I'm keeping this short and sweet; we dined shortly after the Queen's Speech at 3.00pm from a groaning table laden with succulent roast goose, clove studded bread sauce, sage and onion stuffing, spiced cranberry sauce, chipolatas, bacon rolls, roast potatoes and brussel sprouts and chestnuts.
My fingers are so fat, I'm using a chopstick to type.
Thank you to all of my seasonal salonistas who sent me presents, you made it the best Christmas ever.
Hoisting the Quality Street torch - I declare Christmas open.
Santa's favourite, pecan smothered red velvet cake, he had two slices.
As the husband tucked into one of his favourites, I quietly torched the mistletoe. The jar may say come hither but the ensuing swampy fish breath says 'get thee hence'.
Round to the neighbour's for a bit of a festive do.
Oops, pulled a Christmas cracker with mum and she almost fell - still she won, there's life in the old dame yet. She'll do anything for a red paper hat and a corny joke.
46 years later and we're still in red and white.
As Topol sang "Tradition!"
Hope yours is going with a seasonal swing!







Hi, Tabitha ! That young ephebe in the frame above you doesn't look amused by the fact that you actually FOUGHT for the cracker ! I love the fact that your mum got into the spirit of things and wore a red dress. Lots of seasonal greetings !
ReplyDeleteSilver Bunny :I award you the B &P erudition award of 2012 for the use of the word ephebe!
DeleteLove these pictures and I want your pjs/robe (not sure which??)Completely stuffed here and no family popping by this afternoon - they are all felled with Christmas colds, so we are having a very lovely quiet day! All good i have now ate too many home made salted caramels. Good thing pants are stetchy! AM dieting Jan 1. I am - I really mean it this time! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of you and your mum! Don't you wish you still had that wallpaper????
I flipping love that wallpaper! My mum lived in a Chinoisierie world, all of our plates, wallpaper etc, Dad's side of the house was old fusty antiques.
DeleteOh, I think your mother and I would get on great guns! My grandmum was an antique dealer but also loved sequins and sparkly bits and always stole anything of ours that she coveted.. I found my chocolate brown angora gloves in her house when she passed. I want to live in your mum's side of the house!
DeleteYour neighbours house looks very Downton.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your mum Tabs.
We like a good set of pillars round here.
DeleteWonderful Tabitha!
ReplyDeleteMay your Holidays be filled with Love and Warmth during This Wondrous Season!
Love and Hugs,
Karena
Art by Karena
Are you quarter/half Asian?
ReplyDeleteNop only in my dreams.
DeleteWhat a feast! I'm sure it was a wonderful as it sounds.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tabitha - you and your mum are lovely in festive red. :)
Merry Christmas Tabitha! You're blessed to have your Mum to share it with.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a jolly time for all...corny jokes are the best kind :)
happy Christmas, it is Boxing day morning here.ove the snaps of you and your mum xxx
ReplyDeleteGoose? Yummy! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Tabs!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas looks so festive and jolly! Next year I'm getting some Christmas crackers for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Tabitha for bringing this lone wolf a delightful Christmas cheer (and misty eye) as I just spoke with my own Mum and have resolved never to spend another Christmas away from her. What a wonderful daughter you are! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteGSL, Merry Christmas to you and your mum!
DeleteLove the picture of you and your Mom - candid shots are the best! Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLovely Tabs. I'm just checking in, had to escape the kitchen, MrBP is on mashed potato duty and the noise is dreadful. You and your Mum have always been the stylish pair! I also love those pyjamas you are wearing and the big festive drink in your hand.
ReplyDeleteI would have torched the mistletoe too!
xox
Nothing says Christmas like a cracker! Laughing about the mistletoe.
ReplyDeleteHappiest of holidays to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful, the photos of you am mum. Merry Christmas. xo ebh
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos of you and your mum. Enjoy the rest of christmas I really do not need another morsel of food just like you I do not think I will be able to move soon.
ReplyDeletelove the photos . the lit candles with the holly just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteChristmas Day in Sydney was very wet and cold...I can hear the gnashed teeth of the UK backpackers from here. They all hope to be able to sit on the beach with santa hats perchd on thier heads, drinking and getting really sunburnt on Christmas Day. Bondi and Coogee beaches yesterday looked more like Blackpool..accents included
I think my husband would really like that anchovy relish. But I also think I'd be happier if he never finds out it exists. Hmm, conflicted.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
We also cracked open a tin of Quality Street chocolates - let the festivities begin! The anchovy relish sounds deadly and the photo of you and your mother is fantastic. Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteLouise - the yellow round one is always mine which works well as not many people reach for that one.
DeleteGood on mum for winning battle cracker. Although your rose-festooned tree has already been acknowledged as simply lovely, Tabs I am kind of drawn to the 1960s' Charlie Brown on NASA Tinsel tree. WMM must be rubbing off on me?
ReplyDeleteGet Fresh: That is hilarious, 'Charlie Brown on Nasa" I know, I think I'm going to have a little tinsel tree 'on the side' next year, I asked mum if that was it tree wise but no there was a big proper tree in the corner, the disco tree is superb.
DeleteWhat is the gorgeous (-ly large) drink in your hand as you deftly open presents under the tree with the other? You are very skilled! Sounds as though you had a great time, as did we!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Tabitha. I love the 1966 image. So sweet!
ReplyDeleteFantastic photo of you and your sweet mum...love that she still has the Christmas sparkle and spirit in her!
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas wishes Tabitha...and many blessings for the New Year, thank you for always providing a smile.
xo J~
Happy Boxing Day! I love your robe.
ReplyDeleteAnon - VS pyjamas, really cheap and they bobble after one wash but I buy a pair every November. I loved this print.
DeleteYour splendid mother is a Lady after my own heart!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures and musings, as always.
The pajamas are so festive. You look perfect next to the tree. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of you and your mum with the cracker. Just going to spend another day in PJs trying to recover from yesterday's excesses!
ReplyDeleteThe "torched the mistoe" part totally cracked me up. Glad your holiday was great.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, anchovies and Christmas, funny, we do not have that tradition where I come from... Oh well, no matter, enjoy your Christmas present, smile over your Christmas past, and look forward to your Christmas future.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tabitha!
ReplyDeleteHow was your pud? Must try a Claridges one sometime. DH burnt our pud & the pan! (the only thing he was responsible for!) .....
Elle x
Happy Boxing Day! I got two tins of QS but after watching Downton I lost my appetite for them. Still, there's always today.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a lovely Christmas!
Glad you had a wonderful Christmas. Did you ever decide on the gift from your mom? I'm in a huge minority, but I love anchovies. That tin is making my mouth water.
ReplyDeleteHB's stilton breath is what I am fleeing from....we had a nogging with the Hunt this morning....your mother looks very festive in red.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of Boxing day.Ida
I love both of the photos of you and your mum together, Tabs! It sounds as if you and your family had a wonderful Christmas Day together. :)
ReplyDeleteNo Boxing Day here. I am back to the same old schedule of work and domestic chores, but my boys are having a grand time building Lego sets and jumping on their new trampoline.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
What fun and festive pictures Tabs! Love the ones with your mom. :) Did you see that your Kate Spade coat went to sale (plus 25% off today!)?
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas Tabitha.
ReplyDeleteYour dinner menu sounds delicious and who doesn't love some sweets over the holidays. My weakness are Ferro Rocher.
Red velvet cake is very popular here too...I've never sampled any myself. Do you love it or is it just Mr. B&P?
Just watched the Downton Abbey Christmas special......wow! Scotland is so beautiful--it felt like I was watching your photos come to life :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and thanks so much for letting us peek into the beautiful life!
Oh I've given up on Downton but I'll check it out then.
DeleteHappy New year when it comes!
I love the red pajamas AND the red cake! I hope you helped Santa eat some -I wouldn't be able to resist!
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos of you and your Mum, and in that cracker shot, you look just like Liz Taylor - your wish is coming true! Red velvet cake looks divine, as do the pj's/kimono. Gorgeous. Happy Boxing Day. x
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, it looks as though you had a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteMP: I gave mum 10 of your namesakes in a box!
ReplyDeleteI thought red velvet cake was an American thing, but someone gave me a small birthday party in London last year, and they served a red velvet cake, which was a surprise. Did you bake it?
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tabitha, indeed I am on a cocktail roll, a liddle glass of Veuve with a splash of St Germain Elderflower liqueur in my paw as we speak which I raise aloft to all at Castle B&P xx
ReplyDeleteI love a coat and handbag fetish. And I'm kind of addicted to your blog. Is that okay?
ReplyDeleteI love that bathrobe! I assume VS is Victoria's Secret and I am heading to their web site now!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tabs xx
ReplyDeleteThe last two pictures are precious, I love that!! xx
ReplyDeleteHello Tabitha
ReplyDeleteA delightful picture of you and your mother pulling the cracker. Wishing you a New Year full of joy
Helen x
It looks like you all had a marvelous time, it's nice to see you and your mom in the Christmas spirit together :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm crushing on your jammies a bit.x.