Merry Christmas!

                              

It's been a wonderful week so far being home from Germany (and away from the children!!!)

I had a wonderful weekend with Alex, who came to stay with us for a few days.  Lots of photos from then, which I will upload soon.

for now, some Christmas piccies of our few days with Mum and Dad and Christmas day with Matt's family...

Here are my lovely presents.  I really love the Star Wars crochet!

Matt bought me a new lens for my camera and a beautiful necklace.  I'm such a lucky girl!

Tonight we're heading out for a curry, but for now, it's bubble and squeak time! Whooo!

Christmas and Banana Bread

A busy week as usual here.  Lots happening at school- covering people who are off sick (just the Christmas crafting lessons), and making pros for the various plays going on.  Year 2 had their play on Wednesday, but the teachers decided the day before that they needed some more props.  I had a very busy Tuesday getting the props ready!  Year 4 have their play (Aladdin) this coming Wednesday, and then I'm done for prop making, thank goodness!  

I can't quite believe that we only have one more week left of this term.  It's gone really fast!  I'm looking forward to my friend Al visiting next weekend.

This weekend, I went into Duisburg to the shops for some last minute Christmas shopping, while Matt went to watch Duisburg win their football match.  Today, Matt played his first match for the team he joined a few months ago.  They lost, but he enjoyed himself and is now exhausted!

While Matt was at football, I was playing with my camera and new flash, working out what it can do.  I like that it has an LED light on it that can be used like a torch.  Lots of fun!

Christmas Party and Christmas Markets

Christmas has come to the Harris household!

Last week was very busy and tiring at work - lots of cover for me in nursery (not my favourite place to be).  Matt was busy playing football in the evenings, and may even get to play in a match this Sunday.  Fingers crossed!

On Friday night it was our work Christmas party.  Not many people signed up to go this year - it may have something to do with the alcohol not being free this year! - But the food was delicious and the company was great, considering it was pretty much Primary, and everyone in my friendship group!  We went for a few cocktails in Dusseldorf, near the restaurant after the meal, then decided to head home to Duisburg.  There were 4 of us heading home on the train, and we decided to stop off at a cocktail bar in Duisburg on the way for a few mojitos, which was fun.  It's just nicer when your around the corner from your house, rather than all the way in Dusseldorf with an hours journey to get home,  No dramas at the party this year, which makes a change!

On Saturday, we had a very lazy day.  I went to the shops for food but that was pretty much the extent of our day.  Matt watched all the sports fixtures that were on.

On Sunday we were slightly more energetic, heading to Dortmund Christmas markets.  The markets are huge, and really nice.  The centre piece is a gigantic tree which is made up of 500 little trees.  Pretty impressive.

Going to a different market was nice because it had different craft stalls and different food too.  We ate mini calzones (pizza brotchen) filled with salami and tuna, and some deep fried gouda cheese with pineapple and cranberry jam - so delicious!!!

There was plenty of gluhwien to be had too and a hot chocolate with banana liqueur in it - yum!

 

This was a gigantic advent calander, with each shipping container sponsored by a different shop or company...

We also put up our lovely little tree on Sunday.  Feeling very festive as we launch into our last two weeks of school before the Christmas break.