Project 52 2025 week 52

Christmas week, and it’s been a nice, fairly relaxing one. Definitely needed after all the busy weeks months at work. Here’s what we got up to for week 52 for Project 52.

Sunday – needed to get some petrol, and decided to pop into get a new cake tin and birthday gift idea for N from Sainsbury’s. I was there for half of ‘browsing’ time, and the shop was insanely busy already. I only needed a few items so was in and out with no queuing for tills. So back home for a good relaxing day, catching up on films.

Did a final bit of wrapping as the OH took N to a local farm store to pick out a gift. Poor kid’s had not many surprises this year for Christmas, but I suppose that’s what happens when they get older and request items.

Monday – Tesco shop came from a lovely, cheerful lady who actually apologised for being a couple of minutes late. Only 1 substitution – bringing tarragon instead of sage. So that went back. I’ll just have to use dried instead of fresh.

It was also the ‘joy’ that was tax return day for last year’s blogging/savings interest/side hustle income. Poor planning again by me, especially as it was the largest I’d had to pay, over the Christmas period (after paying car insurance/tax this month too). Next year I WILL do it in the summer months, although I say that every year and haven’t done so yet. At least it’s done now. 

Tuesday – my early trip to the bakery wasn’t as early as I’d planned so there was a bit of a queue. Got a couple of bits I could put in the freezer for later this week, but will go back for my fresh rolls order on Christmas Eve. The queue for the butchers was too long to wait to get some sausages for tea, so I resorted to pies from the freezer instead.

Spent time getting the last washloads done, and the vacuuming and cobweb removal. The latter is probably a bit pointless as they’ll be back tomorrow I suspect. Anyone else who makes a mess on the floor can be cleaning it up themselves.

Wednesday (Christmas Eve) – early pick up at the farm shop for the turkey (too big for a box!), pigs in blankets and sausagemeat etc. Then to pick up the bakery order of nice bread rolls. Didn’t have room in the freezer for everything so some had to go over to the farm for freezing.  Dropped off family birthday presents and Christmas cards/gifts. Finished cleaning, took rubbish and recycling down to the bins, then helped N prep the sausagemeat ‘stuffing’, and prepped all the veg. 

This year’s a bit different. We usually go to the pub for a big family meal for Christmas Eve dinner, but we’re not going out this year.  We’re just going to get a chippy tea, and N’s planned it’s going to be a board game evening. 

Thursday – Christmas Day.  Our usual stay at home and my brother came over for lunch which was delicious. Although I’d forgotten to take the cauliflower cheese out of the oven and N asked about it just before 4pm! Ooops.  Luckily it was in the turned off oven and not in the aga to be burnt to a crisp.

We played a board game. The OH went out to feed the cows, the others took the dogs for a walk, while I had some peace and calm to sit down.  In the evening we had tea at the brother and sister in laws which was nice too.

Friday – they went out on the farm while I had a lazy morning. Then went to the farm for rolls/crackers, turkey and ham. Good to catch up with one of the other nephews, although the others were working or out with the hunt. Glad to see my mother-in-law was feeling well enough to have people round as she’s had a hard time of it with the nasty cold that’s dragged on.

Back home and it wasn’t long before it was time for some leftovers – bubble and squeak etc. Delicious. But I’m not sure I can move til tomorrow now.

I realised it was Stuff your Kindle day for romance books, free ebooks. So I stocked up with quite a few. They’ll keep me going for a bit.

Saturday – the men were out for the day. I needed to return some pre-Christmas sales purchases and collect an order, so headed into town early. I picked up some new clothes I’d not been able to get online, plus some gifts in the sames to put away for birthdays. Realised I needed to get some meat for a roast on Sunday, but none of the butchers were open, so had to go to Morrisons. A nice morning.

Then back home to have some lunch, watched a couple of cheesy romance Christmas movies. Annoyingly Evri decided to ‘attempt’ to deliver a parcel I’d been waiting for, saying noone was in. Which was a load of rubbish given I was in. Plus if they’d tried, they’d usually leave it near the door with no issues.

Things I’ve enjoyed this week:

• Lots of nice food
• Getting together with family
• Finding some things in the sales in store – I’ve not shopped in store for the sales for years.

Things I’m grateful for this week:

• Time off work, it’s always nice to know you’ve got another week off.
• My aching shoulder seeming to fix itself by the following day.
• Some lie ins. I obviously needed them.