My Week In Pictures 52/16

Firstly can I say a gigantic MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all. Can you believe another year is almost over and 2017 is just one week away?

For me this year has totally superseded any expectations and I have grown as a person in many ways. I have made many new friends and I thank the blog for giving me the courage to get out there and do so much that perhaps I may not have done otherwise. With that in mind I have spent much of this week with new friends Carmen and Alex plus old and dear friends Sarah, Chloe and Johanna. I am so thankful to have these people in my life.

So, on to my Week In Pictures. Saturday afternoon was spent with Carmen and some other like minded ladies who love being outdoors, love the city of Exeter along with everything it has to offer. Women in Wellies is a fun sociable group where you can make new friends and be in the great outdoors. This particular event, organised by Carmen, was a walk to the community garden at The University of Exeter. I had made mince pies and Carmen had made mulled wine. We walked through the beautiful university grounds on our way to the community gardens where we set up camp for our little festive foodie delights. It was wonderful chatting to the other ladies and meeting new people.

Sunday was a brunch meet up with my two faves Chloe and Sarah. The two people in my world that are guarenteed to make me happy and always fill me with laughter. I made a cinnamon French toast bread and butter breakfast pudding, Chloe provided the vitamins in the form of a fruit salad and Sarah was on mocktail duty. Obviously laughter was high on our agenda alongside our yummy brunch. We managed to splatter pomegranates all over the kitchen and get orange juice everywhere whilst squeezing the oranges for our mocktail..It adds to the fun doesn’t it?

Before the girls arrived on Sunday I made a festive door hanging. I had picked some greenery on my walk with the Women In Wellies group the previous day and fashioned it into my take on a wreath. An anti-wreath if you will, as it’s not round. I had been inspired by Trill Farm when I visited last week for lunch at The Old Dairy. I have to say it was a proud moment for me when I hung it on the door on Sunday morning. I am really pleased with how it turned out. Yes, it might only be a few sprigs of greenery and a couple of pine cones but I made it and I love it!

On Monday Amber came over for our pre Christmas get together and a spot of lunch. My friend Johanna joined us unexpectedly which was a real treat. I made a big salad with roasted sweet potato as I figured with it being Christmas week we would both be overindulging soon enough! Although saying that Amber came laden with mince pies!! I just can’t help myself when it comes to mince pies!

More Christmas sweet treats were consumed in style at Bovey Castle. My friend Emma and I have a yearly pilgrimage to have a festive afternoon tea and take a look at the decorations. This years tree was outstanding and certainly the best tree I had seen in all of the festive season. It must have been about 30 feet tall and covered in baubles and twinkling lights. A perfect backdrop to our festive afternoon afternoon tea.

On Wednesday evening Steve and I hopped on the train to Honiton to meet up with our friends Jemma and Jud. We had a date at THE PIG at Combe for their Smoked and Uncut Festival. Live music, great food, local beers and wines in abundance. It was a lovely night.

Cassie and I met up for our annual Christmas lunch towards the end of the week. Caroline, her mum joined in on our festivities. We visited Comptoir Libanais as they had not been before. We ordered the large mezze platter plus some of their special spicy fried potatoes to have alongside. We caught up on all of the news over our delicious mezze before going our separate ways.

The very end of the week was more socialising.. Steve’s mum and dad came for a pre Christmas lunch. I cooked and sliced a gammon, made some salads and served all of that alongside some yummy cheeses, chutneys and a new local spiced orange mustard by Moustards. Delicious! I think I will be trying more of the Moustards range in the New Year. The flavours of the spiced orange mustard were so punchy I would like to get my hands on some other flavours.

Friday night Steve and I were invited to our friends Gemma and Rich for supper at their new house in Bramford Speke. Bramford Speke is a village about a 10 minute drive from Exeter and there is a lovely pub there called The Lazy Toad. It’s well worth a visit. They have the cutest dog called Dayna that deserves a mention!

It’s been a busy week as you can see full of festivities with my lovely friends new and old. There is more of the same lined up for next week. I do love this time of the year!

Merry Christmas to you all and enjoy your Christmas holiday with your own family and friends. Take the time you have off to relax and enjoy yourselves.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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