The recipe for these very special Chocolate Ginger Spice Cakes was in the Observer magazine yesterday and I made them today’s project. They are delicious. Thank you Nigel Slater for this scrumptious recipe.
Category Archives: Christmas
Santa Swimmers, Cyclists and Cats
We were not put off our Christmas walk on the beach on Christmas Day despite the heavy showers. neither were the hundred or more who turned out for their Christmas swim, many in their Santa hats!
Sadly, M’s beautiful cats were very unhappy away from home so last night she took them home and came back alone in time for Christmas breakfast. Here they are in the only photos I managed to get.
Lisbeth, the smaller of the two, just been coaxed out of hiding.
Gizmo, hiding behind the screen
Happy Christmas, Special Visit and More Mince Pies
Nadelik Lowen is Happy Christmas in the Cornish language. Here are greetings for my dear Readers  all over the world.
Daughter No 1 tested negative this morning and so has arrived today with her wonderful Maine Coon cats. So far they are very nervous but I will hope to get you a photo in the next couple of days. They are very beautiful.
More baking today!
Guest Blogger
LiveWire No 3, our Granddaughter of 10 years old who was with us recently, took lots of photos at the Heligan Night Garden and has sent them to me. If you live locally, do try to get there! Â Thank you, T, these are a beautiful reminder of our lovely evening all together.
Swimming, A Meeting and Goodbyes
It is very quiet in our house this evening as the family left mid-afternoon to meet up with Daughter No 1 on their way back to London. What a lovely time we have all had!
Today we went to Portreath as Daughter No 2 Â loves her cold swimming and wanted to swim one last time before they left. Â While she was in the water, I chatted to a lovely woman about our families, our missing of various relatives and our love of Cornwall. She thanked me for stopping to chat but it was as much my pleasure. I’m wishing now that we had swapped numbers as she lives nearby in Illogan. We did hope we might meet up again sometime walking on the beach.
Christmas Birthday and Solstice
Last full day with the family – Daughter No 2 was born on Christmas Day and she won’t be with us then so we did the Happy Birthday celebration this evening after a lovely family day of games, walks  and chocolate!
From tonight the days start getting longer by a few moments……Hooray!
Solstice
Together
After a late breakfast, a quiet catch-up morning, and  a cold swim for Daughter No 2 in Portreath, we went off to The Lost Gardens of Heligan for their Night Garden Extravaganza, came home to a  vegetarian chilli feast and lastly watched Elf (a film I had never seen) together! Here are just a few of the treasures in the night garden where we also enjoyed hot chestnuts, hot chocolates, mulled wine and toasted marshmallows!  A fine time has been had by all. It is so good to be doing things all together..
Cake Tin, Cake and Mincepies
I bought a new Christmas cake tin last Christmas and didn’t get to use it. 
Today I have made a Heligan Pineapple Cake in the tin and decorated it in a bright jolly fashion. You can find the recipe for this delicious squishy fruit cake here. .
Then I made mince pies. The angels look more like displaced ghosts but they taste good (home-made mincemeat and very short pastry.)
All this today, because, hopefully, given the Covid situation, the London family will arrive tomorrow  for a few days prior to Christmas. We are making tomorrow our Christmas Day dinner and present exchange day. I may not have time to post. Keep your fingers crossed, Dear Reader, that their PCR tests will all be negative and that they will be able to come…………
For all those very dear readers who were touched by my post yesterday, I have found another rendition of Joe Hill. Do listen. It gave me the shivers. Much love….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0bezsMVU7c
Lights, Candle and My Dad
I love Christmas lights! This is our dining room.
Our Advent candle has reached 17th December.
On this day in 2004, Â my dear Dad died in St John’s Hospice where he had been beautifully cared for since the start of December. My favourite perfume is vanilla and I have been wearing it for 40+ years. One of the last things my lovely Dad said to me on this, his last day with us, was, “I’d love some of that vanilla ice-cream please,” as I leaned over to kiss him. Â He was a very special man. Â He chose ‘Joe Hill’ sung by Paul Robeson for his funeral and I play it every year on this date in his memory.
Teddy Bears, Bookshop and St Michael’s Mount
We heard yesterday of a family of Syrian refugees who have been homed in a town nearby. They have four small children and escaped Syria with nothing. We had a bag of soft toys that our LiveWires have grown out of so we found out where to take the bears and they will make their way to the family in time for Christmas.
Looking a bit sad and needing a new home
While we we were in Penzance we visited our favourite bookshop, of course.
There is an excellent view of St Michael’s Mount as you leave the town, better on a sunny day but always impressive.
St Michael’s Mount
