It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.......

Well... maybe not a lot, not yet anyway. But it's all started in earnest.

I've been cut off from the outside world without a connection to the www. Let me explain.

Every year at this time I start by clearing the whole of the ground floor (with exception of the Kitchen) of all ornaments, furniture etc ready for the carpets to be cleaned. That happened last Friday and since then we have been flat out washing cushion covers, curtains, hoovering, dusting, some painting and so it goes on.

One way of ensuring that I don't get distracted is to disconnect the pc - essential really as it has to move for the carpets to be cleaned, the trick is not to reconnect it until I'm well under way with the cleaning.

So tonight, I've been giving the fire surround a coat of emulsion while WH has been tackling the big Christmas Tree that goes in the lounge. Last year it was a swine, it is a pre-lit tree and the lights really played up. It takes about a week of evening work to get it assembled, arranged and decorated so we have to start early to allow us time to enjoy all the hard work. It's half way up at the moment and whilst touching wood.... I shall say 'all is well at the moment'.

Hopefully, I'll have time to take some photo's and record the work as it progresses.

So, having got myself revved up and whilst humming the odd Christmassy tune, I'm really beginning to get all warm and fuzzy about the coming festivities, providing the tree continues to behave itself that is.

Something else that I am REALLY looking forward to is our two day Christmas festivities at work this Friday and Saturday. Graphicus is having a Christmas Bash with all sorts of crafty things going on and all of our friends and lovely customers are invited to come along and celebrate with us. I'm sure that I will find something appropriately stupid, I mean 'festive' to wear. After the last event where I was dressed as 'Andy Pandy' and riding a mini quad bike, it can only get better! Can't it?

I hear that dear old Santa Claus will be putting in an appearance...... must get my Christmas list drawn up and give it to him personally. It's a long one this year - with all the lovely products that have been coming into the shop just lately the only paper long enough to hold my list was a toilet roll! I hope he won't be offended!

You should see all that lovely stash.... there is the most amazing selection of paper and bling from My Mind's Eye and just arrived hot from the USA is an eye popping, drooling, got-to-have collection of drop dead gorgeous ribbon from May Art Ribbons. There's also a fab stash bag from K and Company and the most adorable little storage bag and tool kit for the Bind-it-All machine and.... and that's enough! I shall be hyperventilating at this rate. All I can say is if you're near enough or game enough to join in the festivities at Graphicus then be there - or I'll keep all the goodies for myself!!! I'll be taking my camera with me on Friday so look out for more antics at a later date.

Just to get you in the Christmassy mood too, I'm posting a couple of photos that were taken in Las Vegas in September during a visit to the big stores in the Fashion Show Mall.