I didn't want to take too much from it.
The holly - with berries - came from a lovely big tree about a mile away, I spotted it a few weeks ago and because we live on little used back roads it was still there when I went to bring a little home.
We've planted some holly in the mini-wood so one day there will be some to bring in from right here, although holly is so slow growing it might be the next person to live here who benefits.

A vase of greenery at each end of the living room and ivy on the mantel-piece. I'm Decked!

Now, on the subject of Holly and Ivy........... here's a thing.......a pretty thing and a happy surprise find. I had to go shopping at Aldi, so of course popped into the Hospice charity shop just over the road, where they always have a table of Christmas things and what did I spot, YES it's another bit of Holly and Ivy Portmeirion, a small footed bowl, priced up at £4.50 but Great Joy, they had a "Everything Half Price" notice on the table. Happy Dance........
................. But I really didn't mean to start a collection!

And Finally ........here is some news I wasn't expecting to say..........Colin is home! Much to our surprise they decided his blood counts were good enough to let him out a week earlier than we thought and I went and collected him yesterday afternoon. We have to go to Addenbrookes twice a week for blood tests where they check and re-adjust tablets and recovery will probably be up and down but at least he'll get a good nights sleep here. In a few weeks time he will have a bone marrow sample taken and that's when they'll be able to judge how well the donor stem cells have worked.
Having him home but still needing to rest and keep away from people with colds has quite thrown Christmas plans up in the air......... but in a good way.😊

Back Tomorrow
Sue



61 comments:

  1. I'm am thrilled for you. I sincerely hope your luck is changing and 2018 sees the start of a very bright future. Love the dish too.

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  2. A day of surprises - the small one of finding the lovely bowl and a huge one of Col coming home. Absolutely wonderful and a very merry start to the weekend.
    J x

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  3. Brilliant news that Col is home for Christmas! Hope you a lovely time.

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  4. I'm fair dancing on the table for you...look after him! xx

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  5. What a lovely surprise! Happy Christmas !

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  6. What a lovely surprise Christmas gift! Colin, of course....although the bowl comes a close second. I hope he's well enough to enjoy Christmas.

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  7. That really is wonderful news! Happiness and health to you and Col. Truly delighted for you. xx

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  8. So happy for you both that Col is home for Christmas, the best present for you. Merry Christmas to you both xx

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  9. Wooohooo I’m so happy for you both! Have a wonderful Christmas xx

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  10. That's wonderful news! Have a lovely Christmas! x

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  11. I'm so pleased you have your Col home. A gift in itself. I hope you both have a relaxing and peaceful Christmas. X

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  12. Lovely post Sue and great news that Col is home. That is lovely and a Christmas present all in itself. Happy Christmas to you both. Pattypanxx

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  13. YAY, brilliant news!
    So lovely that you'll be together at Christmas! Have a wonderful festive period, with Col getting lots of restful sleep!

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  14. That's the best Christmas gift of all.
    Nadolig Llawen!

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  15. Best Christmas gift you could have. Good wishes you both for a quiet Christmad at home together. Catriona

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  16. Enjoy a peaceful Christmas together. Fill your new bowl full of treats you both enjoy, wear your boots out doing small walks and finally wear the settees and Radio Times out watching television.
    Have a very happy time! Sue

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  17. Delighted to hear you'll be home together for Christmas.

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  18. How wonderful to have Col home for Christmas - the perfect present. It will be magical for you. I hope any bugs keep (or are kept) away and it is onwards and upwards from hereon.

    P.S. Good find with that little piece of Christmas Portmeirion too.

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  19. That is fantastic news! The perfect Christmas gift for you both. Enjoy a peaceful and happy Christmas together. Col's own bed must seem heavenly!

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  20. Oh so very pleased Col is back with you. Best wishes for continued good news and health. I brought my greenery in and it will go up today. Can't WAIT as I love this part of Christmas. It will probably take all day with everything else I have to do but that is ok.

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  21. The best Christmas gift and news for you both.
    Arilx

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  22. Well done Colin, keep fighting. A lovely Christmas present.

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  23. That is so wonderful for you both. I hope he has a restful time at home with you, what joy. I love the Holly and the Ivy china, plus it's my favourite Christmas Carol. What bargains, I have only ever found a mug for £2 and I was thrilled with that, all the rest in my collection I have bought full price new. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and a healthy new year. Regards Sue H

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  24. So pleased he's home - what a fantastic Christmas present for you both!

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  25. Oh, how lovely, what a blessing !

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  26. Great news Sue, have a very Merry Christmas, and we will keep everything crossed for a healthy New Year.

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  27. Just sending virtual hugs to you and Col, Sue. So good to have him home for Christmas.
    Margaret P

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  28. That is such lovely, lovely news. A perfect Christmas present. x

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  29. What absolutely wonderful news Sue. I am over the moon for you and Col.
    Huge hugs to you both-x-

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  30. SO VERY HAPPY to hear your wonderful news about Col and that he can be home with you for Christmas! I was worried for both of you that you might not be together so I am very pleased that you will be home together! Just the good news I needed today. Hope that the tests all give great results and that in the meantime you can enjoy the greenery, your new china purchases and your family in your home at the end of your Suffolk lane. Here's hoping for great things in 2018!

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  31. Such great news, Merry Christmas to you and Colin. Sandra

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  32. So pleased to hear your good news! Very best wishes to you and Col, hope you have a lovely Christmas. Eilidh x

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  33. Fabulous news! What a nice Christmas gift!
    Debbie

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  34. What a great Christmas gift!! I am so glad that Col is home.

    You have a wonderful Christmas.

    God bless.

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  35. Such wonderful news, a real blessing to be together for Christmas.

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  36. Such brilliant news, I went all goose-bumpy and funny when I read that Colin is home. What an absolutely wonderful Christmas present for you both. Wishing you both all the very best for a Happy Christmas and the New Year. xx

    And yes ... now you have a Christmas pottery collection :-)

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  37. I've been lurking on your wonderful blog for a long time, but had to say I am overjoyed that your Colin is home for Christmas! Will keep you in prayer for a good report on the bone marrow transplant results. Thank you for sharing that lovely holly and ivy collection, and have a blessed Christmas.

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  38. Home for Christmas - so happy for you. Hope you have a lovely and peaceful time together, even if it means you can't see the family for a short while. Here's hoping that next year's going to be a good year for you.

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  39. Another 'lurker' here.

    I am thrilled for you that Col's home.

    All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

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  40. What good news! Enjoy your quiet time at home!

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  41. So glad you will be together for Christmas. Have a wonderful time.

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  42. Sue that is wonderful news, just praying that he keeps on improving. Merry Christmas to you both.
    Pat in Norwich

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  43. I am very happy for you both. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas together and that Col continues to improve.

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  44. Portmerion at that price - who could resist?!!
    I hope you have a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and that 2018 brings strong, positive news for you both. X

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  45. Wow that's fantastic news that col is home for christmas , Love your charity shop find , Have a Merry , Merry Christmas and hope the new year brings you and col perfect health and happiness , Eileen

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  46. Wow, you couldn't ask for a better Christmas present, so very pleased for you both. Here's wishing you both Good Health & Happiness in 2018. Happy Christmas

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  47. I wish all your Christmas plans people a VERY happy Christmas! Lovely to be home again, and early.

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  48. What wonderful new about Col! He has been in my prayers and remains there.

    Have a very Happy Christmas.

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  49. Sue I am so happy to hear that Col is home.
    Merry Christmas to your family

    Debra

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  50. So pleased at your good news - have a wonderfully relaxing Christmas - I do want to come and help with that jigsaw though!! Viv x

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  51. Delighted to learn Col is home. Have a very happy and peaceful Christmas, and keep warm.

    Michelle from Wellington, NZ.

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  52. Delightful news. A quiet and careful Christmas ahead no doubt but oh so sweet.

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  53. Fantastic news. Merry Christmas. Lisa x

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  54. Best news EVER! Merry Christmas to you both!

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  55. Such happy news to have Col home, best wishes

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  56. Fabulous news. Merry Christmas to you both. X

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