Our New Years Eve Preparations

Well, we’re not going to found wanting for our traditional Iris and Bertie New Years Sleepover ………

Darrell and Nigel have been honing their balloon modelling skills like there’s no tomorrow  …….

……. as long as our beloved niece and nephew only ask for swords, we’ll be quids in!

A Chinese feast was ordered last week (a final hurrah to calories, before our new health regime kicks in) as our Chinese eatery of choice (The River Avon) will be turning off their phones early tonight, otherwise, they say, the ringing will never stops and there are only so many meals they can cater for, as well as keeping their restaurant running smoothly.   Lu is poised, like a panther in wait, to collect at 5.30 sharp!

“Bertie’s Cocktail Bar” is ready to open, with a new basket of goodies waiting for the maestro to work his magic, coming up with all manner of innovative and interesting concoctions to end 2023 in the style he’s entertained us with throughout the past year ……..

….. and then, as midnight approaches, with a bang, as we enter a hopefully, very happy and adventure packed 2024.

Nigel is in charge of the celebratory “Pic n Mix”, to accompany our last film of choice of the year.  He is doubly excited as he can’t wait to see Iris and Bertie’s faces when they see the new gum ball machine he found in a charity shop in Worcester for just £1.50, it’s brilliant! 

Stockings have been hung

…… with a few presents put aside especially for the night, the bubble machine will be blowing akimbo and there will be mini flashing balls to be scattered along the route of our much anticipated spooky midnight walk (usually at around seven o’clock, weather permitting) with a flask of hot chocolate ………  and perhaps even a few sparklers ………..

It’s the most wonderful way to end the year, bring it on …….

A Very Happy New Year to you all …….. Hopefully, we’ll see you on the other side …… in 2024.

Honorary Hungarians Of A Festive Type Of Nature

Please be warned, this post contains a mahooooooooosive faux pas in our usually flawless continuity! Our apologies to the more purist of our readers, especially our much loved Mr D, in wonderful and romantic Mexico, who will no doubt spot our error within seconds!!!!! What can we say, except, on this occassion, we’ve been found seriously wanting!

On Christmas Eve we became seriously, honorary Hungarians, coming to the festive aid of Kata, our beloved neighbour across the hallway.

In Kata’s “family”, the tradition is, that while the family are out on Christmas Eve (in this instance, Laci, her husband, taking their little boy to see the Christmas lights and Kata supposedly “just nipping up to Lidl”), the angel would come, leaving a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with presents carefully arranged under it …….

……. and we had just half an hour in which to “create the magic” ………

Darrell got all of Krisztian’s presents from our bathroom, where we’d been harbouring them in the bath for the past few weeks, but fear not, we were still able to use the “spare” ensuite shower in the meantime, so our festive hygiene was in no way compromised by such guardianship.

Once the tree was released, unfettered from it’s netting, the lights were quickly added, followed by all the baubles, some from actual, real life Hungary and Kata’s childhood.

Naturally, Darrell wanted to primp, fuss and twiddle with said baubles to give perfect balance and symmetry ………

…… but when the immanent coming of an angel is involved, time is of the essence.

However, I still think we gave a most excellent account of ourselves, it was indeed magical, especially for a small boy, with dreams of a mountain of Hot Wheel cars.

  

We were left with just enough time for Kata to quickly place a piece of traditional poppy seed and walnut roll in our hands (the poppy seed, symbolizing richness and good health and the walnuts to protect us against bad luck), before hurrying us out of the door, as the return of Krisztian and his dad was all but seconds away and we were not to be seen.

Let’s just say ……… it was emotional …… and made us soooooooo glad that for our own Christmas Eve, all we had to do was just put a tray out for Santa, leave some carrots for the reindeer and then go to bed ……… knowing that he would do the rest!   

A New Year Top Tip ……

With our traditional, annual Iris and Bertie New Year’s sleepover, there won’t really be time for us to be partaking in any first footing, however, if you are, but your coal is looking a touch on the lacklustre side ……

……. look what Nigel has found, so that your aforementioned coal won’t be found wanting in the presentation stakes, on the cusp of a brand new year.

Who knew there was such a thing as coal paint and then trust Nigel to find it!

This could be a New Years Eve/First Footing dull and dusty coal predicament game changer! What are we like?

Well, We’ve Scratched ……..

Well, we’ve scratched with an expectant and unfettered hope in our hearts like there’s no tomorrow …… using lucky old pennies, 2p coins, the blade of a knife, a nail file, even our fingernails ……

…… however, sadly we won’t be ending 2023 and starting 2024 in the style in which we would very much like to become everso slightly, but not too life changingly accustomed too ……

……. but a HUGE “thank you” to our beloved No. 1 Fan, Jan the Fan for bringing us so much expectation and optimism every single morning of Advent. 

It’s been a wonderful, as well as emotional, rollercoaster of dreams, but on this occassion and this card, sadly no prize has been won to warrant our dashing up to town to claim …… another day perhaps, when we get that feeling in our water that maybe, this time, lady luck will be smiling down on us!

Wonderful Presents From Paula & Louise in Romantic Plymouth

Christmas morning can sometimes be a bit full on, so we like to keep a few presents under our festive branches for the evening, when we’ve calmed down a little and resting our tummies after yet another of Darrell’s triumphant Michelin Star worthy Christmas dinners, which was once again was too fabbbbbuuuuuulous for words!!!!

So when the last plate, bowl, knife and fork had been carefully put away, it was time to open our presents from our lovely friends, mother and daughter combo, Paula and Louise in romantic Plymouth.

Their card made us laugh ……. with it’s strong hedgehog reference,  the little creatures seem to be haunting us at the moment, but not of course, of a spooky, late, great Derek Acorah (RIP) “haunted” type way.

For Darrell there was a light up house tin, containing hot chocolate, a very welcome gift, taking in all the full on, festive, hot chocolate he’s been making of an evening, complete with a cheeky shot of Bailey’s, a mountain of squirty cream, candy canes and enough sprinkles to sink a battle ship! We’d very nearly run out of said hot drink, so thank you sooooooo much xxxx

For Nigel ……. there was …… only a box of limited edition Gin and Tonic After Eight Mints!  How these have flown under our new and different confectionary radar, goodness only knows, but you can now bet that before the festivities are over, one of our world famous confectionary reviews will be in the offing! 

And for me …… there was an exquisite, jewel encrusted musical box, containing the most beautiful and delicious smelling soap……..

…… and as you all know, we very much love a fragrant soap to help keep us in tip top aromatic condition!

It was all rather emotional, realising just how well Paula and Louise know each of our little penguins peculiarities perpendiculars peccadillos. What can we say, thank you doesn’t seem enough …….. but

XX Thank You SO SO Much XX

Pulling Out All The Stops Of A Debonair Knitted Type Nature ……… On Boxing Day

Have we EVER looked quite this handsome?

Let’s just say that once we’d managed to compose ourselves after unwrapping our beloved No. 1 Fan, Jan the Fans presents on Christmas morning ……….

……. there had to be the grand try on ………

……. and impromptu photo shoot.

I think there can be no doubt that we rocked it …….

……. and never has the title “Mr Knitting Pattern Model of the Year” been more apt and suitable for each one of us. 

We look gorrrrrrrrrrgeous! When Gucci, Dior or Paco Rabane get a whiff of these pictures, they’ll all be fighting to put our faces/bodies on next years Christmas perfume adverts, you mark my words! Darrell is certain that fame and fortune is just around the corner after all these years……….

……. and it’ll all be down to Jan the Fan ……… who we’ll never forget and will always be grateful to, even when the jet set lifestyle becomes our new norm!  What are we like?