Worm's World

This years tree - choc full of lovely momentos and decorations (and in case anyone was keeping track this years theme is Stars) (and a bonus small boy, who isn't that small any more) Merry Christmas from Pete, Nia & Brit

Someone said the lights in the hallway Pete had put up made it look like something from Stranger Things

It is with sad news that we have to report the demise of our favorite festive decoration - the tasteless, weird fiber optic christmas tree with the strange baubles that made an odd grinding sound. It hailed from our days in Liverpool, in the flat, and it was neither attractive nor calming, but we loved it so. It was love at first sight when we saw it the Renshaw's hardware and it took us ages of stalking to finally get one. It has illuminated many a window in the years since - broadcasting to everyone we have little taste when ti comes to Christmas decorations. It probably lasted 10 years and I doubt anything like it's magnificence will ever be seen again in our home. Good bye you wonderful decorative item

Merry Christmas everyone!! We've got a Pirate themed Christmas this year - so I hope everyone is eating as much chocolate coins and drink as much rum as we are!

Look what we made!! Britton Chester Wearn was born - 9:30pm, 15th Dec - 3.5kg (or 7lb 11oz in old money) With the imminent arrival of our first born we just thought having people donate to guess when he would arrive would be nice, and a fun way to raise a little bit of money for an excellent cause, Birmingham's Children's Hospital.  ( Guess were made via  Just giving page ) And the winner is: Dannielle (of Uber Angel Cupcakes ) - who gets a cake by me for a change, and a copy of Pistol Pete Wearn's new EP - which is out in Jan We raised an impressive £65, way above our target of £50 - and I've been informed that Wesleyan Assurance will match it as BCH is their charity of the year =D Thank you to everyone who donated / guessed, and all of the hundreds of well wishes and congratulations sent our way, here's to an excellent Christmas and a very exciting 2015!!

Yeah for Christmas! Every year we add more souvenirs and decorations, I love the stories and memories that come with unpacking them ever year. New inclusions this year include gold T-Rex Skeleton from the Field museum shop in Chicago O'Hare Airport - the product of a 4 hour wait in Terminal 5. Catalan Pooping Logs, Tiny Matchbox Nativity and German cheer leading Angel & Santa Pretty Christmas Pyramid The 'tasteful' Christmas tree The Less Tasteful Christmas Tree

So my maternity leave starts properly today - and I'm not really good at not having things to do (or waiting for that matter - I've already likened it to waiting for an Amazon parcel) Anyway, December is a lovely time to have so extra time off if you enjoy baking, which I do, so that's good. Today's plan is very Nigella-centric - Easy Chocolate Fruit Cake from Christmas and coffee themed Cupcakes from Domestic Goddess for Pete's work as a thank you for all of the shift's they've swapped so Pete can make scans etc over the last few months. I've also got a veggie shepherds pie planned for dinner - but that has more to do with using up vegetables and have balanced diets in the time of work Christmas dinners...

via  http://ilovecharts.tumblr.com/ We're hosting Christmas this year, trying not to buy too much of everything is really hard.

Last year Chris & I decorated the office with Star Wars snow flakes - of which you can find templates everywhere but they were a pain to cut out. This year I have answered out faculty's call to add decorations to the Christmas tree in Stoke with some glittery, googly-eyed Pacman & Ghosts (naively assuming everyone else in the school of art & design was going to go nuts with glitter glue & craft supplies, they hadn't). I can't make the faculty Christmas party so I hope they are still there but here's some proof anyway... ... and I've added Teenage Mutant Ninja Baubles to the tree in our office, ( more googley eyes this time- I stole this idea from Pinterest , although green baubles are harder to find then you think they might be ) We're hosting the family Christmas this year, so our tree doesn't feel left out I've also added a TARDIS to the top of it, to complement the blue & white LED lights I'd forgotten I'd brou...

Source: whyismarko.com via Kristen on Pinterest This amused me when I spotted it on Pinterest - and I think it's a fitting way to wish you all a very, merry Christmas, and I hope you have lovely food....

What are you guys doing for Christmas? We're going to some friends of mine in Stafford, which means we don't actually have to do much, we've made some Christmas puddings, well, Pete has made some - using the ever reliable Good Housekeeping and the slow cooker to great effect, and bar picking up a bottle of wine or two then we don't need to think about everything else for the main event. Well, Pete has to make his favourite veggie substitute - a cheese and lentil  loaf - but that's it. I've planned Christmas morning, panettone and fizz for a change. We'll have to remember not to recreate the year we spent on our own and consumed so much alcohol we fell asleep of the sofa by 8pm. Although that was fun... So, for a festival the has so much to do with food we're at a little bit of a loss as to what to plan and eat. We're good for veg, since our Christmas delivery arrived yesterday, and we'll be skipping around pubs tonight, so no chance to recreate l...

Yep - still can't decorate a cake! Merry Christmas everyone!! - we haven't sent many Christmas cards ( although we did a charity donation to St Luke's Hospice ) this year being as we're in Stafford for the festivities -. We'll be skipping around some pubs later on tonight ( once Pete has finished work, and we've had some food, providing he can still face being around people - bless him, he came home yesterday and couldn't face socialising after a very busy day at work - he was in bed by 10pm!) S o we should see most of you to wish you Merry Christmas in person. If we don't see you, we hope you have a very lovely, relaxing and fun time - that if you've travelled anywhere you got there safely and it wasn't too horrible and that you have a great day, with lovely food, exciting presents and no one gets in the way of you watching the Dr. Who Christmas Special. (5:15pm, BBC1) Love Nia & Pete xxx

A few snap shots of some of our Christmas tree decorations - collected from travels and over the years...

My faux-niece Evie is clearly taking after her faux-aunt and her mother and written a plan for us all to follow on Christmas Day.. It goes: Wake Up > presents > play > play with presents.... Wise words for us all to adhere too! Nadolig Llawen / Merry Christmas everyone xxx

Author: Arabella Boxer Date: 1975 Immortalised in this episode of Giles & Sue live the Good Life: A Good Christmas - It also probably the most frighting cookbook cover I've ever seen...