I feel very humbled...

Every now again something happens and you go, 'Wow! You would do that for me?'. Well that happened to me yesterday, while I was enjoying the Newmarket Mums Christmas 2015 lunch. Yes I realise that Christmas was well and truly over, but this group of ladies celebrate in January because that's when everyone seems the least busy. 

So yesterday I set off from home with a plate of fruit and a Secret Santa gift.

Now this group of ladies 'go back a long way' to when our children were all at the same primary school in the 1980-1990s, and we all became friends as we worked on tuck shop, or manned fete stalls together, sewing bee groups or met up at P&C meetings etc. 

Chatting, sipping champers or fruit punch and sampling the nibblies....

Oops this bottle overflowed when the corked was eased out...

Later, the lunch buffet...photo taken when most of us had filled a plate...

After the food came the time for the Secret Santa gift time. I drew #1, which means I got to choose first from the pile of gifts...oooh it was a case of 'Which one shall I choose?' I chose one which looked interesting...largish and the parcel looked 'squishy' which meant it probably wasn't chocolates which I try to avoid! Lol.

Turns out, I made a great choice!! I was thrilled. It was a beautiful ombré colour large towel...all those colours that I love and there was also a cake of soap...

I love 'fancy soaps'! 

Now back to what I mentioned at the beginning of the post...

Yesterday the group started to discuss possible venues for our monthly coffee mornings on the last Sunday of the month. Then one of my friends said that she would like to suggest/propose that we change that Sunday to another one in the month so that I didn't miss out. You see, my belovedSunday  Stitchers group meetup dates have been clashing with the Newmarket Mums' days. Consequently I had been to only 2 NM coffee mornings in 2015. It's something that I've agonised over for the last 2 years. 

Well everyone agreed with Margo's suggestion so now the group will meet the first Sunday of the month! As I said, I feel very humble that the majority would change the date for just one person's convenience. Great friends indeed!!! 

Christmas came to Alderley yesterday...and Day 2 Giveaway.

Last post I wrote about the 'Christmas Lunch' yesterday, and showed a photo of the gift I wrapped up for the Secret Santa gift giving.

The gifts piled up on the small table yesterday...

 After I wrote that post I had a text from one of the ladies who had gone down with  food poisoning from a prepackage meal she and her DH had had the night before. The poor darling needed someone to collect the dessert she had made and also the gift she had for Secret Santa. So I did that for her and couldn't help noticing what she had bought as a gift...it was unwrapped but in a gift bag...I could see it and rather liked it. The system we use is that everyone draws a number and the gifts are chosen in the order starting at #1. I drew #8 which meant that someone else with a lower number would probably select the gift I had my eye on! Lol. 

Choosing gifts had started but no unwrapping until everyone had a gift...

I watched the pile of gifts decrease in size...the gift bag was still there...oh, I thought #7 may have taken it...

Then it was my turn...and the gift bag was still there...and I grabbed it! Lol

This was what was in it...a lantern with a round candle...just perfect for our large veranda! I was thrilled!

We all loved our gifts as a lot of thought had gone in to each and every one.

Now for the Giveaway for today...a bit more of Christmas! Today's item is one of the series of felt decorations sold throughout the UK. Some readers might remember how I had bought the rest of Henry viii wives during our holiday last year. Somehow I had ended up with 2 Kateryn Parr decorations...

So if you would like this beautifully dressed lady for your tree next Christmas, just leave a comment on this post. All 5 Giveaways will be drawn on Monday, January 19 at 7pm EST (Australia). 

Good luck...