Project 365 2021 Week 51-52 Day 353- 365 My son got his first Covid vaccination, we had a quiet Christmas and hurtled towards the end of 2021.
Sunday 19th December – Day 353
It was really foggy in Derbyshire so I headed home a little earlier than originally planned.
Took my son to the Kassam Stadium for his Covid vaccination, it was such a smooth process and we were in and out in a couple of minutes.
Monday 20th December – Day 354
The kittens are 7 months old today and it was time to have Fudge neutered and microchipped. All went well and we picked him up in the afternoon. He was soon jumping all over the place so nothing much has changed.
Tuesday 21st December – Day 355
While I was working my Lego designer was hard at work. He made a bracket to fit over a storage box that could move from side to side, then made a rotating steering wheel to fit on it, complete with space for his phone to sit inside said wheel so he could play one of his racing games.
After lunch, we put up the garden lights that he’d bought with his Dad over the weekend. He’s wanted outside lights for years and as we have basically nothing up inside the house this year, I agreed that they could get some. My son loved putting them up and every day we have an official switching on time for the ones in the front garden. The ones in the back garden are clever and come on automatically.
Wednesday 22nd December – Day 356
My day off and we headed off to make a fleeting visit to my ex-MIL who’s very poorly. We wore our masks, tested and didn’t venture further than her hallway whilst she remained in her living room. It was so hard not to be able to give her hugs and we all ended up in tears but I’m so glad we got to tell her how much she means to us both.
We headed home and really needed to lighten the mood so an afternoon of gingerbread, mince pie and Christmas chocolate making began. The end results looked and tasted rather good too.
Once we’d finished we headed over to my SIL’s to help her with a computer issue and had a catch-up.
Thursday 23rd December – Day 357
My last working day for a week and after lunch I was persuaded to put these two chaps together whilst my son used the laptop to create a Christmas Day quiz for myself and the OH to complete. There are three pages of questions apparently so best we do the quiz before I hit the prosecco!
Friday 24th December – Day 358
Christmas Eve and we had a quiet day at home. My son decided to set the table ready for Christmas Day complete with Lego decorations and his mini Christmas Tree. He may be 12 but he still wanted to sprinkle Reindeer food (porridge oats) around the back garden and he wrote a letter to Father Christmas asking if Berry the Elf could live with us permanently now. Result, Elf retirement day it is then!
Saturday 25th December – Day 359
Christmas Day and it wasn’t a particularly early start which was a bonus. We Skyped Mum and Dad and then my son opened the rest of his presents. We ate a lot and watched a lot of TV and just chilled out which was much needed.
Our great-nephew was back in hospital again a few days ago but was let out this evening, they’ve promised that he will have his gall bladder removed next week. Third time lucky we all hope.
Sunday 26th December – Day 360
Boxing Day and we all needed some fresh air so we headed to Stowe, 12 years to the day that we took my son for the first time. Then it had been snowing, 12 years on we had heavy mist instead but it was good to get a bit of exercise.
Monday 27th December – Day 361
Bank Holiday and another lazy start to the day. We’ll be in shock when we have to set an alarm again.
We headed over to my SIL’s in the afternoon for another Christmas dinner and a catch-up.
Tuesday 28th December – Day 362
Bank Holiday and more Lego building, there’s been a lot of that going on since my son’s birthday! He’s not opened all of his Christmas Lego yet either.
I’d thought the OH was taking today off but turns out I was wrong, just as well I didn’t make plans.
Wednesday 29th December – Day 363
Day off and my son and I headed over to see my brother and SIL for a catch-up. They drove us to Sywell Country Park for some fresh air and we came away with some research to do on a railway walk on the Brampton Valley Way.
Thursday 30th December – Day 364
Another dull, grey day but thankfully the rain stayed away.
Our great-nephew finally had his operation.
After work, I picked up a friend and we headed to the funeral of the father of one of our boys’ school friends. A truly lovely man who we’d all taken to our hearts over the years of sitting on the wall at Primary school waiting for the kids to come out. It was heartbreaking, obviously, but to watch an 11-year-old who we’ve known since he was 3, stand up and talk about his father, just broke us all a little. I don’t think that image is going to leave me for some time to come.
Friday 31st December – Day 365
New Year’s Eve and I’m not sure if I’ll make it until midnight if I’m honest. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m really not in the mood for celebrations or reflections just now. It’s been a hard year for so many people, and I’m all too aware that there are so many people missing someone right now. I truly hope that 2022 is a kinder year to all, pretty sure I said exactly the same thing last year too!
My Christmas Cactus is still going strong a year on, so that’s a miracle in itself and it’s still providing a splash of colour to brighten up the day.
Fab photos.
I’m glad your son got his vaccine. I hope he didn’t have any side effects.
Your son is very clever with his Lego.
So sorry about your ex-MIL. It sounds like an emotional visit. Sending love and hugs.
Happy new year, wishing you all the best for 2022. x
He was fine, I’m just glad he was sorted ahead of this term tbh.
Happy New Year, great your son got his vaccine and that fudge was okay with his minor opp. I am so impressed with the lego construction and the baking. Sorry about your ex MIL and the funeral it sounds very hard, especially this time of the year. Looks like you had plenty of time outside as well, I am not looking forward to the alarm clock either. I really hope that 2022 is kinder to everyone.
We can only keep our fingers crossed can’t we.
Yay to getting your son’s vaccine. Hope he didn’t have any side effects. So sad about the father who died. How brave of his son to speak. Hopefully 2022 is a lot better year
He was totally fine with it thankfully.
I’m glad you finally managed to book a vaccine for F, hope he was OK. Love all his LEGO building, maybe he will get a job at Legoland when he is older. Hope you had a good christmas
I hope he puts his skills to good use one day, who knows.
Glad you got the boys booster sorted, hope there were no side effects. Lovely you were able to see your ex MIL, shame you couldn’t go further than the hall, but totally understand why. I hope the quiz wasn’t too tricky. Glad your great nephew had his gall bladder op in the end, hope he makes a good recovery. Sorry to hear about the school dad, so terribly sad
First vaccination but at least now he should definitely be ok to see my parents later in the year unless the goalposts change again.
Love the red coat pics in the background, my kids all have dark colours 🙁 Great use if Lego. #project365
Lovely pictures…love the one of your son and the kitten. So adorable!
Happy New Year!
Thanks, you too
Lovely festive photos, Mary! Your son’s Lego projects are always a work of art, he’s very clever at creating. Love his photo with one of the cats, a good portrait. Great that you had Lego decorations at Christmas table. And so sad to read about visiting your MIL.
He’s getting vert particular about his builds, I wish he’d show his DT teacher what he’s capable of
Glad your son got his vaccination and I love how creative and inventive he is with his Lego. Looks like you had a lovely afternoon of baking. Hope Berry the elf enjoys his retirement – that’s a good result for Christmas! Nice not to have too early a start on Christmas Day – Sophie and Thomas slept in until 7am so that felt quite respectable. Looks like you had some nice outdoor time after Christmas and I’m glad your great-nephew finally had his operation and hope he is recovering well. I’m so sorry for the loss of your son’s school friend’s dad. How utterly heartbreaking for an 11year-old to have to speak at their father’s funeral. I’m so sorry that your ex-MIL is so poorly too. I hope 2022 will be a kinder year x #project365
Thanks Louise x
Love the kitty photos. That’s handy having lights that come on automatically! Need to get some of those next year as I kept forgetting to put on my Christmas lights myself. What a brave 11 year old to stand up and speak, I am sure everyone was moved. Hope your great-nephew is okay after his operation.
The lights were a genius idea