As long as January has felt, the festive months flew by. Even though I don't post on my blog often, I always like to recap what I got up to over Christmas so I can look back.
We kicked off the festivities by going along to seven dials Christmas light switch on event, where my mum and I took part in a free wreath making class. We then enjoyed a glass of prosecco and a mulled wine whilst we wandered through the cobbled streets, browsing the festive displays. After watching the light switch on we walked through Covent Garden and met my boyfriend and dad for dinner at cafe rouge.
A couple of weeks later I had free tickets to some exhibitions in London, so I took my mum for a day out in central London. We started at the British Museum, where we had free entry to an exhibition about the influence of the Islamic world in Western art. I wouldn't otherwise have gone, mainly because the tickets are quite expensive, but I was glad I was able to go as it was very interesting. There were beautiful, vibrant paintings, exquisite fabrics and ornate armour. One brightly coloured and intricately woven silk scarf was believed to be nearly a thousand years old!
We had a brief look round the rest of the museum and saw the Rosetta Stone. It is incredible to think that thanks to this stone and much hard work, the mystery of hieroglyphics was solved. I'd love to know more about why the stone was created and who commissioned it.
After a quick lunch break we went on to the London transport museum. Again this isn't something I'd normally go to, but it was worth the trip. Having watched the downton abbey film a short while before, it was so interesting to see vehicles from around the same time, imagining how life was. I appreciate the horse drawn buses would have likely been a bumpy ride, but they do hold a charm you just don't find on a red London bus today!
In early December, my boyfriend and I went to a Christmas shopping weekend in Chelsea. It coincided with a food market, so after listening to a brass band play Christmas carols for a little while and browsing a few shops, we shared some vegan potjie (basically a curry on chips dish) which was so good, followed by some mini pancakes with chocolate and strawberries. So indulgent, but worth it! I bought some cute festive cannoli for dessert that night and we did a bit more window shopping and listened to the Chelsea pensioners sing carols before heading home for takeout, Netflix and a cannoli!
My boyfriend and I also managed to fit in ice skating in Covent Garden on one chilly December morning. It was a pop up rink by Tiffanys to promote their new fragrance and although small, no one else actually turned up for the session so we had enough room to skate for a while, before we walked around Covent Garden for a while and did some Christmas shopping.
A few days later I got to attend a free wreath making workshop at h&m home. The event was fun and informal and they provided lots of cute accessories to make the wreaths pretty. I was really pleased with it (admittedly though it wasn't anywhere near as good as many of the others made - but it suited me and fitted in with my decor so it didn't matter!)
The week before Christmas, my boyfriend booked us tickets to see the gingerbread city exhibition at the south bank, which was interesting and some of the entries were very impressive, but the space was very small and crowded, so I'm not sure I'd go again.
Finally after braving the supermarkets for all the essentials and battling the crowds, Christmas was upon us. On Christmas Eve evening we had a buffet dinner before we attended midnight mass. I'd not been before, but it was a nice service with a message of hope. We got back home at about 1.30am and I was exhausted, but hadn't finished wrapping my gifts which took another hour. By the time I was done I was basically wrapping in my sleep. I never leave gift wrapping to the last minute usually, and I definitely won't again haha.
On Christmas morning I made salmon blinis for breakfast served with Buck's Fizz and orange juice. We'd bought some citrus infused, gold edged salmon from waitrose. It looked so festive and tasted so good.
After breakfast we opened our gifts. I received some nice leather boots from my parents, which was exactly what I wanted, some sanctuary spa facial masks, (I love their face masks), a couple of books I'd wanted, including the latest shopaholic book (Christmas themed, so very apt and my all time favourite book series), some cosy pjs, a couple of lush bath bombs and a Mary Berry Christmas recipe book which has some great recipes in that I am looking forward to trying. My boyfriend bought me a lovely necklace, a Spanish book to help me learn, a recipe book and a cute little enamel pin badge that I'd wanted. So in short, I was spoiled! After dinner, I settled down with my new books and we enjoyed a peaceful evening in front of the TV.
