Christmas 2016

What a whirlwind Christmas has been this year, although don't we say that every year? We've got a number of traditions we stick to each year, the first being our Christmas Eve buffet. This year, as you can see, we didn't hold back. Although there are only two of us, I still overdid it and bought far too much food. We had fresh little sausage rolls, Doritos, potato wedges, carrots and hummus, spring rolls, party sausages, cheese blocks, pickled onions and pineapple as well as garlic bread. It was so delicious and I want it all over again.

For Christmas this year we went to Matt's parent's house. We take turns every year and then the other person's parent's house gets us for New Years Day dinner. So we will be at Mum's on Sunday. Sue (Matt's Mum) had gone all out again decorating the table beautifully, providing a well-stocked bar and rustling up an amazing Christmas dinner. I brought round Articulate (a firm favourite in our house) to play on the day and everyone got very competitive. By the end of the night after many beers, gins and martinis, we were on the tequila shots. It was my first ever tequila shot and it wasn't that bad.

We didn't end up leaving until around Midnight and I have to say its the first and only time I've been very drunk on Christmas day. As if by a Christmas miracle, on Boxing Day I didn't have a hangover! What's that about? Boxing Day we visited more of the family on my side that we didn't get to see on Christmas Day. When we got home we snuggled up and watched Home Alone which was my first time seeing it.

We've had a lovely time off so far and I am looking forward to more chills and lots more food over the next few days.

How was your Christmas?

Festive Afternoon Tea at the Vermont Hotel

Earlier this month I attended a festive edition of the blogger cake club, kindly organised by Chloe. For the Christmas special she booked us in at The Vermont Hotel in Newcastle. This is a posh hotel hidden away in the centre of Newcastle. I can say this as I got lost trying to find it, it's hidden in plain sight. All I will say is look up and you'll see the sign, don't make the mistake I did and walk down to quayside and back. At least I worked off a bit of cake before I'd eaten it!

We'd all decided before we got there that we'd don our cheesy Christmas jumpers. As I'm known for gingerbread men, that's the jumper I had to go with! The seven of us, all in our festive best, were seated in the Redwood bar which was very cosy and elegant.

Soon after we sat down our food came and there seemed to be loads of it, they even gave us all a glass of mulled wine to accompany it. What was brilliant about this afternoon tea was that they brought us as much tea as we wanted! This is what us bloggers, and I'd have to say us British, love! There were plenty of yummy sandwiches including a festive brie, bacon and cranberry one. Everyone had two scones each and then a plate FULL of desserts. I didn't get the chance to try them all but the ones I had, which included a chocolate mousse and a chocolate truffle, were definitely satisfying.

During our afternoon tea, we exchanged Secret Santa presents. At first, it was very tense to see if the person I'd bought for, Shivani, liked her present then I was nervous to see if I would like mine! Everyone has that feeling, don't they? Just in case they don't like their gift. It's safe to say I LOVED my present from Kayleigh, she got it spot on with my gingerbread themed gifts. She gave me a knitted gingerbread man for the Christmas tree, a gingerbread bath bomb and a ginger-spiced candle! Perfect presents for the gingerbread obsessed. Just in case you are wondering, Shivani seemed to like her gift which was a mug shaped like a camera lense. She likes taking photos so I thought this was a quirky but relevant present. I also got her a chocolate S from Amsterdam.

Overall it was a brilliant afternoon with a superb afternoon tea which I'd recommend to anyone for £14.95 as it was great value for the amount you get. Although this was the festive afternoon tea in sure their normal one would be just as good! I can't wait to see what amazing places Chloe picks for next year's blogger cake club.