December Scavenger Hunt

Hey there, how is everyone enjoying the last day of 2014? Although I have had a couple of months off from doing the Photography Scavenger hunt, I have managed to gather a few photos this month. Thanks to Greenthumb for hosting such a great hunt. Here's a few images just to round off the year.

Tree

 Complete with twinkling lights

Where I stood...

 Outside the British Museum.

Sweet

Costa's gingerbread latte and mini raspberry tart.

Tradition

 It's been a tradition in our house to have new PJs every Christmas eve.

Front Door

 This is my Sister's front door. I love the Leaf Wreath.

Black and White

 My dad sporting a black and white Bah Humbug hat on Christmas day.

Christmas

Xmas Lunch

A favourite thing

 My favorite xmas present to myself...my new coffee maker.

What I like..

 I saw this Penny Farthing outside a shop and London and just had to take a photograph of it.

Decoration

 Spotted another lovely wreath on a hotel door.

Down low

 The tide was way down low.

A view from here...

One of my favourite views, from one of my favourite places. The hill is Criffel, across the Solway Firth, in Scotland, from where I was standing at west Silloth, England.

So there you go. Here's to a very happy new year to one and all. 

Amanda x

A 'Twixmas' Round Up

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I had a very busy time leading up to Christmas and a quiet family time over the last few day. All things considering, it was very pleasant. Before the new year I just thought I'd post a few images of some of my Christmas and Twixmas (that time between Christmas and New year) photos.

 Enjoy the last day of the year. 

Amanda x

Advent Calendar -Day 23 and 24

Two for the price of one today, as I wasn't able to post last night. So here you go two festive images to finish off my advent Calendar collection, joining in with Julie at 'KC Court'.

All that is left to do is to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Enjoy. X

Advent Calendar - Day 22

Well hello. It feels like I've been on a shopping mission worthy of that large tummied man in red! London streets were throng of people but everyone was in such great Christmas spirits. Yes, I imagine for some it's the total idea of a nightmare, but with the decorations hanging, carol singers singing and buskers playing Christmas songs, what's not to like.

Now settled back on the train, I'm glad of the rest and my feet are killing me! Only another few days to go! Hope everyone's got their presents sorted. Or are you a last minute shopper?

Advent Calendar- Day 21

4 days until Christmas and I joined the crowds of folk completing their Christmas shopping. Big stores, little stores, Christmas markets and the rest, London was heaving with throngs of shoppers. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, you may be frazzled but you just can't help but feel just a little bit more festive than you were when you set off.

Hope your Christmas preparations are going well.

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 20

Happy Saturday to one and all. Hope everyone isn't too stressed out with all the pre Christmas rush. Being the last Saturday before Christmas I imagine there will be a few people dashing around the shops. That may well be me tomorrow, but for today I'm making the most if a 4 hour rail journey to read, sleep and catch up on some blogs before I hit the capital.

I'm looking forward to catching some Christmassy snaps whilst I'm down there, as my picture for today is the last of Christmassy ones I have. A little jolly snowman stocking.

Have a good weekend, 

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 19

Hey, how's everything going in the pre Christmas rush?

Having a very busy day, wrapping and packing and getting ready for a quick jaunt down to the big smoke. A visit to London in Christmas week! I must be mad! 

There's a very good reason to brace the crowds..I'm off to a wedding and I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends.

Last evening I was catching up with friends too. An annual get together, a pre Christmas dinner, with friends from my school days. We still get together regularly and have a good old natter. Last night was no exception. The food was delicious and the company was great. Even the decorations were photograph worthy.

So there you are Day 19 of my Adevnt calendar, joining in with Julie at KC Court.

Have a good day. X

Advent - Day 18

Today, we have a nice bright shining star as my Advent window. I lay no claim to this one either. It's actually my friend's decoration that I just thought looked really pretty. It was our last day of term today, so now the holidays can officially begin. Hooray.

Amanda xx

Advent Calendar- Day 17

Very short and sweet today. A very busy day and on the countdown to the last day of the term. So feeling bright and optimistic about the impending break. Yet another early morning photo...another day dawns.

Amanda xx

Advent Calendar - Day 16

This is my favourite Christmas tradition. My own little nativity set that I have had for years. It was bought piece by piece, a couple of them at a time, for a few years on the trot. Needless to say, it's a bit of a hodgepodge of figures, but for me it means Christmas.

What are your traditions? What makes Christmas for you?

Advent Calendar-Day 15

Another day a step closer to Christms. Equally as important, it's another step closer to the end of term!

Only a few more days to go and then the great relax can begin. We had our annual school carol service and Nativity today. I just love it. A few years ago, prior to my travels, I had the responsibility of organising it for a couple of years. Oh my word, can you imagine the stresses and strains that came about every year trying to organise the readings, the carols and the Nativity. On one hand it was a nightmare and yet on the other I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was a nice experience today just taking a step back from it all and just being part of the school staff, not having anything really to do with it. It was lovely and with no major mishaps, it was a great success.

And that my dear friends has got nothing at all to do with my picture for today!

No Nativity pictures, just a very nice Christmas tree. I cannot claim any responsibility for it at all, except that I took the photo. But it is a pretty tree!  

Let us see what tomorrow can bring. X

Advent Calendar- Day 14, Sparkle!

Another Frosty picture, alas not from this morning, that was just mizzly drizzle and windy, but from yesterday's frost. This time a close up of the top of my car. It was all shimmery and sparkly a. It may not be an exciting picture, but it was certainly pretty.

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 13, A Touch of Frost

Well, for once the forecast was correct- Thay said we would have frost and indeed we did. -4 they said and so this morning the ground was just a blanket of sparkle. Out came the iPad camera and this is what I came back with..Jack Frost playing havoc with the fallen leaves.

I hope everyone had a great Saturday.

Until tomorrow, 

Amanda x

Advent Calendar - Day 12

A short and sweet post for my calendar today.

Hope you are having a good day. 

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 11

I love this little chappy- He's called Pip the Penguin. To be honest he's called Pip just the same as the identical penguin my sister has. Despite our age we are both suckers for anything cute and you don't get much cuter than this thing. The first time I heard him I had a big grin from ear to ear. He sings and dances, well waves his flippers about, to 'Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas', which is just adorable.

I have tried to download the video of him, but as yet, the uploading onto here via various means is beyond my technological capabilities. As soon as I fathom it out, I promise we shall have an encore.

Until then you may just have to sing it all by yourself.

Amanda x

Day 10- Advent Calendar

Joining in with Julie for an Advent Calendar image each day. This is my window for day 10.

One of the joys of having afternoons off, rather than working full time, is the flexibility it gives me to go shopping when it is a little less crowded.

Usually shopping is left to the weekend when you join the masses in the town centre.  I kinda like meeting my students outside school times whilst they waste their Saturdays trawling round the shops with their families. But at this time of year it is quite nice knowing that you won't be bumping into any of them whilst you are shopping for your nearest and dearest or when you have a trolley laden with enough food and chocolates to feed the 5000, or enough booze and bottles of wine to re float the Titanic. Somehow the disaproving looks from their mothers, as they scan the aforementioned shopping trolley, is enough to make anyone stop drinking. Somehow they never do quite believe it's all for gifts!

So this week I managed to escape to the city and go shopping. It was quite productful as I managed to tick a few things off my shopping list, but the best thing was having my lunch out.

I took myself off to a tiny little cafe and had the most delicious and warming bowl of soup. What was even nicer was the fact that their Christmas tree was up and decorated and feeling very festive.

It rounded off an enjoyable afternoon nicely.

 Have you put up your tree yet? I have to go and search the loft and find all the decorations first. It will go up eventually, I'm just not sure when.:)

Until Tomorrow,

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 9

You can tell it's coming up to Christmas, Starbucks have their red cups in. Hooray!  We all know what that means...The great latte flavour dilemma! Do we go for the specialised winter selection of Gingerbread or Eggnog or do we just go for our tried and trusty old faithful latte.

Now you know me, I can never make up my mind about anything. So when I get an extra choice I am so confused. Well this year I have decided to just go ahead and try them all. I shall work my way down the menu and see which is my favourite.

Then I shall try the hot chocolates...

Then I shall head to Costas and see what they have!..

Oh decisions, decisions!

I did make a decision on this one- This was a Gingerbread Latte. It was lovely!

What's your favourite Christmas drink?

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 8

Happy Monday to one and all.

Guess what lovely creatures I saw yesterday, Yep you've guessed it, some of Santa's Reindeer.I don't think any of them was called Rudolph though. No red noses insight. Just lovely large doe eyed beauties, who looked quite content in the sleet and hail, guzzling down their hay.

I was at a local Victorian Christmas Fayre and these lot were the stars of the show. It was a good day out with charity stalls, street food, choirs and carol singing. Just the thing to get you in the Christmas Spirit.

Until tomorrow,

Amanda x

Joining in with Julie for Advent Calendar Countdown to Christmas.

Advent Calendar- Day 5

I love the birds in our garden. The more time I spend looking out of the window the more engrossed I get in watching the antics of our feathered friends. With a bird book on the coffee table and an abundant supply of peanuts and fat balls, hours can be lost just looking.

My own house is rented out at the moment, so I'm living at my grandmothers. She has a much more bird friendly garden than I do. I must make a concerted effort next year, when I get to move back to my own place, to make it more hospitable.

We get the usual visitors of tits, sparrows and finches and are honored to have a woodpecker or two at times as well. Throw in some robins and wrens into the mix and the bird feeders tend to get a little hectic.

Joining in with Julie at kcscourt for Advent. Here's today's picture.
 This was one of last winter's photos. He is rather cute! Hopefully this year I'll get some more snaps too.

Have a good Friday,

Amanda x

Advent Calendar - Day 4

Another cold and crispy day. I love it! It's taking a lot to get used to, having had 30 degree weather all year over in Borneo. But I love the difference of seasons. As long as I'm wrapped up, things are just lovely. I have stocked up on thermals and thick socks though. I'm not that brave!

I love wintery trees like this. Bare and naked of their leaves they look like skeletons silhouetted against the sky. If you look closely at this one you can see some small sparkly lights. Making this just a little more special.

Until tomorrow,

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 7

We had a smattering of winter weather today, a little bit of snow / sleet / hail. All good fun, if not just a bit chilly!

So I thought I would use this photograph from my archives. It was taken during my time in the states on a very snowy day in New York City. A day in Central Park which was like a fairytale setting.

I hope everyone is keeping warm this Sunday. Stay safe and wrapped up,

See you tomorrow,

Amanda x

Advent Calendar- Day 6

Yet more of a bird theme! This time a little bit of a bigger bird. This one was taken at Caelaverock Nature Reserve over on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth. Skeins of geese and swans regularly fly over our house in the winter months, on their way to different feeding grounds. They are a great sight to see.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday. I'm visiting Lizzie (My niece) in Liverpool this weekend and I shall hopefully have a few more photos to share once I get back.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Amanda x

Advent- Day 3

'It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas' and so the song goes. I sang my first Christmas Carol this morning and received my first Christmas cards. That's the joy of working within a primary school. Everything needs so much planning and preparation, so that by the time the Christmas holidays arrive we'll all be Christmassed out. It's fun really..I think!

As you have probably gathered, since my return to England,  I managed to get a job teaching in my local primary school. It suits me well as its a part time post and supply cover, which still gives me some time and flexibility so that I can be around for my family. The fact that I worked at the same school for 10 years prior to travelling means that it really is 'just like coming home'.

For my Advent picture today, I chose this little fella. My own mini gingerbread man on a very yummy Xmas cupcake. It was full of fruit, spice and even a little bit of rum. Cheers.

See you tomorrow,

Amanda x

Hello Again and an Advent!

Well Hello and welcome back to Graham's Landing. It's been a long time of coming but i finally got round to putting something on my blog. I'll tell you about it sometime, but I decided to amke a concerted effort to post something. So, just liek last year, I'm going to have a countdown to Christmas and post some Advent pictures!

As you can see I'm already a day late, but better late than never.

So welcome to December and my Countdown to Christmas!

Day 1. Advent Borneo Style

I'm cheating too...as this was last year's day 1 picture too. But I couldn't be further away from a Borneo Christmas if I tried, so this is for o;d time's sake.

As the weather is set to drop tonight I thought it would be quite nice to have a little warmth to keep me going.

My second picture is a little closer to home. The sunrise this morning at home in Cumbria.

So here's to a good December and getting back my blogging Mojo!

Amanda x