Lovely Yule Feast.

 At one point I did think that I might not get to the Yule Feast this year. 

Since Edwin and his fiancee got themselves a couple of cats, and I don't have any furry friends at home, we have had the Yule feast at their house, barring Yule 2020, when we still had it, but via Zoom.

Anyway, back to this year. Oliver had arranged to come to home on Friday, during the day. I rang him around teatime, and he sounded dreadful. 

So I went ahead and prepared the deserts to take to Edwin and Becky's for Yule feast. Thinking to myself that it would take ages to eat them, if things didn't go as planned. 

Also, I had no idea when I would be back home.  No one had told me anything except that yule feast was on xmas eve this year. 

Saturday morning came, and still no word from Oliver.  I eventually got a call from Samantha saying that they would collect me, and take me with them.

We eventually ate, and played a couple of games, but none of us wanted to open presents until Oliver arrived. Which he did at 9.15pm.  He had been asleep most of the day, and he didn't look that well. 

The next day was Xmas day. Things were a little brighter. Sam and Lewis went to Lewis's mum's after breakfast. 

As a family we never over indulge in Xmas food. 

Anyway, Boxing Day, Oliver drove me home before going to spend Xmas version 2 at his dad's with the others. 

I had a flying visit from him yesterday before he drove back to Glasgow.

None of sounds entertaining, but when you spend a lot of time in your own company, it's nice to hav have a change. 

Yule feast....a bit late, but still great fun

Due to my kids now being bona fide "grown ups"....with jobs!  Yule feast was late this year.
I can't remember if I've posted about this before.....so a brief explanation.
As my three got older and left for university...I decided that I didn't want to put pressure on them "having" to be with Mum for Xmas.  It was a joint decision that every year we would pick a day where we were all free, and get together. I make a buffet type meal, and when we are all here, we have food, as much, or as little as we want, when we want it. Now they are older, I do say to "bring your own booze".
We usually listen to music, catch up with each other, and play board games. The tv is not usually on, unless we are playing a multi player Wii game.
Also,  a few years back, I bought a large package of assorted dice, and gave everyone a set, and challenged them to create their own game, that we would play at the next Yule feast.  (There's just me left, I know what I want to create, just need time in which to do it.)

Oh boy! That's not brief!

However, in the past we've held Yule feast before Xmas, as that was most convenient.  This year, the most convenient was between Xmas and New Year, yesterday to be precise.

I made sweet chilli sausage rolls, quiche, pork pie, and heated through some jalapeno things.  Pickles, crisps were also available, plus plenty of cheese and crackers.

By three o'clock everyone who could be here was....Becky couldn't this year, as she'd not spent any time with her Mum over Xmas.
We opened gifts from any of us who hadn't seen each other before this Xmas, then we started games.
New game...Liar, liar....fun once you "get" it.
Then Samantha's game,  a start/finish game, with "guards" throughout the course who you had to challenge in "top trumps" manner.
Then onto WobBally.....I bought this some years ago, it's a bit like Jenga, only you have around seven layers of marbles, each layer has around 15 marbles.  You have to knock out one marble, without knocking the stack down.
We play it as a knockout. Things are usually a bit "giddy" to say the least by this stage. I never win this, but it's fun.
Lastly, we played Oliver's game from last year....another one which is simple on the surface, but a lot of fun. You roll two dice to get the category,(99 in all,) then you roll another, (20 sided,) for how many you have to name.  Now comes the fun bit. After being allowed a minute or two to think, you have to name the number of things, before the sand timer runs out, about a minute......but.....the other players can decide whether to accept what you say, or not.....for example......an elk tree......just doesn't exist......don't ask, "is that allowed?".....you don't have time....and the other players can also heckle with incorrect answers, suggested. We found out that Samantha's bf gets the giggles very easily......so whenever it was his turn....we did our best to get him giggling....so that he couldn't possibly win.
Obviously all in good faith.........after all....you can't win everything.....I never win anything, except the Oxford dictionary game....which might be why we don't play it.

So......if you have kids, and they're getting older, rather than hope they can be with you on Xmas day.....and you want them all there at once....be flexible, adopt the Yule feast idea....choose a day when you can all be there, and have a great day.....and, if you've more leisure time than your children....let them sort the day out....just be there.