'Ding Dong' Merrily On High!

Ohhh...I had the most wonderful surprise on Sunday afternoon. *Ü* There I was, catching up in the jungle...when there was a loud knock at my front door! I opened the door to see a HUGE silver box on the step with several homemade Christmas shortbread cookies on top! *Ü*

I ran to grab my camera as I wanted to capture my delight. After a hefty lift, I brought it indoors and didn't know whether to open it or wait until Christmas. It was evident after recognising the handwriting, that my 3 daughters had been behind the surprise box. My eldest granddaughter had made the shortbread cookies. WOW! So professional looking.

My husband and I opened the box after a call to my girls and ooo...ahhh....it was filled with the most delicious sight....Cadbury's hot chocolate powder, lots of tins of biscuits, a BIG box of Cadbury's chocolates, homemade Cranberry and White Chocolate Fudge, an Art Deco Christmas card holder (I LOVE Art Deco)....and....2 'DING DONGS'!! LOL.

Now I know that some of you read a previous post of mine - here (last paragraph) - and are waiting in anticipation to find out exactly what a DING DONG is! So...without further ado....the big reveal...
It's about 3 feet long!

 ...close up view...

My youngest daughter Keeley and family...including Miss Ashley - who could hardly keep it to herself and nearly let the 'cat out of the bag' whilst here at Halloween made them. *Ü* They are advent calendars. Each day, we get to undo the bottom ribbon and a sweetie/chocolate can be eaten and there is a little scripture reference too. Awww. Such a lovely idea. I cannot believe I haven't seen this on Pinterest!  Maybe she did! *Ü* There was me...worried about what size box I may have to find to store my Ding Dong after Christmas when in actual fact, I will have eaten it! LOL. So there you have it...Ding Dong Merrily On High 'cos I am now going to go hang them up ready for the start of Advent on Thursday. Bang goes my pre Christmas diet! *Ü*

By royal appointment!

The Queen of England - Queen Elizabeth II visited our little corner of the country recently, so I bundled up as it was due to be a murky, dull day and I ventured out into the cold! Camera battery charged, phone charged and a well rehearsed curtsy - just in case I came face to face with her majesty, you understand. *Ü* Afterall, she was to wander in the back streets of Margate and visit the little Cupcake Cafe - oh yeah!
En route, I passed a car which had the car radio blaring and I was a little suspicious that someone was planning to assasinate the Queen!! Well, you can't be too careful, can you? I later found out that it was a plain clothes policeman!! *Ü*

A whistle blew and several police mounted motorbikes drove towards the crowd where I was standing. The Queen and Prince Philip were on their way. I videod their arrival and then as the car was very close, I changed to still on my camera! Duh! The camera wasn't quick enough and this is what I managed to get!!

Both the Queen and Prince Philip did a walkabout to speak to the crowd but I was a distance away! She wore a pale pink coat and hat - not the colour I expected her to wear for a cold autumn day by the seaside! Still, she did look good for her age! *Ü*

It's surprising how people clean up a town when they know the queen is coming to visit!

I am sure it will be the last time I get to see her in my lifetime, so it was a special moment for me. I am proud to be British - even though there are many things that I don't like to admit to about my country.

Boxing day!!

Welcome to my new followers. *Ü* Thank you for joining us and I hope you both enjoy your visits.

Phew! What a busy month October was...well, it really all began last year when my 3 daughters decided - after seeing my Halloween party photos, that they wanted a Halloween party at 'home'. So, being the 'always-happy-to-please-my-family' mum that I am, it stemmed from there! It took the whole year - gathering ideas, organising creature visits, printing labels, shopping, baking and making and that is without time decorating the house which took DAYS! Anyways, it was worth every single minute and I am so happy that everyone went home spooked happy! *Ü*

I repeated the process all over again on Halloween - Monday 31st. I invited friends for lunch - including Amanda. She and Boris hit it off straight away! *Ü* Boris being my butler...he is totally invaluable. *Swoon*.

 Boris and Amanda. You may know Amanda from UKS - papermadmand.

 I made another batch of food that I had previously baked for the party. That means, in effect, I had baked 3 Graveyard cakes - a double and a single!! I am sick of Graveyard cake! I have eaten umpteen portions - warm - with ice cream - with cream and on it's own with a hot chocolate! It was sooo good but anymore and I will be needing my own gravestone!

I bought a total of 6 pumpkins! Two giant, two large and 2 medium...oh....and a little Munchkin mini one. I am sick of pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and the sight of orange!

I knew it would happen. I never should have checked out Pinterest - far too many fab ideas. Far too many recipes and decorations that I wanted to try - and did and I now have to find a home for everything!

Which brings me to the title of this post!! *Ü* The very next day - Tuesday for those of you who can't remember that far back now that Halloween seems an age away...I started the long and arduous task of taking everything down, removing batteries for storage, putting away and boxing up. My Halloween collection has grown somewhat! The storage boxes have gotten bigger and I am trying to label everything in the boxes as I put it away for next year! I don't want to even mention the word 'Halloween' after this post until late September next year!

Halloween yesterday, Christmas today! Well...almost. It means I have to start planning on getting out the decorations at least. I have a new tree this year and got it in the Argos sale last year. It is covered with 'snow' and will add a lovely atmosphere with the rest of my 'snow' themed decor.  I am slowly running out of space to store everything. Boxes in the cellar. Boxes in the top 2 rooms and boxes anywhere I can find a space.

My littlest granddaughter Miss Ashley informed me whilst here, that she has made me a.....'Ding Dong' for Christmas. I have no idea what it is as Keeley swiftly told her not to tell me! *Ü* I have just one little problem...what size box would I need to store it in after Christmas?!!

Anyone for Graveyard cake?!

***HAPPY GUY FAWKES NIGHT***

Have a brilliant and safe evening. *Ü*