The first Sunday in advent, always a special day. Tricia and Ellie went out and got the holly yesterday, and Tricia put the advent wreath together. As is tradition we lit the candle at tea time. However, there was a mishap on the candle front. First off, Tricia bought a packet which she thought had 4 candles in it, but it only had 3… Ellie dropped the packet, and we ended up with 2 of the 3 broken. But… we still managed to light a candle.

So, now in advent, we can declare the Christmas season open. As is also tradition (in this house anyway) on the first Sunday in advent, we put the outside lights on the big conifer bush. It’s never quite the same doing this without Nikki and Robbie around, but they will be both home soon. Rob comes home on the 13th Dec, and Nikki around the 15th / 16th. Both around for lighting candle 3. I suppose Tricia and I should enjoy each year we have all the family together for Christmas, it’s only a matter of time before one or both of them will miss all or part of Christmas with us, whether it is due to work or boyfriend / girlfriend.

Tricia said today, after a busy and manic few weeks of working, that today would be a relaxing, restful day. So, after getting up and going to church, then going up into the loft and sorting the Christmas stuff out, and clambering up a ladder outside to put the lights on the tree, and then doing the advent wreath, this is what she did next…

Yup, that’s right. She cleaned the oven…. Tricia sure knows how to relax . She finally stopped about 6pm, and planted herself in front of the tele.

Nikki is in France still, she has a Europa Cup Race coming up, and then she is off to Igls for the Junior World Champs. Here is the view from her hotel room, and also a picture of the lights outside.

Another busy week at work, I was at the desk for 7am most days, and at the end of the week I had my annual review (appraisal) which went well. Tricia met all her orders, and was at a Christmas fayre yesterday, but that is the last one, and whilst she has plenty of orders for the next few weeks, it probably won’t be quite as intense for her.

The sporting weekend cannot pass without comment as it was an odd one… England gave the All Blacks a good hiding… and before that West Ham beat Chelsea 3-1. Yes, really. West Ham beat the European champions…. strewth.