2012

the clock is ticking down and naturally at every quiet moment I’m looking back on the year. 

So much happens in a year.  I look back on some of those moments with a smile, and at others, understanding loss, my eyes tear up but then I smile again and am grateful.

Actually all in all, 2012 has been good to me and my family.

We’re blessed, in so many ways that tonight we’ll gather around our table, thank God for each other , thank God for our  family and friends and look forward to the new year, where we know that we have another opportunity. 

 

Happy New Year friends!

Christmas Eve…….

Everyone is asleep now and my heart is still.

It’s been a roller coaster couple of days, shopping, buying, wrapping.  Enjoying each others company, missing family back at home, being tourists and then of course trying to do all  we can to make our trip to Germany happen. 

Well now that it’s all done I sit here remembering that there really is only one reason for this season. 

And it happened so many years ago, in a small town called Bethlehem.  With a donkey and a young couple looking for a place…..

And even though it happened so many years ago, we celebrate!

Wherever you are tonight look up, there is a star shining!

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

when things don’t go as planned………………………..

you pick your self up, count your losses and keep on going.

Well that’s what’s happened to us.  visa applications have always made me nervous and this time my fears became a reality. 

You just never know what the outcome will be.  Unfortunately our applications were rejected so we won’t be making our trip to Germany or Amsterdam  this time around.  we were really looking forward to trying to ski but I guess that’ll have to just wait.

Anyway so we’re still in London, and we’ll be here for a few more days.  We’ve made the most of our days being tourists.  There’s no snow but we’ll make sure to still  enjoy ourselves. 

It’s going to be Christmas in London!

corner view– light

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane, and hosted by Francesca. It’s where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme.

a city full of red buses and lights taking the shape of umbrellas…….oh yes I’m in London. 

All the streets are lit up and it’s beautiful, there’s no doubt about it.

for more CV start with Francesca.

day 3.

still no news from the Embassy but we weren’t  going to sit around and waste a day. 

Instead we spent almost 2 hours in London’s largest toy shop – Hamley’s.  7 floors of toys. 

my kids got lost in it all, I was exhausted after about 30 minutes.  I was done.  But I toughed it out and made it till the end.  I think at the end of it we were all happy to get out of there.

And then tonight we had dinner with our neighbors from Kazakhstan.  Yes these people are our neighbors, literally. 

It’s so wonderful that we can come all the way to London together and enjoy a night out. 

Happy Tuesday!

day 2………

well our European (white Christmas) vacation may be in danger. 

today we spent the better half of the day applying for our Schengen visa’s.  This is a process I truly truly hate. 

Filling out forms, providing paper work and having to answer some ridiculous questions just gets to me.  This is part of the travelling process that gets to me.

Well we have 3 days in which we hope our visas will be granted, otherwise it’ll have to be plan B for this trip. 

Either way we’ll eventually get to Germany ……………..

day one was yesterday………………………

and after a delayed start to ‘travel day’, (thanks to the plane not arriving on time)  we did eventually arrive in London.

you know you’re tired when little things that would not normally annoy you begin too.   You know sleep is all you need.

Well the hotel was kind enough to leave this bottle in our room.  They thought it would help us unwind….but for 33 pounds we opted for an early night instead.

I think a much better choice.

corner view - white

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane, and hosted by Francesca. It’s where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme.

 

so today is a pretty special day – the twelfth day  of the twelfth month in the year 2012.

never gonna happen for another however many years it is.  When everything lines up!

I have a friend over in Australia who is busy attending weddings on this day.  the last count was 3!!.

Are you doing anything special?

So for today’s CV theme, it’s white!  The last white post I did was when we were in Thailand.

wow my corner has definitely changed since then.

  now it’s white with snow…well not yet, but  I’m hoping that it comes soon.

for more on this theme, start with Francesca.

monochrome Monday

it’s  monday morning and I feel like I haven’t recovered from the weekend yet! 

We were busy.

But I’m thankful for the beginning of this week.  it means the kids have 3 days left at school, my hubby will be done after 4 and then we’re out of here for 18 days. 

I’m looking forward to some r & r,  it’s time to get out of here.

we’ll be heading to  Amsterdam, London and then back to Amsterdam to hop on a train to make stops at Cologne, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. 

I know it’s going to be a white Christmas.  I’m feeling excited to try out some skiing. 

we haven’t had any snow here yet.  which is weird cause last year the snow came so early. 

Anyway it’s cold here today and my body is telling me to stay in and stay warm but as usual there’s things to do!!

Happy Monday friends…….

weekends are for …………

community caroling, having Santa visit, enjoying the school Christmas concerts and just a whole lot of community fun.

hoping that your weekend was lovely too..